Introduction to Geography

After spending a solid two weeks doing our Science Unit on earthworms, I decided it was time to get started on a little Geography as well. Just as I wanted the point of reference for all of our Science lessons to be the kids' scientific classification binders, I also set up a binder for the kids for their Geography point of reference. This binder contains a series of pictures that look like this:



They are
1. The planet earth
2. The seven continents
3. Countries within continents
4. States within countries
5. Counties and cities within states

We used these pictures to talk about the nature of the world. (We also discussed neighborhoods, houses, and rooms, but we had no pictures for these.) I wanted the kids to get a feel for where they fit in the world, but not put them at the center of the universe as so many other curriculum do. They fit as part of a bigger picture, each a piece in the world's giant puzzle.

With this as a foundation, we decided to start our Geography class out with a unit on our own country. (This was good timing for this unit since it started on June 14th (Flag Day) and would take us all the way through the week of the 4th of July.) After covering The United States as a country, as well as our early President's, the constitution, national symbols, ets. (see Core Knowledge Sequence), then we will move onto units on several of the individual states. How many of them we can get through before Christmas, I don't know; however, after Christmas we will be moving back into broader Geography with a look at several other countries. (Specifically the countries that are represented at Epcot center at Disney World--that way our trip there will be more meaningful! And because so many of those countries will be a good precursor for our American History Curriculum for first grade, of course. Come on now, we can't base everything in our life around our Disney World Trip next April!) After studying countries we will step back out again and move onto a brief look at the other continents not already represented in our study--Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica. Then if we have time before the school year ends, I would like to do a unit on the Planets and Space. That would bring our Geography class full circle and stay coherent with our educational scheme. (Not that the kids notice, but my organized mind needs the structure.) I know this is a crazy lot to cover for a Kindergarten curriculum, but hey, if we end up home schooling long term, I am going to shake up the way I do a lot of things and take a giant leap away from regular school curriculum. Then I can use this class as a general guide to the world, and go on to teach history the way I would really like to--from the beginning, taking my time, with a comprehensive look at whole cultures. Thus merging the study of history, art, music, literature, philosophy, science, mathematics, and even religion. Oh, if I am up for the task of it all, and it is what we feel like is right, it could be so beautiful!