Geography study 3rd-4th grade -- what do you think your kids should know

[mlktwins]

I'm going to start world geography with my boys in the fall (starting 3rd grade). I'm going to use Highlights Top Secret Adventures for some of the countries. I don't expect them to know everything about every country. I am, however, trying to figure out though what they should have to learn.

 

What would you expect a 3rd or 4th grader to know about world geography? For example, name of the country, the capital, what continent it is on, be able to identify the flag, what language they speak, names of rivers, mountains, what body of water they border (if applicable), bordering countries, where the country is on a blank map? Anything else?

 

They currently know the 7 continents and we have studied the United States. They have the states and capitals memorized. We talked about bordering states, rivers, etc, but that was in 1st grade so will go more in-depth in 4th grade. For 2nd grade, we been doing various map skills workbooks.

 

Thanks much!

[Mrs Twain]

As far as places to identify on a map, I use the Core Knowledge K-8 Sequence. I went through the grade levels and made a list of the places to learn (countries, cities, bodies of water, moutain ranges, etc.).

[Tracy]

I think it depends on the country. Both my kids can find the Demoratic Republic of the Congo on the map, but none of us could tell you what language they speak or what their flag looks like. I want my kids to be fluent with a world map, knowing hemispheres, directions, latitude/longitude lines, legends, continents, major landforms, oceans, major rivers, major countries, etc. My dd7 is starting to learn how to use an atlas. We read lots of books that are based in particular countries, and they have learned a lot that way. (Here is my book list if you are interested in using it. I started it when dd was 4yo, but I have continued to add to it.) We have amassed all kinds of little trivia (like Mozart was born in Austria, or the smallest country is Andorra), and we play trivia games with that information. Ds4 can almost keep up with his big sister now.

[...................]

I don't know what I really "expect," but just in our every day lives, it was getting obvious that *others* expected them to know most of their states and continents by about 9 years old. It kept coming up in board games, conversations, etc.

 

So we used Settera.net and it has worked great.

[...................]

As far as world geography and culture, both my kids will cover that in Calvert 6th and 7th grades. :). And I'll supplement if necessary.

[Hunter]

Instead of focusing on countries and country facts, I first teach seasons, zones, biomes and landforms. Sometimes I find this information categorized under earth and environmental sciences.

 

There is SO much geography to cover before starting in on individual countries. When I do teach a country, it is as an EXAMPLE of the larger region.

 

My mottos for geography are: less is more, and whole to parts.

 

I usually don't use workbooks. I've found Draw Write Now to be an essential resource. I also like the biome maps in National Geographic Beginner's World Atlas.

[dbmamaz]

i had not really approached geography at all, as my son was so difficult - as in, wont listen to anything he isnt interested in. we've been doing the secret adventure, and he's loving it. For us, thats enough . . .that he is exposed to it, retaining some, and willing to do it.

[WiseOwlKnits]

Lily is in the 3rd grade. Our geography consists of memorizing and being able to identify on a map the continents and oceans, the countries in each continent and each of the bodies of water. So far she's got the continents, oceans, countries in North America, and countries in South America. She's about to start working on countries in Europe. Once we've gotten the countries memorized, we'll work on the capitals.

 

I don't plan to finish by the end of 3rd (or even 4th grade). I'm of the slow and steady belief system. :)

[elizabeth rose]

hmmm, well my approach is a bit different. Since we are studying U.S. History this year, I have a 2nd and 4th grader, we are learning the U.S states, their capitals, major rivers and mountains, and lakes. Oceans that border the country and countries that border the country. That way it all ties in.

[Holly]

We started Charlotte Mason style map drills last fall. I give them a map of a country (or area) and have them label it. The next week they start with a blank map and label what they can remember (without help), then add a few new countries. Each week, their list of countries from memory should increase. After that, they can work on adding in more details like rivers, oceans, capitols, etc. Right now we are learning about Ancient Egypt, so our map drills have been on Africa. We switched history in January, so they are still learning the countries. We've also been working on details for Ancient Egypt with a salt dough map.

 

They've been really enjoying it. They are very competitive with some things, and they like to see how well they do each week. It's also nice that they can go at their own pace. DS only has a few countries memorized, but DD has a couple dozen. Last fall, we worked on the 13 original colonies as we studied the Revolutionary War.

[mytwomonkeys]

Continents, oceans, hemispheres, equator, prime meridian, all of the states (but not capitals) and any countries we are studying in history ( we use SOTW which has map work). This is my expectation for my son. He is in 3rd grade. We also use geography in science when studying animal habitats. For that, I specifically like a book called "The Animal Atlas". We also like sheppherds software a lot (free online). We have a huge world map, a globe, and a beginner's atlas. Im sure we are missing stuff, but if we cover all of this I am more than happy.