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How To Do A Geography Based Unit Study

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Bringing the World To Your Living Room

So, you've made the decision to do a geography unit study. You've finally let go of your boring (but safe!) textbooks and made a trip to the library. But now what? Just follow these easy steps and soon you will find yourself touring the world from the comfort of your own home.

Where To Go For Info

A few fun places to do your research

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Countries of the World
Facts on world and country flags, maps, geography, history, statistics, disasters, current events, and international relations. Profiles of every country include geography, maps, history, current ruler, area, population, capital, largest city, and more.
Cultural Profiles Project
Each cultural profile provides an overview of life and customs in the profiled country.
Geographia - World Travel Destinations, Culture and History Guide
In-depth travel destination guides to over 75 countries, culture, history, travel stories, and more.
Visual Geography Series
...an extension of Lerner Publishing Group's Visual Geography Series® (VGS) and your one stop resource for links to additional country-specific information, up-to-date statistics, photographs and maps you can download into your report, and much more.
World Atlas
A world atlas of facts flags and maps including every continent, country, dependency, exotic destination, island, major city, ocean, province, state & territory on the planet!
Time for Kids | Around The World
Explore new places with Time For Kids Around the World. Each eight-page magazine and companion website celebrates the culture, people, landmarks and geography of places around the world through photographs, maps, diagrams, charts, folktales, language and activities.

Atmosphere

Some people have really good imaginations, but the rest of us find it helpful to be looking at something. Being surrounded by a culture is also very useful for learning! Ofcourse, you can't really set the right atmosphere if you haven't done any research, so get out some of those books and find out about this country. One of our favorite "atmosphere" projects is to make a large copy of the country's flag to hang on the wall by taping nine sheets of construction paper together. For instance, when we studied Mexico, we made a flag with three sheets of green, three of white (with the emblem copied onto the middle one and colored), and three red. This might not work for all countries, but it is great for the others. Other items which add to the atmosphere would be plants or flowers that country is known for (such as tulips when studying the Netherlands), examples of popular art styles, dolls dressed in folk costumes, paper models of buildings or animals from that country, and ofcourse any craft projects you make for this country. You could even make a paper window frame and fill it with pictures of scenery, so you could "look outside" and see the view. Music is another wonderful way to add atmosphere. Listen to recordings, or make some native instruments and play your own. Be creative (and ask the kids for help- they're good at this sort of thing.)
Colouring Book of Flags
This page is part of the Flags Of The World website.
Making Friends
Multi-Cultural Themes for Making Friends Paper Dolls. Free printable dolls & costumes.
Ron Wise's Geographical Directory Of World Paper Money
See pictures of actual money
Composers by Country
Classics for Kids
Paper Dolls Around The World
Paper Dolls worksheets with doll and costume to print and color.
Paper Dali
Free historical paper dolls & and craft ideas. There are dolls for Ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, as well as some dolls that could be used for a Christmas around the world study.

Art and Architecture Around the World

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Multicultural Art Activities
Illustrated directions and patterns are provided for more than 40 art projects from cultures around the world.
Teaching Geography Through Art
This new book has geography facts written by Cindy Wiggers and art and crafts projects from around the world by Rich and Sharon Jeffus. Famous works of architecture are also included.
Painters by Country
Painters categorized by country is a selection of International fine artists listed in the Painting section at Linkism.com
WebMuseum
Famous Artworks exhibition
Multicultural Education Through Minitures
This page provides a list of all of the countries that feature handmade dolls/puppets on Multicultural Education through Miniatures. Click the country that you want to see. After the page is displayed, click "Read a Story." Activities and games are also available.
Lucky Items
Canon 3D Papercraft
Buildings of the World
Canan 3D papercraft
Paper Toys
3D papercraft of buildings

Music Around the World

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National Geographic World Music
Listen to the world
Mama Lisa's World
Children's Songs and Nursery Rhymes from Around the World
Mudcat For Kids
Learn how to make musical instruments from everyday materials.

Science Around the World

Adding science to your geography studies is easy to do, and makes your studies even more rich and meaningful. As you study different locations around the globe, you will naturally encounter many scientific topics for exploration. The possibilities are almost endless!

Study the animals/insects/birds/sea creatures that correspond to various
countries and the habitats they live in.

Study climates, weather, oceans, and landforms.

Study trees and flowers.

Study the explores who discovered each country and learn about navigation.

Read biographies of key scientists. When you cover Italy, study Galileo and the history of astronomy. During your study of France, read about Louis Pasteur and cover chemistry topics. In Germany, you can include a study of Albert Einstein and his many important inventions.
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Biomes of the World
Answer the question: What's It Like Where You Live? Learn about terrestrial biomes and aquatic ecosystems.
Biome Shoebox Dioramas
Make these shoe box dioramas based on real dioramas at the American Museum of Natural History.
Canon 3D Papercraft
Use this page to download free 3D papercraft patterns. Learn about the science and culture of the world by building it yourself!
Yamaha Motor Paper Crafts
Make your own paper models of rare animals.
Bzzpeak
Animal sounds around the world

Costume

Not only do costumes add to the atmosphere, but they are also another good excuse to do some research. So, get out those books and find out about the people from this country. Most kids love to dress up, and when they dress up they often start acting out the part. This is a great way to help them internalize the infomation you have been reading. Ofcourse, it also presents a great photo op. (You ARE taking pictures of all this, aren't you? Looking through the photo album is great review! And photos are an excellent way to impress those doubters who didn't think your kids would learn anything in homeschool.) Costumes don't have to be elaborate. Sometimes you don't need anything more than paper, scissors, and some markers to make a great costume. You can make Egyptian collars and bracelets from cardstock, Mexican ponchos from paper bags and sombreros from papier mache, and Dutch shoes and hats from construction paper. Don't forget to discuss why the people you are studying might have chosen the clothes they wear.
Ethnic & Folk Costume
Costuming Resources Online
National Costume
Pictures of many national folk costumes.
Dutch Costume
How to make a Dutch hat & wooden shoes out of paper.
Greek Costume
No sewing necessary!
Costume Ideas
How to dress up in a Greek chiton, Roman toga, Sari, and Arab haik
Egyptian Costume
Patterns and ideas.
International and Historical Clothing
Free patterns and instructions to make and wear clothing and accessories from around the world and throughout history.
Ancient and Medieval Clothing
Simple directions for quick costumes.
Roman Costume
Make your own Roman costume.
African Mask
Make an African mask.
African Tribal Masks
children K-12 color these African tribal Mask Images while learning about historic African tribal masks. Funtastic scissor craft activities for kids!
Mexican Poncho
Make a Mexican poncho from a paper bag.
Mexican Sombrero
Make a sombrero from papier mache.
Panama Costume
Make a Paper Mola
Historical Headgear,Hats, and Helmets
Where duct tape meets history

Crafts

If you've been following along, you've already done some crafts. If not, STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE MESS AND HAVE SOME FUN! Yes, there will be a mess, but it will clean up. Meanwhile, your kids may forget everything you teach them, but they will remember that you are the absolute coolest mom. They will remember the fun you had together and how they were more important than a spotless house. OK, so they might not actually think of all that, but I gurantee they'll remember if you make the house more important. Besides, this isn't just for them. You're supposed to be having fun here too. The arts and crafts of a country provide a glimpse of what is important to the people of that country. And imitation of those arts and crafts is a great way to learn about them. And, really, papier mache is very theraputic.
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Hands On Crafts For Kids
great projects for many different countries
Making Books With Children
books around the world
World Play Toys
Each month we will share with you a new toy - directions on how you can make the toy and tell about the country from where it came.
ELCA.org Country packets
mission info, recipes, craft ideas
Kinder Art Multicultural Art and Craft Lessons for Kids K-12
Free Multicultural Art Lessons, Ideas, Crafts and Activities for Kids of All Ages
ZOOM . activities . do
PBS Kids
DLTK's Countries and Cultures Section
DLTK's Countries and Cultures crafts, coloring and more
Rainbow Kids
Kids Activities (coloring pages, cultural info)
Multicultural Preschool Activities and Crafts
Multicultural preschool printable activities, crafts and lesson plans for toddlers, preschool and kindergarten.
Paper Model of a Globe
Print the picture (GIF) or the PDF-file.

Continent Boxes

Another fun idea!

I've often wondered where to store all the "artifacts" we create during our studies of different countries. I think I've finally found a solution in a simple Montesorri inspired idea from LaPaz Home Learning.

Continent Boxes are sort of like treasure boxes- one for each continent- which contain maps, books, and artifacts from the countries on that continent. You can buy or create things specifically for your continent boxes, or you can do a "scavenger hunt" around the house to see what objects you can come up with.

The boxes can be plain shoe boxes or plastic totes, or you can decorate them with a map from each continent or a collage of pictures, flags, etc. from that continent.

HERE are some things to include in your boxes.

Looking For Real Souvenirs and Food Items?

Here are some sites where you can order them.
Woman's Missionary Union
WorldCrafts is a nonprofit ministry of WMU that imports handcrafts from many different areas of the world and markets them in the USA.
Simply Australian
Here's where Aussies in the US find Vegemite, Tim Tams, Violet Crumbles, Cherry Ripes, Shapes and other great tastes from down under.
ChinaSprout
Learn Chinese, Chinese Books, Chinese Clothing, Chinese Jewelry, Moon Cakes and more.
Learn About China Kit
Real Chinese Goodies in the Mail
A Touch of Dutch
A Touch of Dutch is a specialty gift store featuring imported Dutch Foods, Blue Delftware, Northridge Gardens massage bars, Heritage Lace, hand-made quilts, and products such as all natural and sugar free foods.

Games

You can learn a lot about a culture from the games it plays. Some games are a way for children to practice skills which will be important for them to have later in life. Most are played using materials that can be found at hand. Climate also plays into what games might be played. You don't find ice hockey in Africa after all.
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Games Around The World
A free 4-H pdf file with over forty pages of games from around the world.
Traditional Children's Games from Around the World
Discover how children from many countries play different versions of the same traditional games.
Mission Games and Activities
Includes crafts, games, and sports ideas that will involve your students in an on-misssion lifestyle.
Multicultural Games
Learn about contemporary and ancient games.
Multicultural, Cross-cultural & Intercultural
Games & Activities
Multicultural Games
CanTeach contains online resources for educators, including lesson plans, links, discussion lists, and more!
Games from Around the World
Carnival Game Ideas. These would be great for a geography fair.

Field Trips

Alright, these aren't technically part of your living room, but a trip to an ethnic store or festival is still cheaper than a visit to the actual country. The best part is that someone else is doing most of the work for you. You just have to think of where you will go. Visit a pet store to look at tropical birds when you study South America. Or take a trip to the zoo and look for animals from the country you are studying. Most kids love animals and this also presents an opportunity to discuss habitats and such. I know of one woman who would research what breeds of dogs came from each country and arrange a visit to a breeder. Another would visit dance schools to view dances that came from various countries. Again, be creative.

Nelis' Dutch Village Theme Park
A place to learn about the Netherlands in Holland, Michigan.

Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
This outdoor, living-history museum currently features six permanent, outdoor exhibits comprised of original farm buildings from Ireland, England, Germany, and Virginia. The Museum's exhibits serve as the settings for interpretative and educational programs designed to increase public knowledge of the diverse Old World origins of early immigrants to America, of how these immigrants lived in their homelands, how they came to America, and how the way-of-life they created together on the American frontier has shaped the success of the United States.

Kentucky Down Under
Have you ever met a kangaroo? Ever played a didgeridoo? Ever fed a rainbow (lorikeet)? You could travel 9,500 miles to Australia to do these things, or just visit Kentucky Down Under. Nestled away in south-central Kentucky sits a little piece of Australia. At Kentucky Down Under you'll discover a hands-on family fun adventure!

Books

You've already read a lot of books which were full of great information. But don't forget to read a few just for fun. Don't just read about your new country, but read the books that the natives would read. Folk and fairy tales tell a lot about people, and they are easy to remember. Novels set in different countries or biographies of famous people are also good learning tools. Read lots and lots, but skip those books that seem to drag. Tour guides don't have to be boring!

Travel For Kids
Places to visit, Books to read

Food

OK, I admit it, it's all about the food. You can't visit a country without sampling their food, right? Which brings me to my favorite type of books: cookbooks! You can learn so much from a cookbook. But if you can't find the one you are looking for, the internet is also full of recipe sites. Ideally this should be eaten while in costume. But since we usually have our feast at the end of a study, the costumes are usually wrecked by now. So don't sweat it if your Egyptian feast is eaten in jeans and t-shirts. My kids aren't perfect either. (Not perfect. But really, really cute). Just enjoy the meal, and try to remember to take this seriously. Ahem! This is research after all.
Passport on a Plate: A Round-the-World Cookbook for Children

Passport on a Plate: A Round-the-World Cookbook for Children

by: Diane Simone Vezza

Amazon Price: $38.95 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now

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Documenting Your Unit

You've spent a lot of time on your unit study, and you'll want to remember everything you learned. Creating a lapbook or a notebook is a great way to record all those interesting facts, and a wonderful keepsake you will treasure (and review) for years to come. Ofcourse, you can create your own from scratch. But here are some great premade kits if you're not that brave.
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International Geography Quest Lapbook
This 112-page Project Pack is packed with information and activities! It includes a 21-page Research Guide about the Science of Geography, Five Themes of Geography, Studying the Geography of the Earth, People on Earth, Wildlife, and much more along with 22 corresponding hands-on activities for your student to complete a lapbook on International Geography. Choose a country of choice and use the 21 additional hands-on activities to complete a lapbook on that country!
Mountain Habitats Lapbook
This 78-page unit includes an 18-page Research Guide and 22 hands-on activities about the characteristics, wildlife, types of mountains, and much more!
Country and Cultures Lapbook
Guest Hollow
Geography Mini Office
This is a fun way to make a Geography Mini Office that doubles as an Atlas. Included is some great links across the web and a instructional video on how to put it togther to from some helpful pockets.

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Adding A Mission Emphasis To Your Study

Here are some great resources to help you study geography with an emphasis on missions.

Teaching With God's Heart for the World
Teaching with God's Heart for the World by Ann Dunagan This is the two-volume world missions curriculum by Ann Dunagan. The curriculum includes day-by-day teaching plans, missionary highlights, motivational mission stories, crafts, songs, prayer projects, and hundreds of ways to incorporate a passion for the lost into nearly every subject (including Bible Study, Family Devotions, Reading, Writing, Geography, History, Art, Science, and even highlights for Math). Harvest Ministry is considering republishing this out of print book. In the meantime, they are offering it as free download pdf files. Throughout the 2010-2011 school year at SeriousMoms.com a mission-minded homeschool mother of four, Brenda Scott, is leading other homeschooling families in "blogging-through" the Teaching with God's Heart for the World curriculum.
Mission Friends
Mission Friends is a children's mission resource packed with excitement! In Mission Friends, LCMS missionaries share stories, recipes, games and more from people of many countries.
Kids On Mission
videos and study guides for various countries (narration is done in an annoying cartoon voice, but the videos are pretty nice)

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LilliputStation

Homeschooling mother of nine: ages 8 months-16 years. We love notebooking, lapbooking, unit studies, and hands-on education. Visit Lilliput Station Adventures... more »

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