One of the things I find a lot of joy in is seeing M learn U.S. Geography. We are not following a boxed curriculum but instead have pieced together a few key things for homeschool geography that is working for us. I find that this approach is one that she is enjoying and because of that, she is absorbing the material deeply and really learning! We keep it simple and fun which is best for all of us.
All of the things that we are doing could be used for all elementary ages (or teaching multiple ages if that is where you are at). M is in 4th grade this year, so we use a combination of independent study learning and games. For younger kids, the same worksheets are suitable. If you have younger kids, you could just work on finding the answers together. These ideas are great for homeschool geography or to supplement other geography programs for fun.
Here is what we are doing to learn the states:
Individual notebook pages
We are using individual notebooking pages printed from the U.S.A. Activity Pack from The Crafty Classroom. Each day that M does a geography notebook page, she takes out her books, pencils, crayons, and goes to work.
The resource books she uses are:
These books are the resources for her to find the answers to fill in her notebook pages. M is in the 4th grade. Because she is older, we have chosen this to be an independent task. She likes the quiet time of just looking at the books and filling in the notebooking pages herself. First, she reads through a bunch of the info they have in the atlas about that state and chooses a fun fact that she finds memorable. She uses this for the facts and notes section of the notebooking. M really enjoys the pictures in these books and loves spending some quiet time really making her notebook pages look beautiful. After we complete all 50 pages, I will laminate them back to back and put them in a binder. For now, though, we are just storing them in the front pocket of the 3-ring binder.
If you have younger kiddos or are teaching multiple ages at the same time, these notebooking pages and the atlases are still really great. I love how they can be used independently or with help from mom or teacher. The notebook pages will reflect your kid’s skills at their grade level, so they can still get out of the task what they need to. I think The Crafty Classroom did an excellent job of making them simple enough for littles but detailed enough for the older elementary too!
Drawing
We have been using Draw the USA which is a fantastic book that teaches step-by-step how to draw all of the states and the USA as a whole. M has been working on tracing each page with tracing paper. Each time she does this it only takes a few minutes. It is amazing how just drawing/tracing over these pages is teaching her the placement of the states, where states are located, the abbreviations, and so much more. I just adore how simple and effective this is.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Draw the USA (Draw the World) |
$19.89 |
Buy on Amazon |
Gameschooling
Admittedly, I am pretty new to game schooling. I am so sad that I didn’t know about it sooner in our homeschool journey. Now that I am on the bandwagon though, I am just so happy with how this has calmed our homeschool days and sparked some new joy into our routines.
We have found some pretty fantastic games that are specifically helping us with U.S.A. geography. M knows she is playing learning games, but she doesn’t care at all because it means quality one on one time with me while the babies nap.
Ticket to Ride is a super fun game that has quickly become a favorite. In this game, you build train routes between major cities in the USA. M is getting super familiar now with those large cities and where they are on the map. These are not capital cities but major cities. Even though we haven’t visited many of the cities in the game yet, she is learning to know what state they are in. Awesome! I hope you get a chance to check out their Amazon reviews. Lots of people are chiming in about how great this game is.
| Preview | Product | Price | |
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Ticket to Ride Board Game - A Cross-Country Train Adventure for Friends and Family! Strategy Game... |
$43.12 |
Buy on Amazon |
There are lots more geography games on our wish list. The reviews on these other games look pretty fantastic too!
- Flags, Capitals & Location - Show the country on the map, recognize the flags of the world or name the capital city. All 194 countries & a world map included.
- Family Board Game - Find the strongest fact about the country and win. Train your memory and brain while having fun.
- For Kids & Adults - For all stages of knowledge. One of the best educational board games for kids 8-12. Smart birthday / Christmas gift idea for teen boys and girls.
- Up-to-date Geography Game - An award-winning world learning card game. Can also be used as flash cards or trivia. Country's data is updated regularly.
- Fun & Educational - The more you play the more you know. Take it on a travel or road trip. For 2 to 5 players ages 8 and up.
- Family Board Game - Race around the world, pass famous landmarks and win. Train memory and brain while having fun. An award-winning world learning game toy.
- Flags, Capitals & Location - Show the country on the map, recognize the flag or name the capital city. Cards hold over 1500 country facts.
- Fun & Educational - The more you play the more you know. Learn about the world while having fun. Take it on a travel or road trip. For 2 to 5 players.
- For Kids & Adults - Action packed game for all stages of knowledge. One of the best educational board games for kids 8-12. Smart birthday gift idea for teen boys and girls.
- Up-to-date Geography Game - All 194 world countries included. Cards can also be used as flash cards or trivia. Country's data is updated regularly.
- ULTIMATE GUESSING GAME: Divide yourselves up in teams, or play one on one, ask up to 10 questions to guess the country on the Game Card! Is it an island? Is this country in South America? Do people pay with euros in this country? Think hard, ask intelligent questions and the be the first player to win 7 Game Cards!
- STRATEGIZE YOUR WAY TO VICTORY: Make use of exciting features such as Clue Cards and Bonus Questions to plan your way to winning 7 cards.
- PLAY IT ANY TIME ANY PLACE: Includes 50 Game Cards, 6 Clue Cards and a handy box to store it all. The box size is portable & travel friendly. Your child can become an instant champion by playing at family game nights, gatherings, birthday parties, play dates, outdoors, plane trips, road trips, summer camps and more!
- PERFECT GIFT: Makes the perfect gift for boys, girls, parents, adults, friends, families as well as any board game or card game lover.
- FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: This is the most exciting game you’ll find for Family Game Night that can be thoroughly enjoyed by all ages 8 and up!
- Educational Journey: Embark on an exciting educational journey with the Scholastic Race Across the USA Game. Explore the diverse geography of our country while having fun with this engaging board game.
- State-Hopping Adventure: Visit six states, answer geography questions, and race back to your home state to claim victory! The game combines learning and entertainment, making it an ideal choice for educational play.
- Grade-Appropriate Questions: Tailored to each player's grade level, the game ensures that questions are suitable for their educational stage. Enjoy a personalized learning experience that adapts to the unique needs of players.
- Inclusive Gameplay: Designed for kids aged 8 and up, this game allows children from different grades to play together on an even field. Foster friendly competition and collaboration as players of various ages join forces in this educational adventure.
- Perfect for Group Play: Whether it's a family game night or a classroom setting, the Scholastic Race Across the USA Game encourages group play. Bring kids together for a shared learning experience that promotes camaraderie and knowledge sharing.
- The Ultimate Global Location Guessing Game.
- This brilliant, award winning board game has over 1000 questions in 5 categories, including capitals, major cities and towns, events and facts, famous tourist sites and beautiful images of many iconic landmarks and is a great fun way to learn about the world.
- It's quick and simple to play, with everyone playing all the time, so there's no waiting around.
- Fun and educational game with flexible rules which allow many different ways to play, making the game easier or harder and thus accessible and appealing for a broad range of ages and abilities.
- Double sided board with 2 different geography world maps, including a beautiful satellite image of planet earth. Top Trivia Game.
Puzzles
I think doing a USA Puzzle really does help understand where the states go. Every time M does it she gets faster at it. It has been an important part of our homeschool geography. At first, she used the box to see where the states were located. Now that she has done it a few times, I can see which states she is remembering and which ones she is still working on. The reason we picked this specific puzzle is that the pieces are shaped like the states, and almost all of the states are individual pieces (some of the small eastern states are grouped together). I also really like that the capitals are included.
- GREAT GEOGRAPHY GAMES FOR KIDS: GeoToys Kids Puzzles are specially crafted for children who are globally minded or looking to learn more about different countries, states, and provinces. This 26 in x 12.5 in jigsaw puzzle map is an ideal map game for kids.
- PUZZLE FOR ALL AGES: With large and small connecting pieces, kids of any age will enjoy their bright colors. This puzzle for kids are great for learning about the countries of the world.
- COUNTRY-SHAPED PUZZLES: Each puzzle piece is shaped like a different country. With this country jigsaw puzzle, children will learn how our world works together while engaging in a puzzle different than all others!
- PERFECT FOR FAMILY BONDING: An excellent opportunity for family bonding, bringing parents and children together. Working on these jigsaw country puzzles as a family encourages teamwork, communication, and quality time spent together.
- SKILL-BUILDING: At Geotoys, we are dedicated to creating educational and engaging children's puzzles, fostering a love for geography through our puzzle sets. Our amazing puzzles help kids build fine motor skills and enhance cognitive development.
- 【Package and Size】70 pieces round world map puzzles, the total size is 22.8*22.8 inch, each piece has a unique shape and the size is 3.58*2.28 inch, the design of large pieces is easier for kids to identify and grasp. Comes with a delicate gift, convenient to organize and store puzzles, not easy to lose.
- 【Visible Quality】The map puzzles for kids is made of high-quality blue cardboard, thickened and hardened, no layering, no bending, strong and durable. Using laser cutting, the edges are smooth and burr-free, no chipping, no hand injury, and each puzzle fits perfectly. Combining anti-glare images and fine linen drawing paper, high-definition images, bright colors, non-reflective and eye-damaging. DIGOBAY puzzles are of a quality you are sure to admire.
- 【Interesting world map】 Every kid is full of desire to explore the world in they exist in. We transform the world map into pieces of puzzles, making the boring geography learning concrete, visualized and interesting. The puzzles incorporate landmarks, natural landscapes, folk culture, unique animals and delicacies. Through lively cartoon pictures, children are led into an interesting geographical world, allowing kids to increase their knowledge and broaden their horizons while playing.
- 【Educational Toys】Puzzles are a fun educational activity that can effectively stimulate the brain and help kids develop while playing and learning. Cultivate their observation, concentration, hand-eye coordination, memory. We also provide 1:1 scale instructions, making it easy for beginning kids to complete independently. At the same time, jigsaw puzzle is also a good parent-child game and social game, it will be more fun to play with family and friends.
- 【Surprise Gift】Exquisite box, very suitable for gift giving. This high quality and beautiful geography puzzle is perfect as a birthday, Christmas or holiday gift for kids ages 4-8, 8-10, 10-12. Kids will definitely love it. At the same time, we also provide 90-day worry-free after-sales service, if you have any questions, please tell us, and we will provide you with a satisfactory answer.
- The size of the puzzle after being assembled is 19.7" x 29.5" (50 x 75 cm). The product dimensions are 10" x 7" x 2.3" (26 x 18 x 6 cm)
- Come with A2 size world map poster
- Unique shape puzzle with glossy finish and light texture
- A great gift for all ages on birthdays and holidays
- Puzzle Like Art: This world map is a worthy framed wall art piece to adorn any room of your home or office
Homeschool geography in real life
I love thinking outside the box for all learning experiences. Some other ideas to learn about individual states are to take field trips to a destination that help the kids discover a historical event or a significant place for that state. We live in Michigan and some of the ways we have learned more about our state was by visiting the state capitol building and also learning some of our state’s history when we visited Colonial Michilimackinac.
What are your thoughts on teaching homeschool geography?
These are the resources we are currently using. Have you found other things that really help your kiddos with U.S. Geography? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to join the conversation.
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Last update on 2024-10-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
