Many teachers and parents have reached out to us about how to teach geography for kids. You don't have to know how to teach geography from an expert perspective, as long as you have the right resources. The right geography lesson will also incorporate lessons in counting for kids.
Our popular Learn Every Day series offers 100 best ideas from teachers on the topic of Social Studies activities and lessons for preschoolers. Below are two samples for you to try!
Many teachers and parents have reached out to us about how to teach geography for kids. You don't have to know how to teach geography as an expert, as long as you have the right resources. The right geography lesson will also incorporate lessons in counting for kids.
Our popular Learn Every Day About Social Studies book offers 100 ideas from teachers and homeschoolers. Below are two samples for you to try!
Where? Where? It's on the Map!
Learning Objectives
- Begin to think about geography and mapping.
- Participate in the visual arts.
Materials
- large piece of paper
- markers
- "As The Crow Flies" by Gail Hartman
- pictures of objects on the children's playground
Preparation
Draw a basic outline of the children's playground on a large sheet of paper, leaving blank spaces where playground equipment belongs.
What to Do
- Gather the children together. Read "As the Crow Flies" by Gail Hartman to the children.
- After finishing the story, engage the children in a discussion about the different creatures in the story, and look at the maps for each section. Point out how at the end of the story, the little maps become part of a big map.
- Show the children the large prepared map outline. Tell the children they are going to make a map of their own playground.
- Show the children pictures of the various pieces of playground equipment and challenge the children to indicate where on the maps the equipment belongs.
- Write the name of the piece of equipment in the blank space on the map, and continue until the map is complete.
Assessment
- Can the children identify the names of the pieces of equipment on their playground?
- Can the children correctly indicate where the various pieces of playground equipment belong on the map?
Alaska
Learning Objectives
- Develop map-reading and globe-reading skills.
- Learn about Alaska.
Materials
- North American map
- large poster board or butcher paper
- crayons or colored pencils
Preparation
Pin up a piece of poster board or butcher paper in the classroom or on an outside wall. It should be wide enough so all the children can stand and draw on it at the same time.
What to Do
- Read one of the books or a related book and talk about Alaska with the children.
- Show the children where Alaska is on the map. Point out how far north it is from the continental United States.
- Ask the children what they think it would be like to live in Alaska. Explain that most people there live in cities and towns. What do the children think about igloos and polar bears?
- Provide each child with markers, crayons, and colored pencils. Invite them to draw and color something about Alaska on the big paper. Make sure each child has enough space. If the children are not sure what to draw, suggest polar bears, igloos, arctic foxes, glaciers, and so on.
- After the children finish their drawings, help them sign their names below their work.
Assessment
- Can the children describe Alaska in some way?
- What Alaska features did the children draw?
Get more great activities in Learn Every Day About Social Studies.
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