free geography curriculum

Geography for Little People

Dear Sis,

I recently posted Global Greetings Geography, a full year of cultural immersion for elementary homeschool families. This is what I plan to use for our 2022-2023 school year. 

This post is the prequel. We are using what I am call Geography for Little People this year. This is a single semester (18 week) geography immersion for your littlest learners, (Preschool – 3rd grade). It can be used with a single student or family style. Eventually, I hope to post an 18 week health and safety class for littles that can be paired with this course for a full 36 weeks of programming in a given time block. 

The Text

Beginner’s World Atlas (spine)

Beginner’s World Atlas by National Geographic Kids

This link leads to the 5th edition, which came our in July of 2022. We bought our book before that date, so we have the 4th edition, published in July 2019. Either will work for this course.

Children Just Like Me (spine)

Children Just Like Me by DK

This book develops the cultural side of geography, because geography isn’t just places… its people too! Occasionally this book is used heavily. On such weeks, you may need to break the reading into two sittings. One do half, break for the sticker activity, and then do the second half.

World Atlas Sticker Activity Book

(consumable)

World Atlas Sticker Activity Book by Nation Geographic Kids

This book adds a hands-on aspect! What little person doesn’t like stickers?! Please note that you will need one copy per student.

The Manipulatives

Every homeschool family needs a globe and world wall map! If you haven’t invested in these items, please do! The inflatable globe from the Dollar Tree is a good place holder until you can invest in a good quality globe (might be a good item for a birthday or holiday wish list). Just don’t let your kids pop it, like mine did on the very first week of school…lol. Our wall map is actually a wall quilt I made in 4H a few decades ago, but it works great.

Lastly, this compilation makes use of a world map floor puzzle. There are countless purchasing options here as well!

Without further ado here is the schedule, so you can get started teaching your littles geography!

Geography for Little People Curriculum Schedule PDF

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b




Global Greetings Geography

Dear Sis,

I love the idea of literature based curriculum, but I learned last year that the prep work required to keep up with Torchlight was more than I can manage, from week to week. Also we do read aloud as a family for fun, so I don’t want to do too many subjects with a literature approach. 

As I’m pieces together a plan for our kindergarten year, I’m finding we lack a fun engaging way to study geography material. This literature based compilation borrows some material from the reading lists of both Torchlight Level K and Build Your Library Level 0, which both have a global theme.

This elementary program can be used for a single student or as a family. Adding the optional cookbook, and using it on the weeks when time allows, will greatly enrich your family experience. In addition to the books below, the curriculum schedule includes prompts for an eight week family geography/history journaling project.

The text: Books will be labeled as consumable (one per student), spine (plan to purchase for reoccurring use), single use (can be borrowed from library to cut cost).

A Story Series (single use)

Greetings from Somewhere by Paris Harper, is an illustrated chapter book mystery series. Ethan and Ella bring adventure into your home as they travel the world with their parents, for their mom’s job as a travel writer for the local paper. Each book can be read in one or two sittings. Your upper elementary students can take turns helping with the reading too! Over this 36 week program we will read all ten books in the series.

Collection of Folktales (spine)

A Year Full of Stories: 52 folktales and legends from around the world by Angela McAllister, provides short stories arrange by the twelve months of the year from a wide variety of places and cultures. Many of the stories cover various holidays from around the world.

The Atlas (spine)

We have the 4th (2013) edition, of the Kids World Atlas by National Geographic, because we got a great deal on it. The layout is consistent between additions, so the 5th (2018) or 6th (2021) editions will work too.

Update: March 19, 2022

I was able to preview the 6th edition, thanks to our local library. Here are the main changes that aren’t cosmetic or stat/map updates!

  • A two page spread was added in the Physical World section addressing Endangered Species.
  • A two page spread was added in the Political World section addressing human Migration.
  • The East Africa spread was divided into two spreads: Eastern and Central Africa. 
  • The games in the back of the book have been removed.

Please note that page numbers on the schedule will be a bit off with newer additions, so work by content instead of page numbers. Also, the games for the final week will not be available to those with newer text.

The Consumable

Ultimate Sticker Book: Flags Around the World by DK

The Cookbook (optional spine)

Cooking Class Global Feast!: 44 recipes that celebrate the world’s cultures by Deanna F. Cook

This is a 36 week homeschool program. We prefer to do all the weekly activities on a single day, but it can be broken into two or three small portions each week, if that is preferable to your family. Print the schedule to get started.

Global Greetings Geography Curriculum Schedule PDF

Happy Homeschooling!

Love,

b