Although some American kids have had the opportunity to learn about the world by traveling abroad, the current economy has curtailed travel budgets for most families. It is possible, however, for parents to help their children learn about geography and the world without dipping into the college fund to send them overseas. A few simple, in-home habits and activities can go a long way toward teaching children about the world around them and their place in it.
Wall Maps
Get a large wall map of the world and hang it in a place where your kids will see it every day. Whenever they hear about a place on TV, read about a new country in a book or see a movie set abroad, help them find the location on the world map.
Because political boundaries often change quickly, look for the most current map you can find. Environmental Graphics, based in Hopkins, Minn., offers a wallpaper mural world map that is updated annually with information from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense. Each year, schools and parents across the country purchase thousands of copies of the wallpaper map, which offers a dry-erase surface making tagging their interests easy.
"With this map in the room, you get very familiar with the world," says Nancy Webber, an instructor at West Charlotte High School in Charlotte, N. C. As chairperson of the Social Studies department, she's purchased several of the maps for her school district. She adds, "Even a student who has difficulty pointing out the locations of major countries can't miss them."
The World Map mural is available by calling (800) 321-1484 or you can buy the map online at www.decorplace.com.
Read All About it
The Internet has made it possible for families to access literature from around the world. Reading about the lives of children in other countries, or the fairy tales those children also read, is a great way for kids to connect with the culture and geography of other places. A simple online search of resources like Amazon or specialty publishers like Bolchazy-Carducci Publishers (known for their fairy tale collections from around the world) will yield a variety of children's literature from other lands.
Read with your children and help them locate the story's country of origin on a map or globe.
Cook Up Some Learning
Learning about what children in other countries eat -- and why -- can help kids understand the lives, culture and economy of foreign lands. Consider planning a monthly international meal night. Encourage each child to research and prepare (or help prepare, for younger kids) a new dish from a distant country.
Or, you can reinforce geography lessons learned in school by serving foods from a region of the world that your child is currently studying in class. Culinary lessons are a great way to introduce kids to new foods, and help make their geography lessons seem more relevant.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
