Name: Thrive! NCHE Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-05-22T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-05-24T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Winston-Salem, NC

Tagged: geography, module 6

This topic has 14 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 8 months ago by missceegee.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 15 total)

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Posts
August 17, 2012 at 9:47 pm
missceegee
Participant
We’ve used map drill successfully, though this past year I let it slip along with a few other things due to health issues. We’ve only worked on continents, oceans and countries. We’ll be studying modern times this coming year and I’m debating what to cover. We could use work on a good deal of things, so I am considering North, South and Central American countries, US capitals, Canadian provinces. All of these the kids have about 1/2 knowledge of, so putting them together might work.
Do you ever have them do more than countries? Largest cities, capitals, rivers, etc? We read and notice the places on the map, but I’m having an “it feels too easy” moment.
We also play on the ipad a variety of games and such re. to geography.
Thanks,
Christie
August 17, 2012 at 10:03 pm
JennNC
Participant
Christie, I have found that people will very often refer to a place by city name rather than the name of the country, and my kids never know where it is. I’ve started having mine learn large cities and capitals both. I think it really helps them (and I discovered I had a few to learn as well).
We’ve been using Seterra for a fun way to learn them along with the regular map drill. It’s addictive, really. 🙂
Adding rivers is a great idea!
August 17, 2012 at 10:16 pm
anniepeter
Participant
What is Seterra? A website? And how about major mountain ranges, deserts, and the like that sometimes come up in conversation…just lightly to add some interest.
August 17, 2012 at 11:01 pm
JennNC
Participant
http://www.seterra.net/
🙂
August 18, 2012 at 12:03 am
Andrea 3b1g
Member
Seterra is fantastic and fun! Thanks JennNC!
August 18, 2012 at 1:24 am
amandajhilburn
Participant
Love Seterra, too!! I play it all the time myself 🙂
August 18, 2012 at 1:43 am
missceegee
Participant
Here’s a good resource for blank and labeled maps – http://www.printableworldmap.net
August 18, 2012 at 2:09 am
Andrea 3b1g
Member
Wow, Christie, that one is terrific. Is there any reason to purchase any of the other map products (i.e. Uncle Josh) when something like this is readily available and free? Please tell me if I’m missing something. (we will only be starting map drill in the next few weeks. I’m completely new to this but had been just assuming I’d need to buy and Uncle Josh type product).
August 18, 2012 at 2:17 am
dztamra
Participant
I haven’t bought an map products so far. Just use the free online maps.
August 18, 2012 at 2:21 am
amandajhilburn
Participant
In the SCM handbooks it says either buy the Uncle Josh’s maps or find good on-line sources. I’ve never bought anything either.
August 18, 2012 at 2:28 am
missceegee
Participant
No, I don’t think it necessary to purchase. I’ve had Uncle Josh’s for years and that’s the only reason I use it.
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August 18, 2012 at 2:35 am
JennNC
Participant
I like that map site a lot, Christie. Pinning it to my education board. Thanks. 🙂
August 18, 2012 at 2:59 am
simple home
Member
In addition to studying the countries with map drills last year, I have bought a couple of large, nice hardback atlas books for kids that have the interesting facts about largest rivers, topographical info of regions, etc. Since these books are brightly illustrated and fun to look through, I leave them out near a reading chair and/or coffee table where my kids will naturally look through and read. They have learned a lot this way and I don’t have to formally teach. 🙂
August 18, 2012 at 3:22 am
pslively
Participant
We are starting to build a personal atlas basing it upon the idea that Sonya posted recently from a friend of hers and how she had learned to do map study. http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/map-study-explained I tried it out a little myself. We will be using tracing paper to trace the map though, rather than doing the transfer paper. We will trace it first with pencil, then color and label it, then trace over the outline with sharpie in order to give them lots of exposure to the country borders, rivers, etc. I am only doing this with my age 10 and up kids because I want them to really take their time with it and make it something special.
August 18, 2012 at 3:43 am
missceegee
Participant
pslivelly, that is a very neat idea, but a bit more than I want to bite off for this year.