All Ages What is a good interactive way to teach kids geography?

MrsRoach

MrsRoach

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What is a good interactive way to teach kids geography? I want something that will be fun for the big kids (12, 13, and 16) and will make a big impact on the younger kids (7 and 10).
 
I think having more visual can make kids very interested on geography and other subjects. Also getting them more involved on the classes like letting them research for a certain place and then let them discuss a little about it those the most artistic possible. Having a lively mood while teaching can also make them interested.
 
In school I had one professor that taught us about geography by allowing us to choose what areas we wanted to focus on so that it gave us more of a "choice" in the matter. He then integrated art projects and study projects with our choices. He basically allowed us to really get to know an area by making us the "go to" person of that area so in a way it sort of made us feel special and yet more responsible since no two people had the same area.
 
I have seen some ideas on Pinterest recently where the teacher drew a huge country map on the schools concrete part of the play ground. I know it would depend on how big of a concrete playing area your school has but the same principle might be able to be applied with large sheets of paper. The students represent the different states; sort of like adult sized chess. And so from that large map you can create learning activities that are interactive.
 
I always look for different types of media that portrays geography, like a globe, or a map even a road atlas, puzzles. I even found a three dimensional puzzle at a Goodwill. I believe if a child can see and touch something that it sparks their curiosity.
 
It think it depends on what age group you are teaching to, because you can use various methods with different ages. How about creating a game like geography bingo for younger kids.
 
Geography is a subject I'm not very good at. But somehow, learning it was fun for me because:

1. I loved having to look at maps or globes as well. It gives me that visual and helps me focus more on certain areas. I don't have to imagine that this country is smaller than this country because you can see that clearly in the globe or map.

2. Trivias make it fun. My teacher back then always gives us fun trivia for the different locations we're studying so it was always fun to hear about these trivia or fun facts.
 
The best way to teach Geography is using visual techniques like maps and charts. Most children are visual learners and imprinting visual graphics on their minds will improve their ability to learn the nitty gritty of what they have already observed. Graphs, illustrations and maps summarize alot of facts. Involve the learners in drawing them for maximum effect.
 
Images always capture peoples attention, doesn't matter how young or how old they are. If you can get some high quality images of the topic you are teaching it might get more of their attention.
 
You can get some videos for your kids to watch. This will help them learn about geography. Some apps can also help in their learning. You can download apps from the app market and install them in their tablets. Travelling is also good for learning. By sharing their travelling stories with other children, they also get to learn about new things.
 
I also like the idea of visual display on Map or movies that explains the world from the cave men till date. I also think drama can be performed which you will name every student of your class at least one country's name so they can play with, it will help them understand faster and adapt well with your lessons.
 
Teach geography beyond the maps. Most of us won't get to view the world from beyond the atmosphere, so we likely will never see the world as it is portrayed on a globe, and it can be harder to appreciate something when we know we will never encounter it in real life. Instead, spark students' interests by showing them what they would see if they visited these countries. What are the landmarks? What are the foods? How do the people look like? How do they dress?

I also suggest teaching how to read a paper map and how to use a compass. GPS will fail sometimes, and a traveler will have to rely on a paper map and a compass to find his/her way. This knowledge has saved me many times when GPS was malfunctioning for some reason.
 
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I would recommend that if your school doesn't encourage field trips because of safety purposes, you can use Google Map. As far as I know, Google Map nowadays, is not just a plain map. They also have the option to see a city in 360 degrees like when you are in a joyride which is pretty fun.
 
Well, the best and creative way to teach geography is by going on a field trip. You can go to different museums, art galleries and historic places as these activities make the learning process even more realistic and experiential for students. However, if this is something not feasible in your school, there are interactive courses online where visuals and videos are part of the modules. This can engage your students, make them do research further and improve overall learning retention of students on certain topics and on newly gained information. Using navigational applications as well such as Waze and Google Maps could help as your teaching materials for geography. Goodluck!
 
Great, your point is a bomb. When students are sent on field trip it will be easy to understand and learn more than just being taught in a formal way. History is not just a simple subject that has just one formula that doesn't change, it is very broad.
 
Maybe you could use google maps or some computer games or quizzes. The children of today like to use computers, maybe like that they can be more interested in Geography.
 
Yeah that's true, we now have educative apps and software that bring questions from the past and it's interesting to have one shown to the learner and you can hold an interactive session with them and have them play the game while you keep a gift for the winner so it can encourage them to learner better and prepare to win next time.
 
Children loves to play. You could utilize this as a learning tool for them. Engaging them in lively games can make them more interactive and focus their attention to you. Colorful images or pictures could also work for them. Their eyes are curious of everything they see around them and colorful pictures could catch their attention. Giving them prizes and praising them could them for their right answers and motivating them in the wrong ones could also work.
 
my father is a geography professor in a local university and I inherited the love of that subject from him, and I think that is that is the case because of the way he use to discuss the subject me as a kid, he use to always take me for long walks in the evening and talk to me about the mountains far away in the background of our lovely neighborhood, the location of the sea from where we stand, the location of the desert, the history of the building around us, it just made me live in my thoughts for a second it always feels magical.
 
I will show them the maps. I believe that the best way to teach them is through an actual going to the place or places that you would like them to know. For example if you will teach them about airports or hospitals. The best thing to do is to bring them physically there.
 
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