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Geography

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

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When teaching history, sometimes you have to come in sideways or use games that teach geography. I have more fun game ideas for teaching history on my Kids History Games Boosts Learning & Promotes Critical Thinking page.

For example, gameschooling has become one of the most popular methods for teaching your child.

It doesn’t matter if you gameschool exclusively, unschool, use a packaged curriculum, online lessons, or put together unit studies.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

Games that teach geography can be added to your day and teach so much through playing and enjoying time together.

First, you can build an entire lesson or even a full unit study around a game.

I’m sharing one of favorite games for learning geography.

Besides geography and history can go hand in hand.

Too, I’m showing you other items and activities to add to keep the lessons going as long as you want.

Everything from movies to books, a few more games, and other items helps to round out a geography or history slant or both.

What is Geography

The word geography comes from the Greek geo, which means “Earth,” and graphy, which means “writing or description.

So, geography means to learn about  the Earth’s land its surface, and features including water and air.

However, geography also includes learning about the people of the area, understand landmarks, and appreciating cultural differences

Immediately, you can see a tie in between learning about the natural resources of an area and the people.

Additionally, look at some of these hands-on geography ideas.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

Finally, be sure to check out my post on the 100 Best Books From All 50 States

Hands-on Geography

If you have been around for any length of time you know I am a fan of these Toobs for Safari Ltd.

This USA Landmarks and Symbols set is perfect for learning about symbolism and important places throughout the United States.

Use them as drawing inspiration, in sensory bins for younger children, as part of a diorama, or use them as game markers.

Fun History Games

Too, look at these games below which can be games that teach geography with history.

In addition, look at these fun books and resources to help U.S. geography more lively.

10 U.S. Geography Resources

If you're looking to teach U.S. geography in a hands-on way, you'll love adding one or two of these resources to your day or study.

As you can see combining geography and history is a natural fit.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

Finally, look at how to play the scrambled states of America.

Scrambles States of America

First, The Scrambled States of America is a silly colorful game which introduces states as a game that requires observation and quick reflexes.

You collect the state cards, match them with neighbors, and more.

And you win by familiarizing yourself with the state cards you’re dealt.

Then, you try to be the quickest to respond to action cards like – capital that starts with D or a state that is south of Colorado.

It even comes with a small copy of THE Scrambled States of America Book. Fun.

The Benefits Of Using Games That Teach Geography | Review Of Scrambled States

While this game probably is best for middle to upper elementary. I definitely think that it is still fun for middle school kids.

It is a gentle approach to learning US Geography for anyone that needs to learn or refresh what they already know.

I don’t really have a con for this game except that older kids may feel that it is baby-ish.

However, if they can get past that it’s a great learning tool for the whole family.

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

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Today I have a free Native Americans Plains Indians fun lapbook to add to your list of homeschool lapbooks. Also, you can look at my page Plains Indians Unit Study & Lapbook to see our co-op.

This Plains Indians lapbook was created for upper elementary to middle school. There are approximately ten minibooks in this Native American Plains Indians lapbook.

However, if you do a letter size file you only need eight minibooks. We did one which was letter size and two which were legal size file folder so we could add more fun resources.

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

Besides, learning about the Plains Indians a lapbook is a fun way to organize all the fun bits of information your child wants to know.

Look below at the different minibooks included in this free lapbook.

  • Tribes of the Plains
  • Spear and Shield Dance
  • Food of the Plains Indians
  • Make a leather tipi
  • Tipi with pictographs

Also, here are five more included.

  • Another tipi but create you own design
  • The Great Plains Geography
  • Buffalo a way of life
  • Chiefs of the Great Plains
  • Picture Words

The Plains Indians

If you’re looking for a way to bring learning about the Plains or Native Americans, you’ll love studying about the Plains Indians.

In addition, we concentrated on several areas when studying about the Plains Indians.

First, it was important to me to not perpetuate stereotypes. Nobody likes that done to them. The problem is none of us were alive then.

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

So, we have to use the best primary sources we can find to determine how the Plains Indians lived and what was important to them

In addition, I wanted to include reference resources which were helpful for our age range.

Plains Indians Tribes

First, I wanted the children in our co-op to appreciate a few of the tribes that roamed The Plains.

For example, they are the Mandan, Wichita, Caddo, Kansa, Sioux, Comanche, Pawnee and Crow to name some.

Also, here are a few other topics to include when studying about the Plains Indians.

  • Learn what is pemmican
  • Explore the geography of The Plains because Native Americans learn to live off the land and
  • Investigate how they made tools and clothing
Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

However, not only will you want to share ideas about how Plains Indians lived but make this fun diy pop up book.

It’s not included in this free lapbook because we made with material we had on hand. One of my sons was interested in how the Native Americans road horseback while hunting.

So he was inspired to tittle this book The Stand Off and inspired by the work of George Catlin.

DIY Pop Up Book

Too, I had this older cool book Plains Indians Diorama to Cut & Assemble. So the Native American and buffalo my son cut out of the book.

Then, take a letter size page of construction paper and have your child draw or use markers to illustrate his knowledge of The Plains. Decorate or color the paper with whatever scene your child wants to illustrate.

Next, fold it half and cut two parallel, horizontal slits per image to pop up. Cut the slits on the crease where you want the pop ups at. Try to space the tabs apart where you want your images.

For instance, for the buffalo and the Native American you will cut four slits about one inch and then push the tabs in.

Finally, glue the images on the inside of the book on the tabs. So cute.

I found this video of the pop out book of what we actually did except instead of one tab we had two tabs. 

Your child could print free clipart or use an activity book to add fun things to your lapbooks.

You can add other Native American tribes and use any of the pop up features in activity books.

More Free Plains Indians Resources

Also, you’ll love these other free Plains Indians Resources.

Free Native American Plains Indians Fun Lapbook for Kids (& resources)

Some of them are lesson plans and others are teaching helps.

This free Native American Lapbook is a subscriber freebie.

That means when you sign up to follow me, you get access to my Exclusive Subscriber’s Only Library and you get this freebie too.

This is how you get access to these pages quickly.
► 1) Sign up on my list.
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Exploring Space and Astronomy Free Unit Study for Multiple Ages

18+ Fun and Interactive Ways to Learn Geography With Kids

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Eighteen fun and interactive ways to learn geography with kids is more than learning to label a map. Also, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

After all, nothing about labeling a map ever worked in enticing a kid to want to know more about the world around him.

Making geography come alive is key to making it stick. Too, some kids are craft loving, others not so much.

18+ Fun and Interactive Ways to Learn Geography With Kids

The point is having a large trunk so to speak to pull ideas out of works.

Fun and Interactive Ways to Learn Geography With Kids

Look at these 18 fun and interactive ways to learn geography with kids which work for a variety of ages.

Geography with Kids

Also, adding in an adventure whether you drive or take a virtual trip or two makes a difference.

  • 5) You don’t have to go far to enjoy geography. Just going out doors or to a state park where you can learn about the flora or fauna of an area is something kids love. Nature, science, and geography are subjects that fit together naturally.
  • 6) Google Earth. Just pick a place and roam the streets. Kids love this.

Another fun way to learn about other places is to use fun picture books. You’ll love this roundup.

In addition, games ( 7 to 10) are one of the BEST ways to learn geography.

Learn Geography With Kids

Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego (11) is a great series too. The series comes in paper back, on pc, a board game if you can find one and currently is on Netflix.

The Basement Workshop Store

Another idea to make geography fun for kids is to make a travel brochure (12). You’ll love the fun one here on Crayola.

Also, host a co-op with another family or two (13).

You know kids love looking for an opportunity to get together; a mini-geography co-op is a great way to feed their need to interact while learning a useful topic.

Sharing teaching is another reason why a mini-co-op is fun. You can assign countries to each family and have them do a presentation together. This allows each child to share what he loves about geography.

As you can see kids get an added benefit of public speaking in a smaller setting. Writing is naturally incorporated and becomes fun since it’s meaningful.

Other natural ways are focusing on art(14), dressing up like the costumes of each country(15), cooking recipes is a big hit always(16), creating a cookbook for each country or state(17) and Minecraft(18).

Creating worlds in Minecraft is another fun way to create a place or even to learn about coordinates. Coordinates in Minecraft are precursor lessons to to longitude and latitude. See my post Hands-on Geography: Longitude/Latitude Mapmaking Activity

And one more fun one (19), grab a map from the dollar store and add landmarks on it, track your vacations and add to it, add rivers or other fun tidbits on it. It’s a fun keepsake too.

These are just a few ways to bring geography with kids to life. You’ll love these other posts below with great tips.

18+ Fun and Interactive Ways to Learn Geography With Kids

What do you like to do to make geography fun?

Hugs and love ya,

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

Studying the history of the Texas cowboy, cattle drives, and Chisholm Trail is a fun and fascinating one. Cowboys, cattle drives and the Chisholm Trail all embody the spirit of a Texan.

Being born and raised in Texas, I grew up going to rodeos, knowing about cattle drives, and watching wide open spaces of grazing cattle as the norm.

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail Free Unit Study

As a native Texan too, my husband grew up with ranching and rodeoing in his life and family.

He comes from a family of cowboys.

I couldn’t wait to do a unit study focused on the history of the Texas cowboy, cattle drives, and the Chisholm Trail.

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

With fond memories, I recall the first time I heard the poem Cattle by Berta Hart Nance (1883-1958).

Other states were carved or born,
Texas grew from hide and horn.

Other states are long and wide,
Texas is a shaggy hide.

Dripping blood and crumpled hair;
Some fat giant flung it there,

Laid the head where valleys drain,
Stretched its rump along the plain.

Other soil is full of stones,
Texans plow up cattle-bones.

Herds are buried on the trail,
Underneath the powdered shale;

Herds that stiffened like the snow,
Where the icy northers go.

Other states have built their halls,
Humming tunes along the walls,

Texans watched the mortar stirred
While they kept the lowing herd.

Stamped on Texan wall and roof
Gleams the sharp and crescent hoof.

High above the hum and stir
Jingle bridle rein and spur.

Other states were carved or born,
Texas grew from hide and horn.

A lot of Texans view their state differently from how other states grew. After the American Civil War, it was cattle which helped to make Texas grow.

Also, ranching was a big part of Texas growth.

This study is about the grit, hardiness, and stubbornness early Texans embodied and how they passed it down to our generation.

So in this history of the Texas cowboy, cattle drives, and Chisholm Trail, I’ve rounded up some helpful resources to teach your kids about Texas.

Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

I aimed at resources for elementary ages to about middle school, but as with all my resources you decide which ages to use them for.

The American Civil War {1861-1865} had almost destroyed the United States, but by 1867 the United States found peace again.

Long-horned cattle, which were introduced in part by the Spanish roamed freely upon the plains.

Ranchers noticed that the longhorn turned out to be particularly well adapted to the harsh and arid conditions in the West. 

So thousands of head of cattle were rounded up from pastures in southern and central Texas and herded hundreds of miles north to Kansas.

Cattle drives were a celebrated event of this time period.

Between fascination with the American legend of a cowboy and a transitional time period in American history this brief, but captivating moment in history attracts learners of any age.

Too, with the invention of refrigerated railroad cars in the 1870’s it also made it possible to ship fresh beef anywhere in the country.

I used the Texas Chisholm Trail by the Texas Historical Commission to use as a guide for this lapbook. It’s a free wonderful educator’s guide, but of course you can use any resource you have.

First, there were at least four cattle drives during the 19th century. They were the The Chisholm Trail, The Goodnight-Loving Trail, The Western Trail and The Shawnee Trail.

The Chisholm Trail has at least 7 names: Abilene Trail, the Cattle Trail, the Eastern Trail, the Great Texas Cattle Trail, the Kansas Trail, McCoy’s Trail and the Texas Chisholm Trail.

Lesson Plans History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

MORE TEXAS & COWBOY ACTIVITIES

Texas Size Vocabulary Words

  • Cattle Kingdom – An industry based on cattle ranching that arose on the open range from Texas to Canada during the 1800s.
  • Texas Rangers – Law enforcement to keep the law in frontier Texas.
  • Tejanos – A person of Mexican heritage, but considers Texas home.
  • King Ranch – Ranch in South Texas that is one of the most important cattle operations in the state.
  • brands – identification marks on livestock made with burning irons
  • barbed wire – a wire used in fencing that is made with points, or barbs, placed at intervals to prevent livestock from crossing the fence
  • vaqueros – from vaca (cow) cowboy
  • wrangler – one who herds or cares for livestock on the range
  • XIT Ranch – Ranch established by the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company which was funded by investors from Chicago and Great Britain.
  • Longhorn – a hybrid breed of cattle that descended from Spanish and English stock; the main breed used in Texas ranching

Field Trip Ideas for History of Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives and Chisholm Trail

  • We love visiting the Barrington Plantation which is the last home of Anson Jones, the last President of the Republic of Texas. They have a fun program for homeschoolers which includes hand-on activity.
  • The Star of the Republic Museum is on the same property as the Barrington Farm.
  • Varner Hogg Plantation. Yes, it’s true Gov. James Hogg named his daughter Ima Hogg.
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail Free Unit Study

Hands-on Ideas For a Texas Unit Study

Next, you’ll love a few ideas for some hands-on fun to study about Texas.

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History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail

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Field Trip to Washington on the Brazos, Star of the Republic Museum, Barrington Farms and Buckhorn Museum/Texas Ranger Museum
(don’t miss any of these places)

History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail 1
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Star of the Republic Museum
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Buckhorn Museum
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Barrington Farms Anson Jones Home Republic of Texas
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Learn about brands
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Barrington Farm
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Texas Rangers
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Chuck Wagon at Buckhorn Museum
History of the Texas Cowboy, Cattle Drives, and Chisholm Trail
Chuck Wagon at Buckhorn Museum San Antonio, Tx

Look at these other fun ideas:

Hugs and love ya,

How to Make a Kids’ Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

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This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see my full disclosure policy.

This week we created our own ceremonial African tribal mask after doing some research about their uses and how they are made. Also, look at my post Free Africa Unit Study for Kids Who Love Hands-on Learning | Free Continent & Country Reports.

We have been studying all about Africa, it’s customs, weather, regions, zoology, peoples, and geography.

How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

This project we are sharing with you today is perfect for mid elementary up through middle school.

Tribal masks play very important roles in many traditional African ceremonies and rituals even in these modern times.

Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

Some symbolize totem animals, others are representative of tribal mythology, they are believed to help communicate and convey messages to spirits.

Some masks are made and used in times of peace and also in times of war, and to ensure good harvests. 

They are worn for weddings, funerals, and initiation rites of passage.

Mask making is an art that is passed from father to son in African culture.

How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

Too, if you are studying Africa with any depth, this is a project that you definitely want to focus on.

How to Make an African Paper Mask

You learn history, but also the culture of certain regions; your child gets a glimpse into the artwork which these interesting peoples create and consider important to their culture.

First, gather these easy supplies. Here is what you will need to create your own mask.

  • Scrapbook/Construction paper
  • Glue 
  • Scissors
  • Hole punch
  • Hole punch
  • Paint, brushes
  • Raffia/twine
  • paint/paintbrush
How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

Directions:

Crease a full sheet of  sturdy paper right down the center, this will be the main piece of your mask.

How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

On one side pencil in a large mask shape. If you have already done some research you should have an idea of what type of mask you would like.

Masks are usually shaped like a human face or animal muzzle, but very abstract.

Kids’ African Mask

We are going with a commonly seen elongated face shape that is symmetrical and it gives me a chance to reintroduce and review what symmetrical means with the kids.

Cut out both sides at the same time following the half shape you drew.

When decorating tribal masks many elements are used like shells, horns, feathers, broken egg shells, seeds, straw, and animal hair.

Cut out your elements like the nose, ears, and eyes from neutral colored paper, which are the colors most commonly chosen in Africa. 

While size and shapes are exaggerated, they are still pretty simple.

To make your features symmetrical, fold your paper in half like you did the poster board. Only draw half the shape on one side, but cut out of both side on the fold. 

How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

Start with the nose, eyes, and ears and build up with decoration from there.

Again if you are cutting one piece like a nose, fold it in half, draw the shape, and cut it out.

How to Make Tribal Masks with Paper

If you are cutting two pieces like eyes just cut through two pieces of paper at the same time so that they are the exact same size and shape.

Next, glue all your elements into place, remember to place your pencil line side face down so you don’t see it.

How to Make a Kids’ Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

To create the hair and beard details, we punched holes along the edges where we wanted them and knotted twine through the holes.

If you knot it like a regular knot the ties will go out sideways.

How to Make a Kids’ Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

If you want it to stick straight up and down, fold your length of string in half and push the loop through the hole you made.

African Mask Ideas for Kids

Too, if you’re looking to add Art History to your curriculum, we love Art History Kids.

Goal of Art History Kids

  • To introduce kids to art.
  • Let them come to their own conclusions.
  • And, encourage their own individual creativity.
How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

Then, slide the other two ends through the loop and pull firmly but gently.

Add some final details with paint, like the dots we did here.

How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

We used the back end of the brush to create round uniform dots to give our mask some additional texture and interest.

How to Make a Kids' Fun Ceremonial African Tribal Mask

If your child enjoys more sensory input you can also use fingertips to add paint to the mask.

Allow your creation to dry, you can either leave it as it is or glue the mask to a sturdier piece of cardboard or poster board to display and keep it longer.

Learning the Culture of Africa Through Picture Books

If you want to make this a fun unit study topic about world cultures, you’ll love the study guide notes and coloring pictures by Beautiful Feet Literature.

Although these guides state they’re for your younger kids, I think picture books are wonderful for all ages. Who doesn’t love pictures?

Additionally, look at these picture book options below.

Part One covers Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica.

This Around the World With Picture Books Part Two covers Europe and South America.

Lastly, if you want to expand on your Africa study no matter if you are using a box curriculum or if you are doing a simple interest led study here are some ideas that you and your child can try…

African Geography and Culture Homeschool Unit Study Ideas

  • List the different countries with Africa in alphabetical order. This is great practice for learning alphabetical order but also geography, handwriting, vocabulary, and spelling. I am a big fan of activities that cover more than one skill.
  • Dig deeper by researching what various masks and their elements represent and what regions they are from.
  • Create several different masks representing different areas or traditions.
  • Families with one or more children can create an art show with African art to share with friends and family.
  • Research other cultures and countries that wear masks, what are they worn for?
  • Visit a local museum with an Africa exhibit to see relics or replicas first hand.

Watch this documentary on PBS about an African Mask Collection. 

You’ll love these other hands-on activities:

Are you studying about Africa? What activities have you been doing?

Hugs and love ya,