What Is The Best Way To Teach Geography To Kids

hy many adults cannot make sense of different countries and where they are in the world?

what is wrong with the way geography is taught in a typical classroom?

Is it possible to make geography more interesting for kids?

How much of geography you can relate to that you learned in your classroom?

I remember learning about contours, and many other useless things that were difficult to understand and had no connection whatsoever to my life.

Also being assessed on things like whether I could label a map of Europe correctly didn’t seem like an accurate way to measure my understanding of the subject.

The teacher hardly went outside the books and the emphasis was on rote learning rather than enjoying and understanding the subject.

In short, I was bored senseless by geography lessons at school and it wasn’t until I started traveling that I became interested in the subject.

Geography is incredibly important, but it is often taught in a way that makes it seem dry and uninteresting. It doesn't have to be this way! There are many ways to make geography more exciting for kids.

How learning geography helps kids:

Builds cultural awareness and understanding: As kids learn about different cultures and countries, they become more aware and understanding of the world around them. This can help to build tolerance and respect for others.

Gives a sense of Identity: Geography can help kids to understand where they fit into the world. It can also help them to learn about their own culture and heritage.

Develops problem-solving skills: Many of the concepts in geography require kids to think critically and solve problems. For example, map reading skills can come in handy when trying to navigate your way around a new place.

Encourages an appreciation for the environment: Kids who learn about geography often develop a greater appreciation for the environment. They learn about the importance of conserving natural resources and protecting our planet.

Helps understand political borders: By understanding where countries are located in relation to each other, kids can develop a better understanding of the world's political borders. This can help them to make sense of current events and better understand the news.

As you can see, there are many good reasons why kids should learn geography. It is a subject that can be very beneficial to them in a number of ways.

So how can you make geography more interesting for kids?

Adding the Human Element-

One way to make geography more interesting for kids is to focus on the human element. For example, instead of just memorizing facts about different countries, focus on the people who live there. What are their customs and traditions? What is their daily life like? This will help kids to see that there are real people living in these places, not just abstract concepts.

No wonder vloggers who show their lives from different parts of the world have become popular, kids can easily relate to them.

Make It Hands-On-

Another way to make geography more interesting for kids is to make it hands-on. There are many ways to do this. One option is to create a giant map of the world that kids can walk on. This will help them to get a better sense of the size and scale of different countries. You can also use play dough to create models of different landforms. Or, you can have kids create their own maps of imaginary countries. There are endless possibilities!

There are puzzles and games like Mapology that kids can see in Augmented reality as well.

Use Technology-

Technology can also be used to make geography more interesting for kids. There are many great apps and websites that can be used to help kids learn about different countries. You can also use Google Earth to take kids on a virtual tour of different places around the world. There are endless possibilities!

Recently we explored the app Geo Guesser, where we can go to different places on the map and guess the place with clues.

Integrating History -

Another way to make geography more interesting is to focus on the physical aspects of the world. Kids are naturally curious about the world around them, so if you can tap into that curiosity, they will be more engaged. For example, instead of just memorizing the names of different mountain ranges, focus on how they were formed. This will help kids to see that the world is a constantly changing place and that there is a lot to learn about it.

There are many ways to teach geography, but some methods are more effective than others. Many adults struggle with geography because they were taught in a traditional classroom setting where the focus was on memorizing facts and figures. This can be quite boring for kids, and as a result, they may not retain much of the information.

Give a broader perspective -

I always help my son connect with people from different countries to give him a broader perspective. It helps him to understand their time zones, culture, festivals, and how they are different or similar to us. When he hears about a natural disaster or a political upheaval in the news, he easily relates to it as he knows someone who would be affected by it.

Recently his friend from Japan told him about the Cherry blossoms and since then my son has been very excited about it and wants to visit Japan to see them.

Traveling with kids -

My son and I travel as much as possible. This has helped him to learn about different cultures and customs. He has also gained a better understanding of the world and how it works. Traveling has also helped him to develop a sense of responsibility and independence.

I make sure to involve him in the entire process, right from the planning stage to the execution. This way he knows exactly what is going on and can be a part of the decision-making process.

I also make sure to include some educational activities in our travels, such as visiting museums and historical sites. This helps him to learn about different cultures and history in a fun and interactive way.

Take the help of media -

There are many great educational shows and movies that can help kids learn about different countries and cultures. I often use these as a starting point for discussions with my son. He is always eager to learn more about the places we see on TV or in movies.

Watching Discovery, National geography, and History channel with him is one of our favorite pastimes. These shows help him to understand the world better and he often asks me questions about the different places we see.

We also love to read travel books and magazines together.

Reading helps greatly -

In addition to travel books, we also read a lot of fiction and non-fiction books about different cultures. Reading books from different times and places helps him to understand the world better. It also gives him a sense of empathy for people from different cultures.

Small activities to do with kids -

There are many small things you can do to help kids learn about different cultures.

You can cook food from different countries, listen to music from different cultures, or even celebrate holidays from around the world.

You can also teach them basic phrases in different languages. This will help them to understand and appreciate the diversity of the world.

Making a travel bucket list with kids- This can be a fun activity that you can do together. Start by brainstorming all the different places you would like to visit. Then, research each place and find out more about the culture, cuisine, and history.

Reading news together - This is a great way to help kids understand current events. Discuss the news with them and explain things in a way that they can understand.

Some courses and websites that you must checkout

-Global Perspective from Cambridge

-Preschool Arctic Expedition

-National Geography Expeditions

There are many ways to make geography more interesting for kids. By adding the human element, making it hands-on, using technology, and integrating history, you can help kids to see that geography is more than just memorizing facts and figures. It is a dynamic and ever-changing subject that can be quite fascinating

‍