Geography

Geography sets the stage for the study of history, current events and for missionary work. If we desire to spread the Kingdom of God throughout all the earth, it is essential that we know what the earth looks like, and some basic cultural traits of the tribes of the earth. Knowing georgraphy adds understanding and interest when we hear current events, when we pray for missionaries and when we study history. Further, knowing how to read a map is a necessary tool in many life situations.

Students can, and should, learn the basic facts of world geography in elementary school. This will allow them to put all of their historic and current events learning into a spatial context. There are 6 inhabited continents; I intend to teach one per year in grades 1 - 6. The Geography Coloring Book is the method I prefer. It is fun, since kids love to color. It requires them to spend a long time looking at the maps, in order to color them, which should aid them in memorizing the look of the world. It includes political and topographical maps, maps of large and small areas and many facts that can be used for drill.

I intend to start with North America, because that is home to my students. South America will be next, because it has the least to memorize of any continent. Next will be Europe since we will be studying European history that year. Next will be Australia and the Oceania. The last two years will be Africa and then Asia, which I chose to be last since they have the most countries, and thus the most information to learn.

Young children need an introduction to the abstract concept of maps, so I intend to use Me on the Map as the first part of the first year of geography. It goes outward from a map of a little girl's room, up to a map of the whole world.

This systemmatic study of geography will be interrupted in order to serve the needs of history class. When I introduce a new map in history, the student will trace that map in the corresponding geography time in order to thoroughly familiarize himself with the area we are studying.