I have some fun homeschool geography resources today. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.
We’ve used many homeschool geography resources through the years because geography is not about coloring boring maps.
I needed to round up our homeschool geography resources that we already had on hand and in the upper grades I needed something more laid out.
For example, in the upper grades we used geography curriculum that we got from Bright Ideas Press.
I did manage to round up these atlases and books that I have had to show you some of what I use.
Homeschool Geography Resources
Too, I have taken some screen shots to show you our brand new WonderMaps because I will be using WonderMaps with North Star Geography.
Today, I wanted to show you my growing geography resources that I know we will be using with North Star Geography.
I am sure you can study geography on probably a lot less than we have, but we can’t.
Our geography habit needs to be fed each year, so we have added resources slowly.
Too, as the boys got older they have wanted their own books and resources. As the budget allowed, I added them in regularly.
So below I have listed resources that I think are must-haves or basic.
Again, it doesn’t mean you need all of them, but helping to know which ones are more useful or helpful makes it easier to decide.
The other resources pictured above but not listed below, I add in as enrichment and I just wanted you to see them.
22 Homeschool Geography Go To Resources & Gift Ideas
Add some of these fun books and resources to your learning day if you're wanting to study geography with multiple ages. Maybe you want to hook your child on geography with a gift or two.
Each country visited features a selection of animals indigenous to those regions. These beautiful drawings will familiarize students with some remarkable creatures, their habitat and habits, cultivating respect and wonder for the natural world. Part Two covers Europe and South America. In Europe we cover France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Great Britain! In South America we cover Ecuador, Chile, Peru, and Brazil!
This contains both the US and world maps and while they are targeted at those who travel I think they would also be an amazing way to document as you learn about each new state or country.
For preschoolers through late elementary I would recommend this versatile scrunch map that comes in a world or US version. It is amazing for lessons on the go or just an impromptu geography lesson on the living room floor.
Around the World in 180 Days: A Multigrade Guide for the Study of World History, Geography, and Cultures (Student Workbook) by Sherrie Payne
Our colorful, engaging atlas is ideal for studentsin second through fourth grades and was developed from our award-winning Classroom Atlas, just simplified for younger students.Completely redesigned with a new layout,eye-catching pictures, informative graphics,and fully updated map content.Teaches map and globe skills to younger students.Features photos, graphs, interesting facts, andthought-provoking questions that reinforce map concepts.Includes 15 physical, political, and thematic maps.
Representing an exciting new approach in our renowned line of atlases, this large-format reference blends two National Geographic "bests" to create a refreshingly vivid world portrait. Incorporated in the many up-to-the moment regional maps that portray each continent are hundreds of brilliant photographs—each depicting unique natural and cultural treasures that have been designated as UNESCO World Heritage sites. From the vast plains of the Serengeti to the Kasbah of Algiers, from prehistoric rock art to the statue of Liberty, these incomparable locales are under UN protection for future generations to know and enjoy.
The Historical Atlas of the World presents important periods and turning points in 5,000 years of world history in over 100 pages of thematic maps. Atlas features: • Presents major periods of world history through more than 100 bold, colorful maps. • Thematic maps include literacy, languages, religions, and more. • Includes a section on benefits of using the atlas. • 112 pages, paperback, 8" x 10".
Professor Noggin’s series of educational card games encourages kids to learn interesting facts about their favorite subjects.
Get ready for an incredible journey, one in which you’ll visit far-off places, meet interesting people, and learn all about continents, countries, climates, and more. This book is also full of fun facts about animals, sports, foods, inventions, and holidays from all over the world.
The latest edition of the award-winning National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers features all new photographs, maps, and graphics.And now, for the first time ever, the National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers goes interactive! The 3rd edition is chockfull of bright, bold icons that, thanks to a specially designed National Geographic web site, will allow kids to go beyond the printed page and experience firsthand the sights, sounds, and movements of the world's people, places, and animals. They'll watch brown bears fish for salmon in Alaska, listen to the latest singing sensation from Haiti, experience the power of a volcanic eruption, explore a rain forest, hang out at a local market in India, and much more.
Geography Through Art Intenational Art Projects for Kids Completely Revised and Updated! Use this book as an exciting way to supplement any study of geography, history, or social studies. "Geography Through Art" is sure to make a lasting addition to your home or school library. You'll find yourself reaching for this indispensable guide again and again to delight and engage students in leanring about geography through the culture and art of peoples around the world.
Welcome to Geography: An Illustrated A-Z Glossary by B.C. Lester Books! This book takes you across the world's main landforms and biomes, each with a colorful illustration accompanied with a child-friendly definition.
Created in conjunction with the Smithsonian Institution, Geography: A Visual Encyclopedia explores every aspect of our world, from the North to the South Pole, and from the outer atmosphere to the fiery core and from natural processes to human impact.
Discover terrifying earthquakes, priceless gemstones, and storms that can destroy buildings. Understand how weather works, what causes the seasons, and the power of water to shape the landscape. Explore life on Earth, and countries and cultures from all around the world. Packed with facts, maps, explanations, illustrations, and photographs, Geography: A Visual Encyclopedia is the ultimate guide to our planet.
A picture atlas that takes young readers on a visual journey around the world, from Spain and Portugal to China and Mongolia.Continents and countries are brought to life through stunning photography and
eye-catching illustrations. Uncover incredible geographical features, wildlife, culture, history, and landmarks in unprecedented detail.
Geography for kids ages 12+
Explore the eastern hemisphere with your middle school child with the activity-packed Mark Twain Geography Workbook.
7th Grade Geography workbooks are a great way for 7th grade and eighth grade students to have a thorough understanding of eastern hemisphere geography through focused lessons and practice.
Kids, teens, and adults will enjoy this geography game that can also double as flashcards for practice.
A collaborative game for ages 7 and up That has varying levels of difficulty so that multiple ages can be included and challenged. Geography games like this are a great way to take your children on global adventures from the coziness of the kitchen table.
This is a beautifully illustrated children's atlas that is full of interesting facts and figures from landmarks to famous residents, key facts and dates for each state.
Chances are if someone's a geography lover they already have a globe, but it's also a pretty good chance that they love and collect them so go for a unique one, different sizes, and colors.
This gift just keeps on giving as they not only get a great map gift but also the fun of the hunt collecting each of the 50 quarters that fit inside.
Resources For Kids Learning Geography
- 1. The inexpensive geography mats we actually picked up at Wal-mart a few years back. One side has a world map and the other mat has the U.S. and then the flip side on both mats is blank. We did and still do quick geography quizzes with them. We will study a region, then quickly flip on the back side and try to fill in with a dry erase markers as many rivers, boundaries and countries that we could get. Me too, I was included in the race to see how many I could label in a short time.
- 2 National Geographic Visual Atlas of the World You know anything by National Geographic is top notch. I always said I would never buy anything this big because of the problem of storing it. That didn’t last long because once you take a look at how breath taking the solar system looks in it and how they compare geography facts like comparing two continents, it looks so much better in a large book. Too, it is easier as the kids get bigger to gather around a bigger book. (Tip: Always check to see that you are buy the most current edition.)
- 3. DK is another favorite publisher. Complete Atlas of the World, 2nd Edition I actually got this one because it had some facts like population growth, global climate and border conflicts that I want my boys aware of. The physical world maps are more in depth though not as vivid as the National Geographic.
Geography Resources For Kids
- 4. National Geographic Family Reference Atlas of the World, Third Edition is another beauty by National Geographic. I purchased this one because of key information like tables, charts, biodiversity, education. It truly is a family reference. I guess if you had to make a choice for your middle to high school kids, this would be in the top running.
- 5. Junior Classroom Atlas This is one of our first ones because it is suited for elementary aged children and we still refer to it when the other atlases are teeming with overwhelming information. Sometimes you can have too much information and it helps to break it down to the general sweeping facts.
- 6. CLASSROOM ATLAS-REVISED 2012 This is geared toward about middle school and can be used for elementary ages too. It has been updated and it is one I will probably be adding soon. Even though stats change, I feel some atlases are timeless. Not so much changes (physical earth wise) that you can’t use an older atlas. Sure, stats will change, but if your kids are young, they are not interested in that kind of stuff right now anyway.
Geography Books Kids
- 7. Historical Atlas of the World 1st (first) edition Text Only An historical map is one that you will need when studying ancient history because it shows the boundaries or empires as they were then. It really helps your kids to get a foot hold on ancient history. You can see this one is out date, but then again it’s ancient history and how much updating can you possibly do. So I don’t always fall for having to have the most up to date.
- 8. Historical Atlas of the World Now what I do fall for is when another kid needs their own copy. So I have purchased the updated copy of the historical atlas simply because I had two older middle school kids and we needed more than one. I won’t go into the fights over having their own copies.
- 9. Free geography vocabulary words I made and put them on a O ring. These are good for your kids to study later too.
- 10. National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers, Third Edition
I got this one because it we could read about things like the animals for the website links they gave us and each continent had basic facts. Like it says more about the exploring aspect of geography and we love this one. It is especially good for a child that is geography phobic so they can see geography is about so much more than finding the prime meridian. It is about exploring and going to far away places.
- 11. A Child’s Introduction to the World: Geography, Cultures, and People – From the Grand Canyon to the Great Wall of China This is a really sweet book. It includes a pop-up paper globe and stickers. I like it because though its geared toward younger learners, it can still stand up for older kids too because of the information in it. It is another keeper for multiple ages of children.
Homeschool Geography For Kids
- 12. The Usborne Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World Geography With Complete World Atlas (Geography Encyclopedias) Again, another one of my very first purchases. I always made sure I didn’t just buy curriculum but had enough back in my budget for references that would stand the test of time. A great reference book that we just love.
- 13. What is geography without games? And, Professor Noggin’s History & Geography Card Games: Set of 6 is one of our favorite series. We have a lot of them.
More Geography Go To Resources
- Homeschool Geography Go To Resources
- How to Find A Well Laid Out Homeschool High School Geography Curriculum
- Simple and Fun Homeschool Geography Ideas for High School
- First Grade Homeschool Curriculum for History and Geography
- 35 Hands-on Geography Activities to do in 15 Minutes or Less
- Mega List of Workbook Style Homeschool Curriculum For K to 12 Kids
- DIY Atlas – North Star Highschool Geography is Here!
Also, I’ve update our geography go to resources.
The other two we have that didn’t make the picture because Mr. Senior had them someplace are Geography: A Visual Encyclopedia which is absolutely stunning which is why I can’t find it right now and has a lot of different things like gemstones, earthquakes and weather.
And the other one is Atlas of World Geography which is a highschool level book that gets lost around here frequently too. It is the one I will be using on North Star Geography, well at least for Mr. Awesome.
Then of course my newest tool that makes studying geography absolutely a breeze is WonderMaps. You can print black or white maps or color maps.
Take off boundaries or leave them on ALL with a click of your mouse. It truly is going to make studying geography so much more than finding boundaries or locating countries.
Though we love all of our resources and we add to them as we plod along during the years, those above are keepers and I feel are basic to any library.
Do you have any geography go to resources that your family luvs?
I’ve loved our placemat atlases over the years, too! Kids really do learn a lot of geography while they’re waiting for their next pancake.
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Hey Mary,
Yep, it makes it so much more interesting to see how the world looked back then. I don’t even see how one can study history and geography unless they have at least one historical atlas and it doesn’t have to be that recent either. Like you said, it adds to the discussion. Enjoyed your comment.
We used to have a historical atlas that the kids and I used to love looking at. It had what the world and its geography looked like over the years. We observed and discussed how the lines and divisions changed over the years. It was interesting to all of us.
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