resources for a map fascinated 6 yo

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  • ibkim2
    Participant

    Our ds (young 6yo)  has shown a great interest in atlases/maps/places since age 4.  I have casually mentioned places and facts here and there as he studies with interest pictures of maps (for leisure he flips through a bible that has biblical maps scattered throughout, and the latest is that he wants our large fold out world/US maps laid out on the floor all the time to look at between activities thoughout the day….we have a large map on the wall but he likes looking from the floor better).  I’m beginning to wonder if I will even need to formally teach him geography!  This morning we put “globe” as a high priority in our limited homeschool resource budget only because he picked up the large map and wanted desperately to connect one side of Russia/Alaska to the other side so it didn’t look like there where 2 Alaskas and Russias on each side of the world.  

    My geography plan for year 1 (starting in a week) is to do “Paddle to the Sea” over 2 terms followed by CM’s “Elementary Geography” around term 3…maybe continuing that into year 2 with some other Holling books.  Other than a globe, the listed geography curriculum plan above, and casually mentioning about places of the world as he asks are there any other resources that would greatly benefit him at this age since he has more than an “average”  interest in the subject?  I plan to do the SCM modules starting in year 3, so plan to wait to do map drills till then.  If he continues to study maps intently on his own, he should ace the map drills by then though, lol.  

    Bookworm
    Participant

    I would consider getting him as many geography and atlas books as he will eat up.  Libraries, wherever.  Also consider a puzzle like the Geopuzzles.  Some of these are hard for a 6yo but not if  he’s very motivated.  Also continue bringing up the “wheres” with all books, TV, movies, etc. that you run into.  There are also fun games–consider looking up the Globalmania free giveaway on the Knowledgequest site.  I think you have to sign up for their newsletter.  It uses lots of online games. I have a geography-obsessed one, too, although he’s recently extended his obsession into the larger universe and is also an astronomy nut.  🙂  Ken Jennings, of Jeopardy! fame, recently wrote a book about people who were geography-obsessed, many from young ages. It was fun (not a read for a young child, but I enjoyed it.  There was more language in it than I’d have liked, however, which surprised me coming from Jennings.)

    csmamma
    Participant

    Another thing he may be interested in is, Gods World News. There is a map sent with the magazine and locator maps that correspond to the news articles from around the world. The one called Early Edition is for grades 1 & 2 http://www.gwnews.com . Also a couple of books he might enjoy at his age are Me on the Map by Joan Sweeny and Maps and Globes by Jack Knowlton. Have fun!

    ibkim2
    Participant

    Bookworm, interesting about the astronomy-obsession carry over, because for leisure today he pulled out the solar system book he hasn’t looked at in a while and was studying where the planets are in relation to the sun.  He was teaching my 4 yo the few details he knew about the planets.  I was thinking that his interest in this may be deeper than I have time to teach him right now (having to pin down the 3R’s first with him and a 4 yo to follow along with the poetry, music, artist studies, etc…. that I’d like to get to).  I did look at the Apologia website for the 1st time earlier today and am thinking he would love Apologia Astronomy.  I just don’t have time for it this year being our 1st year homeschooling and I don’t want to overwhelm myself.    Maybe if he is one of the “obsessed” people like the Jennings book you mentioned is talking about, he can be self taught to a degree 😉 .  If the Jennings book you mentioned is called “Maphead”, I just looked it up at our library website and they have it.  Guess that will be my next leisure read.   

    Csmamma, thanks so much for the link as I didn’t know about God’s World News before.  I think he would LOVE this.  Last night while looking at his world map spread out on the floor  he asked, “which countries believe in Jesus and God as the one true God, and which countries worship different gods?”  I was trying to explain to him that Christians are scattered throughout the world as are other religions with different countries having higher percentages of each religion.  He was trying to grasp the concept, but wanted a more concrete answer.  Just now, dh interrupted me to look up something on the computer and I showed him the link….he agrees that ds will like the magazine and gave a go ahead to order it.  

    LDIMom
    Participant

    Voice of the Martyrs is a great resource for learning about restricted and persecuted nations, BUT you would need to be with him to view it.

    http://www.persecution.com/public/restrictednations.aspx?clickfrom=bWFpbl9tZW51

    Some of the info. on the site is definitely not for a young child. We have a map they sent us that your son would probably love. I can’t seem to find the link on the site at the moment, but if you sign up for their monthly magazine (that is now only on-line :() you will get the map (or we have the last 2 years).

    OK, I just looked at the site again and found this link (which I’ll be checking out later; didn’t even know it existed!): http://www.kidsofcourage.com/

    Another resource you might consider is Window to the World

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1932805915/ref=sr_1_1_olp?ie=UTF8&qid=1342928845&sr=8-1&keywords=window+to+the+world&condition=used

    I found a used copy at a local curriculum sale two years ago. I consider it a great reference tool and we have it on our geography shelf.

    Our litttle ones love having a globe. You can get one for less than $20 at the big box chains. We found ours at Target and it is the muted colors, which I like for timelessness. Another option for a very tight budget might be a blow-up globe. They are less than $5 but amazingly realistic and to scale.

    I also have the National Geographic World Atlas. It is large and we use it every single week for our geography lessons. I actually found one for $5 at one of the big Bookstore chains on their cheap table. You might check there if you have one nearby as I often see geography-type resources on their cheap tables. Our library also has these resources in their used book sales most every time as they replace them quite often.

    This is the actual one we have: national geographic world atlas for young explorers (it is large and our kids really enjoy using it)

    If you don’t have an atlas, I would say this should be on your list too for him. I am guessing he would love some of these things for birthday or Christmas (if you aren’t able to get them within your budget maybe a good wish list item!).

    We are using Apologia Astronomy this year and my two 1st graders like it, but it is definitely written above their level. But they listen and are gleaning from it. I don’t think I’d use it with them though if I wasn’t already using it with our 6th and 5th grade sons.

    HTH

    suzukimom
    Participant

    An inexpensive thing I would do too is get a map book of your city, that he can follow along with when you travel around the city.  My kids often love to do that.  We also have provincial road maps for when we go out of the city.

    LDIMom
    Participant

    Great idea Suzuki Mom and if the OP is in the states, more than likely he/she can obtain a FREE state map from their state tourism office (and possibly one for their city from tourism office as well).

    jeaninpa
    Participant

    We have purchased several National Geographic maps as a bundle on Ebay, and we always have one on our dining room table and schoolroom table under clear plastic.  My adult children love to play a game where they give each other two different countries and then have to name which countries they’d have to travel through to get from one to the other.  I’m going to begin using that game with the youngest children as well.  

     

    csmamma
    Participant

    Though I used this when my kids were a bit older, if your son is interested in different people groups & religions now- he might enjoy Windows on the World. It mainly focuses on the unreached people groups (10/40 window), where they live (shows a map with each location), the stats of the country, and how we can pray for them. http://www.sonlight.com/CH04.html This is an excellent resource to have around. Maybe your son will grow to be a missionary some day :).

    csmamma
    Participant

    Oops, guess I should read the other replies before posting – I see someone already suggested Windows on the World. Ah well, I second it :)!

    ibkim2
    Participant

    I am in the states, and do agree a city map will come in handy.  I love the idea of a geography game where dc name the countries that they need to travel through to get to a different country.

    Thanks for letting me know about Window on the World.  I looked it up on Amazon and it seems to be a more child friendly version of the Operation World book about people groups and religions around the world.  I have put those 2 books on my wishlist hoping dh will take notice getting Window on the World for ds and Operation World for me at Christmas time 😉 . I’m not sure if he will be a missionary, but I wouldn’t be surprised as I had given myself over to the Lord to be a long term missionary in Asia before marriage, but was clearly led to settle down in the states.  At the time didn’t understand it, but have since married and now have 2 children + children in our church (that I have started teaching on rotation) to teach about our lost world that needs a Savior.  

    Thank you again ladies for all your helpful input.  

     

    LindseyD
    Participant

    My dd just turned 7, and she eats up geography too. I started her on the same map drills as her older brother, and she kept up with him. She can now label a map of the Middle East and is almost finished learning all the Asian countries. Just an encouragement that yours might be ready to take his geography skills further by participating in map drills.

    Blessings,

    Lindsey

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