Jenmomof3 Posted January 8, 2010 Share Posted January 8, 2010 I'm looking for a geography curriculum to use with my K'er next year. I've looked at Galloping the Globe several times, but just don't want anything that involved. I'm looking for something that is just geography and is not all map skill based. I've heard that A Trip Around the World might work, but I can't seem to find any sample lessons. For those who have seen or used it, is it appropriate for a K'er - not too much writitng, concepts age appropriate? (I know MFW uses it for older students, but the cover of the book says K-3) Anyone know where I can find samples online from the book? Any opinions? TIA, Jennifer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenmomof3 Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 Anyone? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doodle Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 At this website you can view sample pages. http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product/1029180103?item_no=081101&event=CF#curr Click on the link that says "Additional Views" under the photo of the book cover. Once the new screen pops up, click "next" to scroll through the sample pages. Hope that helps! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abbeyej Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 There's not really a lot of *there* there. Each country gives you a flag to color, maybe a little activity (word search? that kind of thing) and a suggestion for a recipe and a simple craft. I can't remember (it's been a few years since I used it) -- there may be some picture book suggestions to learn more about the country. It's not bad. It's not complete. It's cheap and you can bring in library books and/or videos and if you use some of the pages, that's great, and if not, that's fine too. But I wouldn't call it a "whole curriculum" or anything. And you could do pretty much the same thing just by picking a country every other week and doing library books and videos, looking up the country on a globe, printing some coloring pages off the internet, and perhaps having some foods from the country or making a craft, etc. The "Around the World Coloring Book" by Winky Adam has a single page for each country showing a (simplified) map and lots of little pictures representing landmarks or important people or exports associated with the country, etc. At less than $4, I think it's a nice resource. I also like bringing in some "around the world" picture books... How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, Madlenka, Miranda the Explorer... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenmomof3 Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 Thanks for the link Doodle. Hmm... I don't think this book is what I was hoping. I may just have to make my own. :glare: Great ideas abbeyej. I'll be sure to check out the coloring book too. Thanks so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 For K, I used http://www.amazon.com/Children-Just-Like-Anabel-Kindersley/dp/0789402017 We'd read about the child, comment on the clothes and the buildings, look at the map and globe, maybe google some more pictures. I found it the most absorbing book for kiddo. There is a companion book about holidays, which we read once, and the children's version of Earth From Above http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Above-Young-Readers-Arthus-Bertrand/dp/0810934868/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1 which we used as a reinforcement to geography, but also as a, gosh there must be some technical word for this, a kind of picture study teaching the small child to slow down a bit and pick out detail, and practice putting observations into words... I topped it off with: http://www.amazon.com/Its-Big-World-Brierly/dp/2894290071 which has flags, and really engaging maps of the continents with different colors for countries, making it a political atlas, as well as symbols of use and resources, making it an economic atlas. (My dad, who was a professor of geography, said that "geography was the study of the earth's crust, and human interaction with it", but I paraphrase clumsily.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nd293 Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 A Trip Around the World is aimed at classroom use. Here's a typical lesson: List of basic facts - population, language, government, currency etc Small map of region / continent showing country Black and white picture of flag with description Two or three paragraphs for the teacher 9 "Facinating facts" - a couple of sentences each A page of language activites -everyday expressions, numbers, colours, days of the week. Two recipes 2-3 actitivities (for Kenya - make clay animals, discuss animals you might see on safari, go to the zoo, make a motto for your classroom, learn about the largest tribe and compare to city-life. A large flag to colour A large map to colour (and i suppose label although capital, rivers, mountains etc not marked) A page of animal pictures - select safari animals, cut and use in a craft A list of picture books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mazakaal Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Agreeing with others that it's not really a complete curriculum, but we used it for Pre-K and 1st last year and loved it. I really just used it as a jumping off point. Dc colored the map and flag and used the information to graph (on a bar graph) the population and area of each country. We usually chose one or two activities and sometimes made the recipes. There is a list of 'interesting facts' on each country and I read the ones that I thought would be of interest to the kids. Many were over the heads of my young ones. I supplemented with Children Just Like Me, How People Live, and Children from Australia to Zimbabwe. We also read folk tales from Stories From Around the World, The Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book, The Children's Book of Virtues, and The Orchard Book of Opera Stories. We used some other story books that I had on hand, but I won't list them all. It was one of my favorite 'curriculums' that I've done, mostly because of the supplemental stuff that I put together, but the Trip Around the World books were the perfect jumping off point for me. I think I still have the two books. I had tried selling them on the FS board, but I don't think they managed to sell. I'll send them to you for $10ppd if you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I've used it with a young elementary child in past (also, Another Trip Around the World). Here's a list of picture books I used for world geo. studies. It includes more/different countries than those in TAW, but you could use them together, if you like: I have a book by DK called Children Just Like Me: Celebrations! This looks at the way children in different cultures celebrate various holidays. I also have some cultural atlases that look at peoples from around the world. I plan to utilize these books, along with one other, to study world cultures in the grammar stage. I have a book called Children From Australia to Zimbabwe: A Photographic Journey Around the World, by Maya Ajmera and Ana Rhesa Versola. This book details info. on one country for each letter of the alphabet and lists all other countries in the world that also begin with that letter. I have pulled a list of library books to correlate with each country detailed. Australia: Pumpkin Runner, Arnold Where the Forest Meets the Sea, Baker Bossy Boots, Cox Bright Star, Crew Dial-a-Croc, Dumbleton Flood Fish, Eversole Possum Magic, Fox Big Rain Coming, Germein Don’t Dig so Deep, Nicholas! Harrison Counting by Kangaroos, Hulme Ernie Dances to the Didgeridoo, Lester Wombat Goes Walkabout, Morpurgo Rainforest Children, Pittawpy Farmer Schulz’s Ducks, Thiele Snap! Vaughan Wombat Stew, Vaughan Biggest Frog in Australia Rescuers Down Under – video A Waltz Through the Hills – video Old Shell, New Shell, Ward Old Woman Who Loved to Read, Winch Brazil: Count your way through Brazil, Haskins How Night Came From the Sea, Gerson Amazon Boy, Lewin In a Bottle with a Cork on Top, Skurzynski China: Ruby’s Wish, Bridges Story of Kites, Compestine Visit to China, Packard Moon Festival, Russell Chinese New Year, Schaefer Chinatown, Low My Chinatown: One Year in Poems, Mak Dominican Republic: Dominican Republic – Cobblestone Ecuador: Kid’s Discover: Equator France: King’s Day: Louis XIV of France, Aliki Giraffe that Walked to Paris, Milton Joan of Arc: Heroine of France, Tompert King Tree, French Boneparte, Chall Happy Lion, Fatio Happy Lion in Africa, Fatio Happy Lion’s Quest Happy Lion’s Rabbits Happy Lion’s Treasure Happy Lion’s Vacation Three Happy Lions Jean-Marie at the Fair, Francoise (and other Jean-Marie books) Inspector Peckit, Freeman Dinner at Mabritte’s, Garland Truffle Hunter, Moore Harry and Lulu, Yorinks Guatemala: Mama and Papa have a Store, Carling Abuela’s Weave, Castaneda Sleeping Bread: Story, Czernecki Iguana Beach, Franklin Hungary: Song for Lena, Hippely India: Heart of a Tiger, Arnold Story of Little Babaji, Bannerman Story of Little Black Sambo, Bannerman Lakshui, the Water Buffalo Who Wouldn’t, Gobhai Cow for Jaya, Grant Poombah of Badoombah, Lillegard Baya, Baya, Lulla-by-a, McDonald Gay-Neck: Story of a Pidgeon, Mukerji (audio) Golden Serpent, Myers Rikki-Tikki – video Nine Animals and the Well, Rumford Japan: Old Man who Made the Trees Bloom, Jijii Magic Fan, Baker Crane Girl, Charles Painter and the Wild Swans, Clement How My Parents Learned to Eat, Friedman (audio) Ten Oni Drummers, Gollub Girl from the Snow Country, Hidaka Kenji and the Magic Geese, Johnson Yoshi’s Feast, Kajikawa Carp for Kimiko, Kroll Seven Gods of Luck, Kudler Yoshiko and the Foreigner, Little Moshi, Moshi, London Dragon Kite, Luenn Pair of Red Clogs, Matsuno Cherry Tree, MacCaughrean Emperor’s Plum Tree, Nikly Tea with Milk, Say Long Silk Strand, Williams Kenya: Ndito Runs, Anderson Family in Kenya, Griffin Lithuania: Music of the Soviet Union (Lithuanian folksongs) Lithuania, Lerner Publications Mexico: Mexico ABC’s, Hieman Hummingbird’s Gift, Czernecki Manuela’s Gift, Estes Nine Days to Christmas, Ets Under the Lemon Moon, Fine How Nanita Learned to Make Flan, Geeslin In Rosa’s Mexico, Geeslin On Ramon’s Farm, Geeslin Moon was at a Fiesta, Gollub Twenty-five Mixtec Cats, Gollub Lorenzo, the Naughty Parrot, Johnston Day of the Dead, Johnston Magic Maguey, Johnston Ghost Wings, Joosse Piggy Bank Gonzales, Kent Butterfly Boy, Kroll Hill of Fire, Lewis (audio) Blanca’s Feather, Madrigal Trandi’s Braids, Madrigal Blue Bug Visits Mexico, Poulet Today is the Day, Riecken Mice and Beans, Ryan Nigeria: Take a Trip to Nigeria, Lye Bikes for Rent! Olaleye Grandfather’s Work, Onyefulu Mysterious Gold and Purple Box, Watson Saying Goodbye, Onyefulu Oman: An Arab Family, Dutton Philippines: Take a Trip to the Philippines, Oleksy Qatar: Qatar, Augustin Russia: A Look at Russia, Frost Babushka Babayaga, Polacco Philipok, Tolstoy Little Kim’s Doll, Yaroshevskaya Three Cheers for Catherine the Great, Best (audio) Apple Pie and Onions, Caseley A Piece of Home, Levitin Trees of the Dancing Goats, Polacco Uncle Vova’s Tree, Polacco Dream Jar, Pryor Twenty-two Russian Tales for Young Children, Tolstoy Senegal: In Bikole: Eight Modern Stories About Life in a West African Village, Gilroy Senegal in Pictures, Lerner Publications Turkey: Take a Trip to Turkey, Lye United States Since we’re also doing a more specific US study, I’ve chosen books from all the other “U†countries: Ukraine: Ukraine – Cobblestone Uganda: Beatrice’s Goat, McBrier (this is about the Heifer Project) Uruguay: Uruguay in Pictures, Haverstock United Kingdom: The Queen’s Progress: An Elizabethan Alphabet, Davidson Anno’s Britain, Anno Country Mouse Cottage: How we Lived 100 Years Ago, Brooks Town Mouse House: How we Lived 100 Years Ago, Brooks Vietnam: Vietnam, Allard Lotus Seed, Garland Grandfather’s Dream, Keller Walking Stick, Trottier Western Samoa: Samoans – Cobblestone Yemen: Yemen in Pictures, Lerner Publications Zimbabwe: Gugu’s House, Stock Where are You Going, Manyoni? 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Tonia Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 And you could do pretty much the same thing just by picking a country every other week and doing library books and videos, looking up the country on a globe, printing some coloring pages off the internet, and perhaps having some foods from the country or making a craft, etc. The "Around the World Coloring Book" by Winky Adam has a single page for each country showing a (simplified) map and lots of little pictures representing landmarks or important people or exports associated with the country, etc. At less than $4, I think it's a nice resource. I also like bringing in some "around the world" picture books... How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World, Madlenka, Miranda the Explorer... This is exactly what I did with my k'er. I picked up the "Around the World Coloring Book" and we studied the various countries one continent at a time, adding in picture books for each country and a simple activity. We would have a "feast" when we finished a continent/area. After we finished South America we had a fiesta - made a pinata, had empanadas, rice, and alfajores. Lots of fun. You can see my plans here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenmomof3 Posted January 9, 2010 Author Share Posted January 9, 2010 Wow!!!!! You guys are awesome! Thanks for all the great ideas and resources. My dd will love all the library books too. Looks like this could be a very fun year. Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osaubi Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I used this book in a co-op setting for my older and am now using it for my Ker. Children around the World I check the library for go along books. Then I pick and choose which activities we will do. We did the Japanese Zen Garden (very small version). She loves it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in MN Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 Anyone Use A Trip Around the World by Dellosa?I'm looking for a geography curriculum to use with my K'er next year. I've looked at Galloping the Globe several times, but just don't want anything that involved. I'm looking for something that is just geography and is not all map skill based. I've heard that A Trip Around the World might work, but I can't seem to find any sample lessons. For those who have seen or used it, is it appropriate for a K'er - not too much writitng, concepts age appropriate? (I know MFW uses it for older students, but the cover of the book says K-3) Anyone know where I can find samples online from the book? Any opinions? TIA, Jennifer MFW uses the first 2 books in this series during their Geography year, ECC. It's a good little resource and used by, well, lots of MFW users :) Julie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~Kirsten~ Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 (edited) I'll just chime in and agree! :D Frankly, I don't really find it useful for my Ker. Though there are maps and flags to color, I can get those for free online, and some of the activities, like crosswords, are too advanced for her skills. So really, I'd skip it for K. It does have some cool things, like phrases and a quick summary of each country, which can be fun (though most can be found free online also). Additionally, it suggests a few books. But really, for us, it sits on the shelf. One book I'd totally encourage you to consider instead is Tales Alive! 10 Multicultural Folktales with Activities by Susan Milord. Amazon sells it for $12.95, so the price is comparable. It doesn't have maps and such, but the activities are really cool (and we actually just borrowed it from our library). Each country has a story and then several activities. Perfect for the age! I also must say, as excited as I've been all along to start SOTW in 1st grade, we are pushing the start back to September (we start our new year in June after a May birthday) simply because *I* am enjoying our Around the World studies too much to stop! Seriously, for us, this has been the highlight of our year. Much like a few of the others, we choose a country each month, and I get a large basket of picture books from each (PM me if you'd like my lists; they're extensive and in a terrible format). I try to find one related read-aloud as well, so for China, I read Little Pear to her. Each month, we listen to the song from Wee Sing Around the World, another thing I'd highly recommend. We find the country in our Picture Atlas and on the globe, we see if there's a child in Children Just Like Me (not necessary, but a nice bonus), and we color a flag. We have Eat Around the World, but I'll be honest and say it's not as useful as simply searching out one recipe has been. :tongue_smilie: Then, we spend the month reading the books together. Sometimes we do an art activity, like for France, we virtually visited the Lascoux caves, and then we made our own cave art with mashed up berries and dirt "paint." Really, it has been fantastic, and I can't recommend it highly enough! Each month, my daughter struggles to allow me to return the books and move on! Plus, we learn a few phrases each month, and she's really getting excited to start learning other languages. Again, feel free to PM me if you have any questions. For us, the folktales seem to be the biggest hit, but that's been a trial-and-error experiment that has been lots of fun. Best wishes with kindergarten! It's a fun, fun, amazing age! :001_smile: Edited January 10, 2010 by ~Kirsten~ format issues Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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