“Class, it’s time for geography.” Does that phrase conjure up timed map quizzes and hours of memorization? With those associations, it’s no wonder that many of us brush over geography in our own teaching. Unfortunately it also means that fewer than one third of U.S. students demonstrated proficiency in geography on the 2011 federal geography test that was issued as part of the Nation’s Report Card.
Geography doesn’t have to be boring or banished, though. Here are five fun, hands-on projects that will have your students begging for more geography.
Project 1: Me on the Map!
Geography can seem impersonal at first. Sure, we live on those landmasses drawn onto maps, but how does that really relate to our students’ lives? As one of our first geography activities, my students research where in the world their families originally come from. There are always some who are surprised to learn that their families aren’t originally from New York City.
In class we brainstorm interview questions to use with their parents. Here is a sample interview form that I created with my students.
After they bring in their interview research, each student uses a wet-erase marker to write their initials on a laminated world map to show where their family comes from. Finally, I put together a bulletin board with a world map and my students' photos, and connect the photos to the countries of origin with yarn. (See photo below.) With this project, my students begin to look at maps as a tool for telling personal stories.