Geography- World Cultures- rec's and thoughts- 1st, 4th and 6/7th

[Soror]

I've been doing world cultures this year with my girls, first using Children Around the World(although heavily tweaked) and now branching off on our own.  I'm currently contemplating expanding our study next year and adding in my son, as he has enjoyed joining in here and there- really it is impossible for him not to join in- he loves read-alouds no matter the age range and surprising to me he's gotten into some of our projects as well(although not as much as the girls). Adding in him of course means I need some more meat though- since he is my big reader I'm hoping to add in some books for him to read and I'm not sure what else, we've not done a ton of physical geography this year but I'd like to do more, I'm also hoping not to do it all on my own!

 

*I looked at MFW and did not like any of it- I do see some books from Sonlight that look good but I haven't waded through them and I don't like enough to make the package worth while- it is both more and less than I'm looking for

 

So, I want :

physical geography work- suited to their ages

lots of books- fiction and non-fiction for each region- picture books up to chapter books- good lit representative of the area - by authors from that region a bonus(translated of course :)

history and current info about each region

info about cultures, religions, and people (we will cooking that is a given but I don't generally have trouble finding good recipes)

 

 

Up for consideration:

Guest Hollow Geography- I've been pleased with other resources she has and generally find her book choices to be spot on in interest

 

MP Geography I 

Although I generally find MP's resources to be sleep inducing I checked out their geography books on a whim and was happy to see that they give a nice overview of the history and current events for the region, the plus for ds would be that it is a good follow up to our Ancient Greece study this year- they couple it with Famous Men of Rome (we are doing Famous Men of Greeks this Spring).

 

Trail Guide to World Geography

First impression is that it does a good job with physical geography, offering options for a wide age range- the minus of course is that there isn't the lit connection.

 

Harmony Fine Art's Mom Geography

This is highschool level but on a cursory glance it looks like it might have some useable resources for ds- although I find her format to be hard to read.

Edited December 17, 2015 by soror

[Saddlemomma]

Have you looked at Harmony Mom's program at Harmony Fine Arts site?  

• Geography - This is a free downloadable course she designed in which she marries her lit choices with Trail Guide to Geography.  In addition, she provides copious free resources:
  • Flashcard lifts
  • Online atlases
  • Book lists
  • Movie lists - Netflix
  • Hands on activities
  • Separate resources to boost curriculum to high school level

This is a very comprehensive curriculum and it's free.  I would encourage you to take a look.

[Soror]

Have you looked at Harmony Mom's program at Harmony Fine Arts site?  

• Geography - This is a free downloadable course she designed in which she marries her lit choices with Trail Guide to Geography.  In addition, she provides copious free resources:
  • Flashcard lifts
  • Online atlases
  • Book lists
  • Movie lists - Netflix
  • Hands on activities
  • Separate resources to boost curriculum to high school level

This is a very comprehensive curriculum and it's free.  I would encourage you to take a look.

You must have posted this while I was editing and adding this on my list. It does look like it has some good resources but I find her format hard to wade through so I'm still going through it all.

[Saddlemomma]

Oops!  Sorry, I didn't see that you already had her resource listed.  My bad!

[Soror]

Reading further I looked at-

 

Simply Charlotte Mason's Visit to Series - the samples were rather disappointing- blank line maps and questions about Material World and Hungry Planet

 

Build Your Library grade k and 7 are both world cultures- these are my favorite so far. I like the idea of adding in the video resources from Harmony Fine Art  and perhaps the Trailguide to Geography for activities for all of them and some more lit books from Rose to add to the lit section for my 4th grader.

Edited December 17, 2015 by soror

[sarahjokim]

We did geography (mostly cultural) this year - focusing on one country or region per week. I posted all of the books (mostly picture books) we read on my site if you need recommendations:

http://www.wellreadkid.com/category/geography/

 

If you need chapter book recommendations I've noticed these ones are often well reviewed on the Sonlight Core F forum:

 

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

A Long Walk to Water

I Rode a Horse of Milk White Jade

Breaking Stalin's Nose

The Kite Fighters

Listening for Lions

When My Name Was Keoko

 

 

For physical geography we really liked Geography from A to Z: A Picture Glossary. It's simple and probably more for younger kids but it's really well done. 

 

We also used Expedition Earth from Confessions of a Homeschool. It's also better for younger kids - has flags to color, passport, activity recommendations.

[Soror]

Thank you Sarah for your recommendations. I had looked at the Expedition Earth for extra worksheets for the girls if they want them(because they're weird like that!). My son doesn't like that anyway so it doesn't matter to me that their for younger kids.

 

 

 

So, I really like the reading lists for Build Your Library but very disappointed to see that the science is Elemental. I was so stinkin' excited at the prospect of not going through everything myself but then nope and it is even more expensive than the lower levels and you have to buy the science extra. I have no desire to use Elemental Science. Current plan, subject to massive change is BYL k and 7th- adding in lit and science for 4th and science for 7th, we are going to focus on Zoology, at least for the first half of the year heavily using Scientist in the Field books. We might just do that all year, or do botany for the second half of the year.

[rjand6more]

We are doing this with my 2nd and 5th graders.  I bought CAW and added in lots and lots.:)  I really like the structure of CAW.  The kids love the Travel Diary.  It gives the culture part I wanted.  Also, I have a bookbasket I put together for each country.  I have done Core F twice, so I pulled quite a few of the favorite readers and read alouds from there and added in new ones.  I am using SCM Visits to... for the geography.  And OH MY!! They have memorized Europe in 12 weeks.  Awesome.  I know it's just maps, but it really worked because I did it with them and it was a geography drill 3 times a week.  It surprised me how much they remember!    I thought I could copy off maps, but I loved the book recommendations for each region and the maps were very good.  I had already added in Hungry Planet and How People Live.I am using Geography Songs also. The recipes and games and such has come from the Fun and Traditions book from CAW. There is a SL week by week Activity  plan I have taken much from(It was done SO well!)  And a website that has music, dance, culture stuff for enrichment.

 

We are having a fun year!