A homemade compass is such an easy geography project that gives a huge wow factor for kids of any age. Also, grab more tips on my How to Homeschool High School page.Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.
Too, the longer I homeschool, the more specific my list becomes of what my curriculum has to include, which is easy hands on activities for multiple ages of kids.
That is one reason I jumped at the chance of using North Star Geography because of simple activities like making a home made compass.
I don’t care how many times we do this simple hands on project, both of my boys like it.
What I like about the activities too in North Star Geography is that Mr. Awesome and Tiny can gather the supplies and do this on their own.
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All they needed me from me is to take their picture to remind them to write down what they learned.
Simple Homemade Compass
A simple list of items to do this easy geography activity includes:
- a lid or bowl of some sort with water in it.
- a needle, straight pin or paper clip
- something that will float like a cork or a leaf
- the much needed magnet
The key is rubbing the paperclip against the magnet to magnetize it and then placing it on the leaf to see it rotate north/south.
The boys already know which direction our house is facing or north/south though it would be helpful for younger kids to place a compass beside them.
We didn’t include one because the boys thought they were too old for that didn’t need one.
More Fun Homeschool Geography Resources
- Simple and Fun Homeschool Geography Ideas for High School
- Homeschool High School World Geography Program
- DIY Atlas – North Star Highschool Geography
- 5 Steps to Choosing Geography Living Books Your Children Will Love
- The Anatomy of a Well Laid Out Homeschool High School Geography Curriculum.
- Homeschool Geography Go To Resources
Homeschool High School Geography Resources and Books
Geography for high school should still be fun and hands-on. It can take years to find the right resources. However, I’ve gathered up some of my favorite books and resources.
North Star Geography covers basic geography skills (maps, navigation) as well as physical geography (topography, biosphere, structure of the earth) and human geography (environmental stewardship, agriculture, culture, heritage & more)—all from a Christian perspective. Each lesson in the Reader is approximately 10-15 pages and geared toward junior high-high school students, though it may be adapted for younger students; the text features full-color maps, illustrations, and interesting sidebars. Accompanying each lesson on the Companion Guide, hands-on project options, as well as an “atlas building” section where students label outline maps, are provided. Note-taking pages feature ten questions taken from the text that can be used for review or comprehension questions, as well as for a study guide for the exam
Brenda Runkle’s World Physical Geography makes an often-boring topic come to life!
With our world seeming to shrink with each passing week, knowing about virtually all peoples and nations is more important than ever.
It focuses on physical geography, providing the basis for learning the fundamentals of geography.
Challenges students to remember important facts and encourages them to enjoy themselves in the process.Deals with facts and principles related to the study of life science, physical science, and earth and space science.
Around the World in 180 Days is a geography and history program covering the history, geography, and culture of each continent. And yet this is not a textbook. It is a series of questions that the student must research in order to answer. Plenty of resources are suggested to help students conduct their research, and the teacher's edition provides all the answers. This revised and updated curriculum is written with a multilevel approach with study questions for students of all grade levels, making this a curriculum your whole family can do together! This two-volume set includes an illustrated teacher's edition and a student workbook.
Get out the sombrero for your Mexican fiesta! Chinese egg rolls! Corn pancakes from Venezuela! Fried plantains form Nigeria! All this and more is yours when you take your family on a whirlwind tour of over thirty countries in this unique international cookbook. Jam-packed with delicious dinners, divine drinks, and delectable desserts, this book is sure to please.
Student worktexts include daily instruction and review as well as ample opportunity for assessment of student performance using self tests and unit tests. To encourage individualized instruction, we have included a teacher's guide designed to help you guide your student's learning experience according to his specific interests and needs. This essential teaching resource includes teaching notes for each unit, a complete answer key, and information about additional resources and learning activities.
If you would like a geography course that includes mapping activities, atlas usage, research, notebooking and culture with very little teacher preparation, look no further. The Trail Guide to World Geography is a week one, day one kind of teacher s manual with daily geography drills (answers included) and numerous weekly assignment choices. <P> Multi-level geography course for 36 week school year for elementary through high school. <P> Assign as much or as little as YOU decide.
After a few minutes the homemade contraption finds it ways to a north/south position.
Geography doesn’t have to be over the top even for your middle and high school students. Keep on providing opportunities for them to add in hands-on activities through to high school.
And of course I am loving the fact that North Star Geography gives me the chance to be hands off as the educator by providing simple ideas that my boys can do on their own.
Do we really need one more curriculum that requires intensive teacher prep?
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