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3 Reasons Hands-on Geography is Important in Middle and High School Homeschool

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It’s easy enough to understand the importance of hands-on geography in the younger years, but it is equally important to understand why hands-on geography is important in middle and high school. Also, look at my page homeschool middle school and how to homeschool high school page for more fun tips. Too, look at my page Homeschool Geography for hands-on and simple ideas and tips.

Having one child who rolls his eyes at the mere mention of hands-on and prefers taking a hands-off approach and another child who fails to comprehend anything unless it’s hands-on, I want to share tips on why it’s important to keep homeschool geography hands-on.

3 Reasons Hands-on Geography is Important in Middle and High School Homeschool @ Tiina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Hands-on geography requires participation or collaboration.

The tendency when teaching this age group is to assign a boring text, drill and kill and then move on.

Geography is a subject that is fascinating because it is not only about describing the earth, but it includes pictures, maps, diagrams and it includes a description of life here on earth.

It is a subject that is overflowing with possibilities because to some extent it also includes man’s interaction with the resources of the earth.

With all of these facets to study about geography, collaboration gives the middle and high school student the teaching reins.

Hands-on geography requires active and not passive participation or studying in isolation.

My sons have taken the teaching reins as we have studied North Star Geography.  That is one reason too why we didn’t just crack open the curriculum and study the first page.

When my boys studied together, they skipped around to hone in on a part of geography that interested them first.

Guess what? You can do this when studying geography because geography covers so many topics.  You can have several trails in geography and decide which topics interests you.

homeschool high schoolgeography north star geography @ Tina's Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Contrary to what some people may think, hands-on learning shifts the focus of learning to the responsibility of your child.

Middle and high school years are about teaching them more independence and project learning is one of the best ways to do that.

That is one reason we use North Star Geography because it has projects that foster independent learning skills.

Geography Bundle

I will continue to use North Star Geography, which is for middle and high school kids, with Tiny now that Mr. Awesome 2015 is about ready to graduate.

Our middle and high school students just don’t know geography.

Just because a child is in middle or high school doesn’t mean his learning style has changed.  We are in a visual world and visual learners are valued now more than ever.

Too, the conventional method of throwing a map to outline at the student and a textbook to read is not working.  More and more students, including homeschoolers are graduating with little to no knowledge of geography.

Visual learners who learn best through hands-on still need projects and activities at the high school level. Rote memorization does not work for all kids.  We need to abandon the notion that hands-on geography is not for mature learners.

We want to avoid turning out middle and high school students who are geography illiterate and conventional methods are not working.  Returning to what did work in the elementary grades which was hands-on learning without doing babyish projects is key to helping our upper grade kids make meaningful connections.

Hands-on geography instills a greater awareness and fellow feeling for other cultures and historical activities.

When we studied about the American Civil War, geography took on another whole meaning when we tied it to our family roots where our ancestors fought in the battles.

It is one thing to read about history and geography in a dry text book and another to visit the physical area and walk the grounds.

Connecting geography with a physical location helps a middle and high school student to develop higher critical thinking skills.

For example, after studying together and creating maps of the battlefields during the American Civil War it lead to discussions about whether or not man learned anything about history from that bloody war?

At the high school level, my boys have formed strong opinions about the war and I am able to pass on our family values.  If they studied this in isolation, they might not have reached some of the same conclusions.

Middle and high school should be a time for activities and projects that are selective and purposeful.

It’s true that many times I didn’t insist that my son who preferred a hands-off approach to join us, however, many times I did insist and not give him a choice.

Our high school kids still need guidance, direction and interaction with us. They are preparing for adulthood, which means they are not ready yet.

I am so grateful that North Star Geography sees the value of hands-on learning in the upper grades and I will continue to use it with Tiny for the next couple of years.

When I asked both of my oldest sons what they remembered about geography, it never was about a book, but it is always about a hands-on project we worked on together.

Also, you may like to read:

Hugs and love ya,

Hands-On Simple And Best Homeschool Geography Ideas & Tips

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

Homeschool geography is so much more than coloring a boring map. You’re sure to find a homeschool geography idea or curriculum activity here at Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus.

Geography is a branch of science which includes all parts of the earth’s physical features and the inhabitants.

And that means it is the study of almost anything about the earth.

Look at this list of things:

  • people
  • plants
  • animals
  • land
  • sea
  • and air features.
Hands-On Simple And Best Homeschool Geography Ideas & Tips

Homeschool Geography

One huge difference about geography as a science versus other sciences is that subjects are investigated in the place they are and not as a subject.

It really opens up the way for many investigate slants and hands-on geography ideas.

First, look at these posts about how to teach geography.

Next, look at some hands-on ideas for learning about geography.

Hands-on Geography Ideas

Additionally, look at some of these tips for curriculum.

Geography Curriculum and Printables

Water Geography

GEOGRAPHY OF THE UNITED STATES

CONTINENT STUDY

Marco Polo Unit Study – Salt Dough Map + Free Printable Map Flags

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I have a Marco Polo Unit Study salt dough map activity today. Also, check out my Free Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas.

Tiny never tires of salt dough maps.  It is one of his favorite go to geography projects.

Our Marco Polo unit study is not only an awesome unit study for a salt dough map, but the map is a project he can mostly do by himself now.

We gathered our supplies and yes we are finally starting to add to our school supplies here in Ecuador. Thank goodness they have Pizza Hut delivery here so we have a box for our project.

This is the basic recipe I am always sharing in case you don’t have it already.

Hands-on Geography

Too, when we left the states, I made sure our suitcases had plenty of room for our much loved atlases.

We made it here to South America with our atlases in great shape and now that books in English are almost non-existent here, we take care real good care of what we do have.

No running to drool over books at Barnes & Noble here.

Back to our project.After mixing the dough, we just drew by free hand on the box with a pencil and then traced back over with a permanent marker.

Not only did we add some of the places visited by Marco Polo, but Tiny wanted to label some of the areas around it, so we did.

Also, look at some of these books to add to your study.

Marco Polo Books for Kids

10 Marco Polo Books & Resources for Kids Who Love Reading and Being Read To

Add some of these fun books about Marco Polo to your home library or use them in your unit studies.

More Activities to Go With the Salt Dough Map

Marco Polo Unit Study – Salt Dough Map + Free Printable Map Flags

Too, I made some printable flags to put on the salt dough map.

A few places, I added in the name that would have been used back in the time of Marco Polo and then put the name of the modern day city to help Tiny make a connection.

Names are boring to learn about unless they make sense today.

Remember, before the salt dough dries, stick a toothpick in the dough so when it dries, the hole is there already for the flag pennant.

There is just something a lot more engaging for Tiny to add the pennants on some of the places Marco Polo traveled instead of labeling a printed out map, which would have been a lot more easier for me.

Then again, he remembers geography a lot better this way.

At the last minute, he decided he wanted to paint the trail of Marco Polo’s travels white because it would be easier for him to remember.

Don’t you love it when your kids come up with their own ways of remembering information?

I love it because Tiny was so ultimately satisfied with his work.

Too, though hands-on ideas sometimes are time consuming or in our case we plod along over a few days working on them, you don’t have to do much more review because they retain so much information in the beginning.

How to Download the DIY Printable Map Flags

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Marco Polo Unit Study, Lapbook, and Hands-on Ideas

Hands-on History Activities for Learning about Ancient Civilizations

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You’ll love these hands on history ancient civilizations activities. Also, you’ll love my pages Ancient Civilizations and Ancient Civilization II.

Many things we use today come from the powerful empires of the past, but ancient history can sometimes be a challenge when teaching our kids.

Making a connection to the past through hands-on learning helps a child to not only remember what he has learned, but helps him to develop critical thinking skills. By doing this instead of just memorizing, a child interacts with the past and this cements learning. CLICK here to grab an idea or two for Hands-on History Activities for Kids for Learning about Ancient Civilization!!

Making a connection to the past through hands-on learning helps a child to not only remember what he has learned but helps him to develop critical thinking skills. 

By doing this instead of just memorizing, a child interacts with the past and this cements learning.

HANDS-ON HISTORY CONNECTING TO THE PAST

Do not feel intimidated either if you are not the crafty artsy type of person because hands-on history activities for learning about ancient civilizations do not have to be complicated.

Grab a few of these ideas.

 Mesopotamia

mesopotamia alphabet

Draw the ABC’s of Mesopotamia.This is just way too cool and it’s a language arts lesson too.

The pictures are water color pencil with marker outline.

Carve a cuneiform cylinder seal using clay or play the royal game of Ur.

cuneiform-cylinder-seals-slide      Game of Ur
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Draw a ziggurat or build a ziggurat and hut.

And I love this hands-on geography, history and map curriculum I used because it fits hands-on learning at any age!

ziggurat-drawing    hut
{source}                                                     {source}

Include some easy notebooking about Ancient Sumeria.

The Indus Valley

(Modern Day Pakistan)

Do a connect the dots of Mohenjo-Daro or build the city of Mohenjo-Daro.

Mohenjo_Daro_connect_dots
Mohenjo-Daro

Ancient China

Grab these paper dolls or make some terracotta warriors.

china
soldiers

Build a pagoda or make Ming plates.

build-a-pagoda-slide    MingPlates1
{source}                                             {source}

Also, we love, love the activities from Home School in the Woods.

Hands-on History Activities for Learning about Ancient Civilizations

Read here about the hands-on activities for 14 great empires or you can look at the guide we used.

Phoencia

(Modern day Lebanon)

Ancient Phoenicia Craft Roundup

Check out my post about making a boat, creating some purple dye or learning the Phoenician alphabet.

Hands on History Ancient Civilizations Activities

Next, here are more hands-on history ancient civilizations activities.

Assyria and Ancient Babylon

(Modern day Iraq or northern part of Mesopotamia)

Be sure to check out how to teach history in 14 lessons. You’ll love this curriculum if you need to teach history in broad strokes!


Also, read Why I Love and Use BrimWood Press History here.

And here is my hanging gardens of Babylon craft.

        hanging gardens of babylon
                                               

Ancient Greece

Create a playscape or ancient world and have a Greek feast.

greekworld    greek-feast
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Play a Greek mythology matching card game or make a Grecian urn.

Greek Mythology Matching Game_General    grecian urn
{source}                                        {source}

Do a paper model of the Parthenon or make an ancient Greek water clock.

paper-parthenon_clip_image002    How to Make a Water Clock
                                                           

Ancient Egypt

 Use a shoebox to make a mini Egyptian Sarcophagus or mummify a rubber chicken.

king-tut-sarcophagus-
rubber chicken

   

Go from paper plate to creating an Egyptian collar or make a minibook printable on the Pharaohs crown using this free .pdf.

from paperplate to egyptian necklace    double crown
                                                          

Include a sugar cube pyramid, cookie map or make yummy mummy hot dogs or make papyrus.

Ancient-Egypt-Activities--1024x1024   papyrus
                                                                         {source}

Grab the Ancient Egyptian printable game I created or grab this free printable maze.Ancient-Egypt-Collage-Snake-Game-        akhenaten-maze-m
                                                                                    {source}

Ancient Rome

Make a styrofoam Colosseum or dig for the city of Pompeii.

the-colosseum        Digging-up-Pompeii
{source}                                          {source}

Make an easy peazy Roman costume or build an Roman aqueduct.

How to Make an Easy Peazy Roman Costume    aqueduct

Make an easy Roman mosaic.

mosaics

{source}

Hands-on History Activities for Learning about Ancient Civilizations

And don’t forget, I created a lapbook about Ancient Civilizations. It is more like an overview on them.

Do you see anything to get you your kids inspired about learning about the Ancient Civilizations while keeping history hands-on?|

South America Unit Study–Vocabulary & Copy work

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

Today I have the next part of our unit study on South America ready.  I have vocabulary words and copy work.

South America Unit Study–Vocabulary & Copy work

Because I had to get so many last minute details done for the party and because I have been working with Tiny on composition this year, I wanted to keep the vocabulary words fun too instead of listening to the whining and moaning doing lots of writing.

Vocabulary Words South America Unit @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus

So I made the words to be used in one of two ways. You can cut them out, fold in half, glue and use like flash cards. The word is on the front and the definition is on the back. Or, you can cut the strip in half and do a mix/match where you have them match the word to the definition. Either way is a lot more fun than writing, which right now Tiny has an aversion to.

Letter by Simon Bolivar South America Unit @ Tinas Dynamic Homeschool Plus

Today, he will be doing some easy copy work. We read a short passage or a letter, a primary source, written by Simon Bolivar about how he wanted to unite South America. So it was perfect to use for our copy work.

You know I told you that I have all my boys do copy work for a long time, even into high school and that I sneak some in too for myself at night.  I am a true believer and fan of copy work because you can just concentrate on the beauty of words or ideas at the moment and can either be inspired or not. There is no analysis or etymology, it is just you and the delight of words. It’s a way too of igniting a love of writing and vocabulary for a victim of burnout.

Enjoy the newest printables for our unit study. I will be working on getting my photos together of our graduation party so I can share with you and getting my house whipped back into some kind of shape today.

South America Printable Minibooks

Also, look at these minibooks which come in the free South America lapbook 27 page download.

  • Animals of the Galapagos fan book which includes the Giant Tortoise, Lava Lizard, Marine Iguana, Green Turtle, Galapagos Penguins, Magnificent Frigate Bird, Blue-Footed Booby, and Blue-Banded Goby.
  • Comparing Mountain Climate Zones
  • Simon Bolivar Copywork
  • Map of South America to label and one labeled
  • Machu Picchu – Lost City of the Inca
  • Negrinho – A dessert from Brazil
  • How to Memorize the Countries of South America and Dependent
  • Map Flags to put on your salt dough map
  • 2 – The Galapagos Island layered book. One prefilled with facts and one blank to add your own information.
  • Vocabulary Pocket and Vocabulary Words

More South America Unit Study Resources

Ocean Currents and The Galapagos1

How to Get the Free South America Printable Lapbook

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