Learning Geography Naturally or Raising Map Nuts

You might be a homeschooler if…

Your family quizzes one another on what state their cracker or tortilla chip looks like.

Actually that probably makes us weird among homeschoolers.

We are a family who really likes maps.

Before we were married, my husband and I pored over a map together while waiting to pick up basketball tickets. For fun.

Whether it is a matter of genetics or environment, we have 5 children who are all interested in geography.

Here is Lizzie (now 7) playing with a talking globe.

Almost 12 years ago, my husband came up with a great idea for a family project. It took 8 years, but we visited every county seat in North Carolina! Here’s a video that David made to summarize that project.

I confess, we all weren’t always excited about that project. But it is a fun accomplishment.

Our geography studies are something that happens very naturally. We make sure to have maps of all kinds, for all ages.

We love map placemats like these. (I recommend looking for these locally. I have found them at Wal-mart.) This type of US map puzzle is great for preschool and early elementary age children.

The talking globe was a wonderful learning tool. However, it was fairly expensive and it unfortunately doesn’t work reliably anymore. But, I do consider a traditional globe a homeschool essential. We also have this puzzle globe and this inflatable globe.

There are super geography apps available now. My kids all love Stack the States and Stack the Countries.

Google Maps and Google Earth are amazing tools for geography exploration. William loves to explore both places we have visited and places he’d like to go. David always studies the route before a trip and  uses Google Maps to map cross country courses and running routes.

Another thing that we have done as a family to study geography together is watching educational videos. We enjoy How the States Got Their Shapes. (Viewer discretion advised. There is occasionally some bad language. We also like season 1 better than season 2.) We also liked this History Channel series called The States.

Thanks for visiting for this week’s stop at the Virtual Curriculum Fair. How do you study geography?

Now, let’s see how other homeschoolers are Exploring Our World with Social Studies and Science: 

Social Studies & Science Resource Lists by Chareen @ Every Bed of Roses

Designing a Unit Study for History, Geography, or Science by Amy @ Eclectic Homeschooling

Virtual Curriculum Fair:  Social Studies by Joelle @ Homeschool for His Glory

Uncle Sam & You- Notgrass by Lynn @ Ladybug Chronicles

My Favorite History Books for Boys by Monique @ Living Life and Learning

Social Studies in Our Homeschool by Laura @ Day by Day in Our World

Our Curriculum Choices 2014 ~ History & Science by Renata @ Sunnyside Farm Fun

We’re having a Social Studies-heavy Year by Debra @ Footprints in the Butter

The Whos, Wheres and Whys by Michele P @Family, Faith and Fridays