Friday, June 26, 2009

He's got the whole world in his hands!

Here's another hands-on approach to geography . . .Here's what you need: two blue felt circles and felt continent shapes (like before, North and South America - red, Africa - brown, Europe - pink, Asia - yellow, Australia - orange, Antarctica - white. You also need a reference map if at all possible and then labels if your child is old enough.
Here's why you should do it: Children learn by doing. Actually, many adults learn this way, too, but children are VERY tactile learners. This is just another reinforcement so they can learn about the continents and how our world "goes together". Just think of this as a puzzle, but a step up because there is no "control" of where each piece goes.

Here's how you do it: Place the circles (hemispheres, remember?) side by side. Look at the reference map and place the continents in the correct places. Of course, you want to be with them telling them the names of each continent, too.
Isn't that cute?? :)

Now here's the BIG DADDY map . . . I love this this. I made this for my classroom because the very few times I did a whole group time (only about ten or fifteen minutes per day) I needed/wanted a large map to lay in the floor so that all the kids could feel engaged and see what I was trying to teach them. I have a really cool post coming up using this BIG DADDY map next!
Lawton did the same thing with this map. He laid out the hemispheres and then placed the continents down.
I made some quick labels with index cards for him to label the continents and oceans. Here's another idea, though for the younger child - make cards that say Land and Water and label appropriately. Land and water are very appropriate concepts to learn on a map. If you want to break it down even simpler, fill baby food jars or those tiny disposable containers with actual land (dirt) and water tinted blue. Then you can have them place the containers on the appropriate places on the map.
And guess what? I'm giving away one small felt set! Just leave a comment . . . I'll announce the winner on Monday! (and don't forget - if your kiddo is too small now, they will be big enough to do this very soon!! :)
p.s. if you ever make/do any of these ideas, I would LOVE to see them or hear about it! That's why I'm sharing - so you can do it too and I can still "feel" like I'm teaching . . . in a roundabout way!

19 comments:

  1. I would absolutely LOVE to win a set. My 3.5 year loves saying the continents and was so happy when we got the globe I ordered in the mail. Unfortunately, I had to send it back because it was damaged...she actually broke into tears,poor girl.
    Anyway, thanks for all your wonderful ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love all the ideas you put on this blog. I have only tried one with Hannah so far. I got the color samples from Home Depot for her to match and play memory with. Thanks for taking time to share such great ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Awesome. My son loves maps! When he was 2 (he is now 4) he would "draw" pictures of the map of the zoo and Sea World. He would LOVE this!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm absolutely loving reading your blog. I'm a former public school teacher, home school mom (of a total of 27 yrs.) and now a happy grandma. Can't wait to get started on "playing" with your ideas with my granddaughter who turns one year old on Sunday!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great idea! I would love a set! I found your blog through Hollee Ford and I really love your ideas - you're now in my Google Reader.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I want one! Love that first pix of Lawton! What a cutie!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Put me in your drawing hat! I would love to win a set. I am planning on using all of your ideas. I'll have more to say about that later on....

    ReplyDelete
  8. We're looking forward to teaching Ty about the maps... right now, he just says "Tennessee" every time he sees one.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Thank you thank you for the ideas...You're an inspiration to those of us to whom teaching does NOT come naturally!

    Ruth Smith

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love this project! I love this for my little kids, but I'm also thinking about using it w/ my dementia patients at the assisted living facility in which I work too! GREAT idea! I hope I win!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for all of the good ideas! I've learned quite a bit about teaching my small children through your blog. I would love to win the small felt set!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Enter me again please. :) And I took some pictures of Cam "tonging" if you want me to send them to you. Let me know if you want them.(sarawalkerpt@hotmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am glad that I came upon your blog. You have some wonderful ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I wouldn't have thought of anything like that. Please enter me in there.

    Paula

    ReplyDelete
  15. Enter me! I love free stuff! Where did you find the template that you used for the hemispheres?

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'd love to win this! What a great idea, thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  17. sweet boy love him to show me his c--k

    ReplyDelete