Archive for the 'geography' Category

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: Let’s Go Traveling

Published by Sarah on November 2, 2009 in nonfiction, geography and book review. 0 Comments

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Robin Rector Krupp’s Let’s Go Traveling  is the story of a young girl, Rachel, who journeys around the world, exploring the real-life mysterious landmarks of 6 different countries.  She travels to France to see pre-historic cave drawings, to England for Stonehenge, to Egypt for the pyramids, to China for the Great Wall, to Mexico for Mayan ruins, and Peru to see Machu Picchu. Rachel’s trips are narrated in first person, and the book is designed somewhat like a scrapbook, full of pictures, postcards, and journal entries written by Rachel.  Along with the narration and “scraps,” there are random tid-bits of facts and vocabulary words scattered throughout the book. There is a lot of information in Let’s Go Traveling, so this book would work well for students who just want to quickly flip through pages and still learn something, or for those who are really interested in travel and ancient world cultures.   

Curriculum Connections

Let’s Go Traveling is filled with facts and stories about important locations that are often used when students are learning about geography (VA SOL 2.4, 3.5). In additon to the maps and info about the countries, the author also explains some of the history behind some of the facts included in the book.   Because Let’s Go Traveling covers very different locations, the book could be read for an introductory lesson on how landscapes and cultures vary depending where in the world a person is; or, only certain sections of the book could be used to focus on specific lessons (like Egypt). 

Additional Resources

  • The Children’s Author Network  provides a nice short bio of Robin Rector Krupp and the other books that she’s written.
  • At the National Geographic for Kids website, the People and Places  section supplies a good amount of information in a kid-friendly format about anywhere in the world. I enjoyed the “What school is like in (featured country)” segment, where a video highlights what it is like to be a student in a different country.
  • A fun way to help kids practice their geography and map knowledge is offered at KidsGeo.com, where a student can play games ranging from learning the locations of states and countries, to knowing capitals, to reinforcing latitude and longitude.
  • The National Council for Geographic Education is a good resource for teachers who are looking for additional support with their geography skills and lessons.

Book:  Let’s Go Traveling

Author and Illustrator: Robin Rector Krupp

Publisher: Scholastic

Publication Date: January 1992

Pages: 38 pages

Grade Range: 2-5

ISBN: 0590485768

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: My America

Published by Michelle on November 1, 2009 in geography and book review. 0 Comments

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My America A Poetry Atlas of the United States selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins illustrated by Stephen Alcorn is a great book that includes many important facts about each state. This book of poem is a creative way for students to learn about the different states and regions. The illustrations in the book make it appealing to many children. The illustrations make the poems come to life. This book is a great teaching tool for students.

On the east bank of the Potomac,
lies Washington D.C.,
the capital of our Nation
which stands for liberty

Curriculum Connection
This book could be used to read a poem each day about the different regions of the United States. This book can also help the students learn more information about our Nation’s capital and information about Virginia. (SOL 1.4 d) This book could be very useful at a station where the students could take time to look at the illustrations and poems. There is so much for the students to look at so it could take the students some time to go through.
Additional Resources
Teaching ideasis a great resource for teachers to go to when looking for creative ideas about teaching geography. This website has great activities for students to complete.
Activities for kids provides teachers with activities for their students to complete. These activities get the students involved in the learning. This website provides good ideas to introduce geography.
This articleis a great tool for teachers. This article provides many good resources for teachers and excellent ways on implementing activities in the classroom.
General Information
Book: My America
Author: Lee Bennett Hopkins
Illustrator: Stephen Alcorn
Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing
Publication Date: 2000
Pages:96
Grade Range: 1-5
ISBN: 0-689-81247-7

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: Beginner’s World Atlas

Published by Amie on November 1, 2009 in geography, book review and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

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Introduction:
Being able to read maps is a strategy that is very important. Maps are in our lives on a daily basis and knowing what the different symbols means is important when it comes to reading the maps. National Geographic has provided an excellent book to help get children develop their math skills. The content presented is age appropriate and provides definations for the different symbols that they will encompass on different maps.

Summary:
Beginner’s World Atlas begins with a description of what a map is and puts the map into the contact of the student by what mapping their background would look like. In addition, it explains what a compass and scale on the map are.  The next 2 pages show earth in several different dimensions to help the student gain a better understanding of their home planet. Their is an example of the physical and political world with descriptions of what they show to follow. Furthermore, the book explains what the students will gain out of their reading. The rest of the map talks about the different contients giving specific information on the land regions, water, climate, plants and animals.

Curriculum Connections:
This book could be used at the end of lesson on map skills to make sure that students understand the basic map skills. In addition, the students could use the book to help them 2.6)when constructing their own map skills using a title, map, legend, and compass rose. In addition, by having this book in their classroom library the students should be able to refer to them when they need to locate the 2.4a) United States, China, and Egypt on world maps. Finally, they will be able to use the maps in the books to help them locating the 2.5a) equator, the seven continents, and five oceans on maps and globes.

Additional Resources:
In order to provide more information on maps and other related Geography topics try visiting Usefulness of Maps.

To help students with their technology skills and provide them a fun game to improve the geopgraphy skills try Geospy.

The article, Are You Map Savvy, provides basic information on other different types of map and why map skills are important. This information could be additional information to provide to your students and help answer the question Why is this important to me?

General Information:
Book: National Geographic Beginner’s World Atlas
Author: Natioanl Geographic Inc.
Illustrator: Tony Stone Images
Publisher: National Geograpic Society
Publication Date: November 2009
Pages: 64
Grade Range: 1-3
ISBN: 9780792242116

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: Maps and Mapping

Published by Deleyah on November 1, 2009 in geography, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Jinny Johnson’s Maps and Mapping explores the world of maps through exciting pages filled with pop-ups and fold-outs.  Throughout the book, the reader is taken on a journey of exploring the job of a cartographer.  The cartographer, Suki West, is a fictional character in the book who loves making all types of maps.  In the process, the reader learns about different types of maps and its importance.  The book explains that maps are needed in order to understand flat surfaces and proportions.  Maps and Mapping explores the first maps, such as, the Roman maps from the A.D. 300s.  The Romans started the tradition of showing roads, distances, and information on maps.  Maps and Mapping introduces sextants and compasses to explain how explorers used these forms of maps to navigate their vessels in the ocean.  The book also discusses the major differences between flat and round maps.  It shows that maps can be used to document any type of area, such as, the sea, mountains, and space.   The book concludes by discussing ways that maps are used today.  Instead of cartographers drawing the maps, satellites are now used to take photographs and produce 3-D maps.  Suki states, “The latest 3-D maps, made by putting together millions of satellite images, can show places in amazing detail-even showing individual houses!” (Johnson 28)  Maps and Mapping is a wonderful introduction to geography in a way that children can relate to and understand.       

Curriculum Connections

Maps and Mapping connects geography and social studies to the world of direction and mapping.  It may be used to introduce a lesson on map making.  Maps and Mapping helps students to develop map skills and construct simple maps (2.5, 2.6, 3.6).  In the book, students are also able to note the changes between ancient maps and the maps that we use today (2.3).  The illustrations include many types of maps that are informative and include examples of maps from all over the world.  The book would make a useful supplement to a lesson on maps.

Additional Resources

  • Geography for Kids- Includes additional online activities and information on the geographical features of earth.
  • Maps and Mapping-Access to the inside of Maps and Mapping and other children’s books that relate to geography.
  • About the Author-Need examples of other books that relate to geography for children? This website contains information on Jinny Johnson and her other jacket flap books.

Book: Maps and Mapping

Author and Illustrator: Jinny Johnson

Publisher: Kingfisher

Publication Date: October 15, 2007

Pages: 29 pages

Grade Range: 2-4

ISBN: 0823417948

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: Mapping Penny’s World

Published by Bria on November 1, 2009 in geography, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Mapping Penny’s World by Loreen Leedy is a children’s story about a little girl named Lisa who maps out the places she likes to go with her dog Penny.  She and Penny map out her bedroom, the backyard where Penny hides her toys, the neighborhood, and even places around the world where Penny might like to go.  The maps that Lisa create include the cardinal directions, a key of images found on the map, a title, and a scale for measuring the distances on the map.  The illustrations of the maps are very colorful and they are all displayed from a birds- eye view.

  • “On this map, some of the symbols stand for the goodies she has hidden outside. The rest of the symbols represent the fence, table, and other things that are supposed to be out there.” (pg. 11)
  • “Maps are good for giving directions.  Suppose Penny’s friend Maxine wants to come over.  You could say, ‘Go out your back door, turn right by the trash cans, crawl under the gap in the wooden fence (watch out for the big orange cat!)…’ ” (pg. 13)
  • “The map’s scale shows the real distances in the park.  According to the map, the distance between point A and point B is two- tenths of a mile.” (pg. 20)

Curriculum Connections

This story would be a great way to introduce young students to the skills of map making.  Mapping Penny’s World provides wonderful illustrations of maps which are labeled with all the key elements.  Loreen Leedy also portrays simple, everyday examples of different places that children could map on their own.  This story would be useful when teaching Virginia SOLs 1.4, 1,5, and 2.6 in  geography in which students will develop map skills by recognizing basic map symbols, construct a simple map of a familiar area, and constructing a simple map using a title, legend and compass rose.

Additional Resources

  • This activity allows students to work on their own to create a map of the school yard and directions to a certain place.  After the students are done they exchange their map with another student and each student must use their new map to get to the location that is given.
  • This brief demonstration of peeling an orange provides children with an explaination as to how a map of the is not 100% accurate because the world is round.
  • This lesson plan focuses on political maps and what cities are found on political maps.  Students will discover different size cities on a map, as well as different features of cities that are represented on the map.

General Information
Book: Mapping Penny’s World
Author: Loreen Leedy
Illustrator: Loreen Leedy
Publisher: Owlet Paperbacks
Publication Date: August 2003
Pages: 32
Grade Range: K- 3
ISBN: 9780805072624

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: There’s a Map on My Lap!

Published by Ashley R. on November 1, 2009 in geography and book review. 0 Comments

                                                                                                         

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The book There’s a Map on My Lap! by Tish Rabe is a great introduction to maps using Dr. Seuss and his catchy rhyming phrases. This book introduces children to a compass rose, a globe, scales, types of maps, directions, and even population. Each topic is covered over a few pages and this book can be split up into different lessons. Key definitions are given on pages where a new mapping term is used and also in the back of the book in the glossary. Kids will enjoy learning about all aspects of mapping with Dr. Seuss as they learn reasons why maps are used and how to use them.

Curriculum Connections:

There’s a Map on My Lap can be used as a great introduction book to many different aspects of maps such as scales, types of maps, making a map, making a legend, etc. The book can be used to cover certain topics at a time instead of reading it all the way through as well. This book covers VA SOLs K.4, 1.4, 1.5, and 2.6.

Additional Resources:

  • The National Geographic website has a page devoted to lesson plan ideas for teachers and they are split into grade levels. The lesson on “Neighborhood Services: Where they are and why?” can be used with this book as students explore their neighborhood and create a map of their own.
  • Global Alliance has a lesson plan where teachers create a map of their room and school with the students. This can work well  with young children entering a new school so they can learn where different rooms are and where everything is in relation to each other.
  • KidsGeo is a website devoted to different aspects of geography for kids. There are different sections devoted to teaching kids about scales, legends, why maps are useful, etc. There are also geography games for children to play.
  • BrainPopJR gives kids great information about the different aspects of a map and some activities parents and teachers can use with kids using maps.

Title: There’s a Map on my Lap!
Author:  Tish Rabe
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: 2002
Pages:45
Grade Range: K-2nd
ISBN:9780375810992

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: As the Crow Flies: A First Book of Maps

Published by Kara W. on November 1, 2009 in geography, book review, social studies and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

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As the Crow Flies written by Gail Hartman and illustrated by Harvey Stevenson is a great way to introduce maps to young children.

The book follows the paths of an eagle, a rabbit, a crow, a horse, and a gull.  At the end of each animal’s journey a simple map illustrates the places the animal has visited.  “AS THE RABBIT HOPS. A path winds around a farmhouse, past a shed, to a garden where the sweet greens grow.” On the facing page the author shows “THE RABBIT’S MAP”, a simply illustrated map with a path from “my house”, to the “farmhouse”, to the “shed”, to the “garden”.  At the end of the book the author follows the moon as it shines on each of the animals paths, including the rabbit, “It shines on the garden near the farmhouse in the country.”  On the last pages the paths of all the animals come together to form one big map titled “THE BIG MAP”.

Curriculum Connections
This book would work well when introducing students to maps as part of a Geography unit.  It is best suited for a kindergarten or 1st grade classroom. The concepts included in the book work with lessons where students will describe the relative location of people, places, and things by using positional words, use simple maps to develop an awareness that a map is a drawing of a place to show where things are located, describe places referenced in stories and real-life situations, and develop an awareness that maps and globes show a view from above, show things in smaller size, and show the position of objects (SOL K.3, K.4a,b and K.5a,b,c).

Additional Resources

Author: Gail Hartman
Illustrator: Harvey Stevenson
Publisher: Aladdin
Publication Date: 1993
Pages: 32
Grade Range: K-2
ISBN: 978-0689717628

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: The Scrambled States of America

Published by Cory on November 1, 2009 in geography, book review, social studies and Uncategorized. 0 Comments

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 The Scrambled States of America is a hilarious and adorable book about the fifty states, and their desire for exploring other areas of the United States.  The states have gotten tired of their neighbors and monotonous daily routine, and want to meet other states.  Kansas and Nebraska decide to have a party and invite all of the states.

“So, with a little help from their neighbors, Missouri and Iowa, those wacky little midwestern states planned the biggest party ever… At last the big day came, and little by little the states arrived at the party… Within minutes after their arrival the states began making friends with each other.”

At the party, Virginia and Idaho decide they would like to change places to see other parts of the US.

” ‘ Yes,’ Virginia chimed in. ‘Then we thought maybe all of you might want to try it, too.’  A wave of excitement swept through the room.  They could hardly wait.  Immediately the states made their plans to switch places.  They said their good-byes, and went directly home to pack.”

While the switch and new places were exciting at first, it didn’t take long for the states to miss home.

“Alaska, who had been wanting a little more interaction with the other states, was irritated by Oklahoma’s handle jabbing into his left side and Michigan’s thumb tickling his right.”

Soon enough the states decided they wanted to switch back, and packed their bags and made their way home.

“That night, all the states in the country went to bed feeling happy about the new friends they had made but, most of all, feeling very thankful to be home.”

Curriculum Connections:

 This story is a cute way to introduce the VA Geography SOL 1.4, 1.5, and 1.6 to students, as it will familiarize them with the proper placement of the fifty states on the US Map, as well as some of the characteristics of and products of those states.

Additional Resources:

This lesson plan for sixth graders is a way to incorporate this book into a secondary classroom looking for an interactive way to study the 50 states in depth.

This teacher blog is full of many ideas for teaching the states to your students.

Use this video and song to teach the 50 states to your students!

General Information:
Book:  The Scrambled States of America
Author/Illustrator:  Laurie Keller
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Co.
Publication Date:  October 15, 1998
Pages:  32 pages
Grade Range:  K-2 Grade
ISBN-13:  978-0805058024

Teaching Geography with Children’s Literature: Wake up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World

Published by heather on November 1, 2009 in geography, book review and social studies. 0 Comments

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Wake up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World, written by Beatrice Hollyer and map illustration by Tony Robinson is a captivating book that explores different cultures around the world by using actual photographs.

 

The book begins by providing a short introduction to eight children, all from different regions of the globe. Each child is given a unique symbol that reflects their individual country. Each symbol appears next to the texts, allowing readers to keep track of which child appears in the picture. The book takes you on a journey through the daily lives of the children.  It focuses on the child’s daily schedule of waking up, going to school, eating dinner, playing,  etc. “Children all over the world use what they find around them to invent games, try out new ideas, make their own toys and have fun. Some children work hard to help their families. Other have lots of homework. But there’s always time for play.” The book ends by exploring each child’s dreams for the future and providing some further information on each of the different countries.

 

Curriculum Connections:

Wake up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World could be used as an introduction tool for learning about basic  geography. This book can be used for a number of SOL’s such as:

History K.4 (b)- describe places referenced in stories and real life situations

History 1.6-Describe how location affects food, clothes, shelter, etc

History 3.5 (a)- locating and labeling the seven continents

 

Additional Resources: 

* Global Playground Teacher Toolkit- A PDF full of lesson plan ideas for teaching students about culture awareness.

 

* Play-Doh: Cruising Around the Continents- Lesson plan that uses play-doh to teach the seven continents.

 

* National Geographic- Explores a wide variety of countries around the world. It provides videos, background information, and a detailed map of each country.

 

Book: Wake up, World! A Day in the Life of Children Around the World

Author: Beatrice Hollyer

Illustrator: Tony Robinson

Publisher: Oxfam

Publication Date: September 1995

Pages: 48 pages

Grade Range: K-3

ISBN: 978-0805062939

 

 

Teaching Geography With Children’s Literature: The United States of America: A State-By-State Guide

Published by Sidney on November 1, 2009 in nonfiction, geography and book review. 0 Comments

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The United States of America: A State-By-State Guide, writen and illustrated by Millie Miller and Cyndi Nelson, is a richly-detailed guide to our fifty states.  Beautiful illustrations and intriguing facts about key points of interest make for an engaging read.  Whether you’re researching a school report or playing trivia games, this book offers tons of interesting facts about the history, geography, archaeology, and other marvels of each state.  Meticulously drawn and labeled maps are an added bonus.  The last two pages are devoted to beautifully-rendered drawings of each of the state flags. 

Curriculum Connections
This book would be a wonderful resource to use for writing reports or drawing maps of the fifty states.  Teachers could use it to formulate assessments to gauge students’ knowledge on a particular state or states.  It would be an awesome addition to any elementary classroom library.  In the state of Virginia, this correlates to SOL 3.6 - developing map skills; VS.2 - locating Virginia and its bordering states on a U. S. Map; and US 1.1 - analyzing and interpreting maps.

Additional Resources
   *  Check out this literature-based elementary geography lesson.
   *  Click here to embark on a mysterious treasure hunt.  
   *  Check out this interactive U. S. map to learn fun state facts. 
   *  Print out a blank map of the fifty states for assessment purposes here.   

Book: The United States of America: A State-By-State Guide
Authors: Millie Miller and Cyndi Nelson
Illustrators: Millie Miller and Cyndi Nelson
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date: 2006
Pages: 64
Grade Range: 3-5
ISBN: 978-0439827652