profmom Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I don't think I've done enough with the "geography with history" method and want to focus on having the kids learn the names of the countries (by continent, I assume) and other basic geography information. What would you suggest for my 5th & 7th graders? (What about something like Sheppard's online geography games + filling in outline maps or using a geography coloring book??) I would appreciate your suggestions! :bigear: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 I don't think I've done enough with the "geography with history" method and want to focus on having the kids learn the names of the countries (by continent, I assume) and other basic geography information. What would you suggest for my 5th & 7th graders? (What about something like Sheppard's online geography games + filling in outline maps or using a geography coloring book??) That's pretty much what we've done here from about 5th grade up through now (high school): 1. Sheppard Software games 5 min/day, 3-4 days a week 2. 1 page a day out of a geography workbook Seems to be working pretty well here! Warmly, Lori D. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted June 21, 2009 Author Share Posted June 21, 2009 That's pretty much what we've done here from about 5th grade up through now (high school):1. Sheppard Software games 5 min/day, 3-4 days a week 2. 1 page a day out of a geography workbook Seems to be working pretty well here! Warmly, Lori D. Thanks, Lori! What geography workbook do you like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mchel210 Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 thanks for sharing that link. I have never seen that. I just have my son fill out different countries on the erasable map daily. Since we are working on WWI right now...he is doing Europe. I add in different countries all the time. I usually add oceans then throw in smaller seas. I cant believe how much we have both learn doing this together. Little bits each day...and we have pretty much learned a ton of geography. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted June 21, 2009 Share Posted June 21, 2009 Not Lori, but there is: LearnSmart http://www.learnsmart.ca/main/usa_prods/w301.html Trail Guide http://www.geomatters.com/products/details.asp?ID=6 Runkle Activity book http://www.geomatters.com/products/details.asp?ID=276&RP=/products/&CID=3 HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share Posted June 22, 2009 Not Lori, but there is: LearnSmart http://www.learnsmart.ca/main/usa_prods/w301.html Thanks! Where do you buy the LearnSmart books in the U.S? (Is it a Canadian product?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share Posted June 22, 2009 thanks for sharing that link. I have never seen that. I just have my son fill out different countries on the erasable map daily. Since we are working on WWI right now...he is doing Europe. I add in different countries all the time. I usually add oceans then throw in smaller seas. I cant believe how much we have both learn doing this together. Little bits each day...and we have pretty much learned a ton of geography. Thanks, Michelle! Do you leave the previous countries filled in and just keep adding new ones? Or, do you erase every so often and re-do them from memory? I like, "little bits each day...learned tons of geography." :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Have you seen the geopuzzles available from Timberdoodle and elsewhere? Aimed at kids younger than yours, but that's a light, not workbooky way of learning. Maybe they can involve your little one and leave you to your own devices for a while. ;) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lori D. Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Below are the geography workbooks we used in 5th-8th grade. Hope that helps! Warmly, Lori D. - MCP Maps Charts & Graphs series (level F = Eastern Hemisphere; level G = World) at Rainbow Resource: http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1245649514-1469589&subject=14&category=4711 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Maps-Charts-Graphs-Gr-Student/dp/0813621372/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1245649771&sr=8-3 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Maps-Charts-Graphs-World-Level/dp/0813621380/ref=pd_sim_b_2 - Carson-Dellosa Discovering The World of Geography (gr. 5-6; gr. 6-7; gr. 7-8) at Rainbow Resource: http://www.rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1245649514-1469589&subject=14&category=4656 at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=carson+dellosa+discovering+geography&x=0&y=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks everyone! I'll take a look at these this morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lgm Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 I'd suggest that your 7th grader also read the newspaper for current world news - it'll help him get the city names and leader's names in his mind as well as locate the country. I use Stars & Stripes online (read it as a military brat myself) for my 8th grader as my local paper doesn't carry much world news and USA Today is not always available. http://epaper.stripes.com/ You fifth grader might enjoy Time for Kids. Both of my kids liked to look at world weather too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 We liked Kathy Troxel's Geography songs, yes, even for older dc. Each learner (that includes you!) needs his own book so he can have the words to the songs and so he can color the maps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mothersweets Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 I haven't seen that Shepard's software before-looks fun! One thing we have used for a few years with our kids is this: http://www.wartoft.nu/software/seterra/ It is a downloadable program and we have loved it!! The download was quick and has never caused us any problems, if you are worried about that. Terrific program, and a very painless and quick way to learn geography. It also keeps track of the highest scores, so it is fun to compete against each other. My 10yo can do all of Europe in under 55 seconds; my 4yo knows her continents and some of her states, too. All of my kids have learned their geography using this along with whatever formal program we happen to be using at the time. I think it has been a great reinforcement. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share Posted June 22, 2009 I haven't seen that Shepard's software before-looks fun! One thing we have used for a few years with our kids is this: http://www.wartoft.nu/software/seterra/ It is a downloadable program and we have loved it!! The download was quick and has never caused us any problems, if you are worried about that. Terrific program, and a very painless and quick way to learn geography. It also keeps track of the highest scores, so it is fun to compete against each other. My 10yo can do all of Europe in under 55 seconds; my 4yo knows her continents and some of her states, too. All of my kids have learned their geography using this along with whatever formal program we happen to be using at the time. I think it has been a great reinforcement. HTH! Thanks! I just now re-read Globalmania Geography, an ebook by Teri Johnson and see that she recommends this same game/link! The ebook is free and gives a plan for learning geography with online games + outline maps, with a focus on one continent each month. Is there any reason why we should use workbooks in addition to or instead of the Globalmania method? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HollyDay Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 I love Visualize World Geography Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marla Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 Thanks! I just now re-read Globalmania Geography, an ebook by Teri Johnson and see that she recommends this same game/link! The ebook is free and gives a plan for learning geography with online games + outline maps, with a focus on one continent each month. Is there any reason why we should use workbooks in addition to or instead of the Globalmania method? Seems like a great approach to me! :iagree: Seterra is a great game and Globalmania gives you a lesson plan to implement it effectively. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unsinkable Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 Thanks! Where do you buy the LearnSmart books in the U.S? (Is it a Canadian product?) There is a link to print out an order form that you send to the company if you are ordering from the US. Shipping is 15% of total. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbollin Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 MFW's ECC program has a Geography Game for the kids to learn the names and locations of over 100 countries. you can buy "just the game" by getting the Parent Supplement. $9.95 on their site. the game isn't the only thing in parent supplement, but it does include a full color copy of the board pieces and playing cards. http://www.mfwbooks.com/ecc_2nd.htm and you might consider getting the flashcards for World landmarks too. That's a way to add in some extra info for older kids in that program. Look on the "7th/8th grade" section of the site for that. But that could be a fun way to play a geography game for the ages you have. -crystal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Testimony Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 use library books. My son loves geography. Most of his lessons have come from Story of the World. However, my son and his friend have done the geography bee two years in a row. My son usually makes it to the final rounds and plays real close, but gets eliminated in the end. His friend however won it. Last year he came in second place. They compete with 8th graders. The bee is from 4th-8th grade. My son and his friend were in 4th grade last year and they played very strong against the 8th graders. My son's friend took 1st place this past year. They both go to the library and read a lot of National Geographic magazines (by the way they sponsor the geography bee). My son will read specific books about a country. He does this as his casual reading. He learns a lot from reading the magazines. If you click here, it is a link to the National Geographic's geography bee questions. It is helpful. It is so neat to see how my son logically figures out an answer. If he does not know the answer, he will determine the location and weather to help him decide an answer. It is pretty impressive. Basically, National Geographic magazines from the library. Blessings, Karen http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/testimony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
profmom Posted June 24, 2009 Author Share Posted June 24, 2009 Thanks guys! I appreciate the help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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