Based on what I've read so far about Charlotte Mason's thoughts on teaching kids geography, she encourages us to get outside and to make sure our children are familiar with their "world"... their yard and the surrounding areas. They should know North, South, East, and West in relation to their home, and so on. I'm still reading more on this, so you more experienced CM'ers keep in mind I'm still learning! Anyway, in keeping with that idea, I had Kathryn make a map of our home and yard.
One of the main ways we've covered geography this year has been through doing a workbook of basic map skills. Kathryn has enjoyed it, and it definitely taught her things like what a map key is, all about the compass rose, and so forth. Despite how much we love the CM style of schooling, I have a workbook-loving girl, so we incorporate some of those in here and there. We also have been doing coloring worksheets for each state, with the state flag, state bird, and things like that. Then we color in that state on our big US map that is on the wall in our school room. The map skills pages and state worksheets go into a Geography notebook. And of course some of our Ambleside readings, like Paddle To The Sea, are under the subject heading of geography as well. I know I'll be doing Ambleside Year 2 next year, but I haven't decided what, if anything, I may do for geography in addition to that. I'm looking into the possibilities and reading Volume One of Charlotte Mason's Home Education Series. And as I get ready to order the necessary books and such for next year, I am excited about beginning 2nd grade, and really itching to get our bookcases built! I've got a magazine page on the refrigerator for inspiration... as soon as we get going on that, I will be posting pictures of the progress and the finished product!
One of the main ways we've covered geography this year has been through doing a workbook of basic map skills. Kathryn has enjoyed it, and it definitely taught her things like what a map key is, all about the compass rose, and so forth. Despite how much we love the CM style of schooling, I have a workbook-loving girl, so we incorporate some of those in here and there. We also have been doing coloring worksheets for each state, with the state flag, state bird, and things like that. Then we color in that state on our big US map that is on the wall in our school room. The map skills pages and state worksheets go into a Geography notebook. And of course some of our Ambleside readings, like Paddle To The Sea, are under the subject heading of geography as well. I know I'll be doing Ambleside Year 2 next year, but I haven't decided what, if anything, I may do for geography in addition to that. I'm looking into the possibilities and reading Volume One of Charlotte Mason's Home Education Series. And as I get ready to order the necessary books and such for next year, I am excited about beginning 2nd grade, and really itching to get our bookcases built! I've got a magazine page on the refrigerator for inspiration... as soon as we get going on that, I will be posting pictures of the progress and the finished product!
