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.
Contents at a Glance
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.) Examples of "Atmosphere"
Peru
Poland
Russia
Holland
Malaysia
China
Africa
Pakistan
Where To Go For Info
A few fun places to do your research
- 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!
- Kids On Mission
- videos and study guides for various countries (narration is done in an annoying cartoon voice, but the videos are pretty nice)
- 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.
- 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.
A Few Books To Check Out
find these at the the local library or buy them to add to your own collection
P is for Passport: A World Alphabet Edition 1. (Discover the World)
This is a great series! The publisher also offers a free teacher's guide with printable activities to go along with it. Teacher's Guide
Children Just Like Me
My children were facinated by this book. The authors traveled around the world interviewing and photographing children and their suroundings. Very educational~ even for me.
More Sites You Should Visit
additional resources for adding atmosphere
- Colouring Book of Flags
- This page is part of the Flags Of The World website.
- Biomes of the World
- Answer the question: What's It Like Where You Live? Learn about terrestrial biomes and aquatic ecosystems. Follow link to site about plants.
- Online Field Journal Dioramas
- The American Museum of Natural History FAMILY ACTIVITIES website where parents and children, ages 4-7, can explore and observe nature together.
- Painters by Country - International Painters
- Painters categorized by country is a selection of International fine artists listed in the Painting section at Linkism.com
- WebMuseum
- Famous Artworks exhibition
- Agriculture In The Classroom
- Continents & Countries
- Bzzpeak
- Animals Sounds Around the World
- 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
- Canon Creative Park
- Canon Inc. provides a wealth of free download materials on this site.
- Paper Toys
- Free printable 3-d paper models you can build.
- Paper Crafts | YAMAHA MOTOR
- Make your own paper models of motorcycles, rare animals and more.
- National Geographic World Music
- National Geographic World Music Web Site Home Page
- Mama Lisa's World: Children's Songs and Nursery Rhymes from Around the World
- Children's songs and nursery rhymes from all over the globe presented both in English and their native languages. Many include MP3, realaudio or midi sound clips and sheet music.
- Mudcat For kids
- Learn how to make musical instruments from everyday materials.
- The Quest For a New world Instrument
- World Music Lesson & Links
- 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. When you purchase WorldCrafts you:
Assist women and men who live in poverty in providing for their families
Support missions while buying great gifts for your family and friends - 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.
Art Around the World
- 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.
Music 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. 
Costume Ideas Online
- 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.
- Egyptian Costume
- Patterns and ideas.
- Greek Costume
- No sewing necessary!
- Costume Ideas
- How to dress up in a Greek chiton, Roman toga, Sari, and Arab haik
- 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. Cultural Crafts That Others Have Done
pinata
dragon mask
Mongolian felt
abacus
Mexican poncho
Pueblo house
terra cotta soldiers
Chinese book
wigwam
Egyptian scroll
Some Sites With Great Cultural Crafts
- 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.
Crafting Books From Amazon
You can find lots of ideas online, but sometimes a book is just easier.
Around the World Art & Activities: Visiting the 7 Continents Through Craft Fun (Williamson Little Hands Series)
Amazon Price: $10.36 (as of 07/25/2008)
Hands-On Asia: Art Activities for All Ages (Hands-On)
Amazon Price: $13.60 (as of 07/25/2008)
Kids Around the World Create!: The Best Crafts and Activities from Many Lands (Kids Around the World)
Amazon Price: $11.01 (as of 07/25/2008)
Hands On Crafts For Kids Crafts Around the World (Hands on Crafts for Kids)
Amazon Price: $14.95 (as of 07/25/2008)
Africa for Kids: Exploring a Vibrant Continent, 19 Activities (For Kids series)
Amazon Price: $13.46 (as of 07/25/2008)
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.
Links to Multicultural Games Sites
- 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
- Around the world, children have one thing in common. They love to play games. Discover how children from Venezuela, Mexico,Korea, China, Germany, and many other countries play different versions of the same traditional games such as jump rope, marbles, tag, top spinning, hopscotch, jacks, card games.
- Mathematical Games With a Multicultural Flare
- Sixteen Soldier's, Nine Men's Morris, Pachisi, and more.
- 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:
Where is the game played & where did it originate? How do you play? What kind of equipment do you need? - Multicultural, Cross-cultural & Intercultural
- Games & Activities
- Multicultural Games
- CanTeach contains online resources for educators, including lesson plans, links, discussion lists, and more!
Multicultural Games Books
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. Cultural Field Trip Destinations in the USA
- Nelis' Dutch Village Theme Park & Shopping in Holland, Michigan
- A family fun park with a touch of Dutch.
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! What Should You Read?
Where to go for book suggestions
- Travel For Kids
- Places to visit, books to read.
- Stories to Grow By with Whootie Owl
- Children's folk stories, reader's theatre and fairytales.
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. International Cookbooks
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.
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.
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.
- 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!
Making A Unit of It
A few books to help you tie the rest of your subjects into your geography study
More Geography Studies
If you've enjoyed this lens, you may enjoy these unit studies
- Japan
- Asia
- China
- Asia
- Mexico
- North America
- Native Americans
- North America
Please Sign My Guestbook
and please rate this lens!
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oneskms
Some great resources for all - 5* - well done Posted July 11, 2008 |
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poddys
A very nice lens with useful tools for parents of young children. 5***** I love the name - actually I was born in Lilliput - TRUE! See my lensography - it really does exist... Posted July 01, 2008 |
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GramaBarb
Just the kind of site I love!! I am Grama who stays involved with children and seniors. Posted January 27, 2008 |
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beadinggem
Great lens! Although my lens is in the DIY & Hobbies section, it's a different angle to world geography. Gemstone Place Names Posted December 29, 2007 |
marilene
This is a great help! Thanks!
Posted December 17, 2007
