Geography for 6th grade??

[Wendi]

I'd love some recommendations. We have been using a workbook which I love - in theory. But in practice, it seems frustrating to ds. Some atlases are too detailed, some not detailed enough, to find the info he needs. Some of the maps seem misleading. It's been enough of a problem that I think we'll scrap it.

 

Here's what I like about our current one; maybe you can recommend something else that fits the bill:

 

using atlases/globes to answer questions and label maps in the book

ties in history with geography

involves fill-in-the-blank questions, as well as labeling and coloring maps

 

Any ideas?

 

Wendi

[Penny]

What are you currently using? It sounds good to me! I'd like to look at it.

 

Penny

[Wendi]

The series is called Discovering the World of Geography. We have the United States one. Here's a link:

 

Geography workbook

 

Like I said, I like a lot about it. We've had some trouble finding atlases that provide the info without too much inconvenience. YMMV.

 

Wendi

[Lori D.]

Well, I don't know of one program that does all three things you're asking. But, starting in middle school, we've done a variety of things to "make" our own geography (we don't do ALL of these ALL the time). It's been a lot of fun making our own -- and easier to accomplish, as you work it in when you can, and don't worry about it if you have a very busy week/month. Hope something here is of help! Warmest regards, Lori D.

 

 

- learn countries/capitals/geographic landmarks

We use the free online games at Sheppard Software: http://sheppardsoftware.com/

 

 

- make our own "atlas"

We print out and mark free maps from National Geographic Xpeditions (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/) -- click on the atlas maps option -- do a little research (http://www.wikipedia.com, World Book Encyclopedia on CD, Circling the Globe picture/informational atlas) and write a paragraph or two about the country (or state), add key statistics (capital, population, major language(s), major religion(s), major resources), and add a sticker of the country's map.

 

 

- practice mapping skills

* Maps Charts and Graphs workbook series by Modern Curriculum Press

(level F = Eastern Hemisphere; level G = The World; level H = U.S. Past and Present)

see sample pages at: http://rainbowresource.com/prodlist.php?sid=1225983281-1157908&subject=14&category=4711

*Discovering the World of Geography workbooks from Carson-Dellosa

(gr. 5-6 = U.S., gr. 6-7 = Western Hemisphere; gr. 7-8 = Eastern Hemisphere)

see sample pages at: http://rainbowresource.com/search.php?sid=1225983281-1157908

 

 

- experience the culture

* make a food (or go to a restaurant) of that country/culture

* listen to music from that country/culture

* play a game or make a craft from that country/culture

* library book, especially picture books of the myths of that culture, as the illustrations are often done in the art style of that culture

* library video or Netflix DVD of a travelogue to that country, or a feature film set in various historic and foreign cultures

* library book of historical/cultural fiction from a that country

* library book on the customs or the religion

* read through the World's Great Religion series by Millikan:

Inside Hinduism

Inside Islam

Inside Judaism

Inside Buddhism

Inside Christianity

all available from http://www.rainbowresource.com

 

 

- learn about explorers/discovery of regions of the world

* Exploring Planet Earth (Tiner) -- key explorers and/or those who discovered key geographical features (jet stream; latitude/longitude; etc.)

* Usborne book of Explorers

* Explorer's Handbook (Tolhurst) -- key explorations (source of Nile, S. Pole, interior of Africa, etc.; with a few activities included

 

 

- learn geographical terms

This book is for early elementary, but I still haven't found something similar for older ages: "Geography A to Z" (Knowlton) -- short definitions with crude/colorful drawings of the geographical features, such as: isthmus, archipeligo, dune, etc.

[Cheryl in NM]

We are using The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide. It's for K-12. You have to provide atlasses, maps and a globe. There's a teacher's planning guide and tips, a very good reivew of basic geography with plenty of detail and then tons of activities to bring the points home. There's a chart to show what each activity covers and what age it's appropriate for.

 

Ds loves it and we haven't even done any activities yet. It takes awhile to work through the "review", of course, because it's not review for us. That's the great thing, it's good for a review or for the frist time.