{"id":870,"date":"2018-01-16T19:55:30","date_gmt":"2018-01-17T02:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yycmontessori.ca\/?p=870"},"modified":"2018-01-16T19:55:55","modified_gmt":"2018-01-17T02:55:55","slug":"the-joy-of-geography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yycmontessori.ca\/the-joy-of-geography\/","title":{"rendered":"The Joy of Geography"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>One of the many gifts a Montessori education often brings is a life-long enthusiasm for geography. Geography helps children place themselves on Earth, fostering care for the rivers, forests, oceans, and peoples. Physical geography focuses on the features of Earth’s environment. Political geography studies how humans have adapted to the land, emphasizing settlement and activity.<\/p>\n

Geography is the most all-encompassing subject in the Montessori “cultural curriculum.” It creates the foundation for understanding the oneness of the human family, recognizing the basic needs that all people share while appreciating the diversity of how different cultures satisfy those same needs.<\/p>\n

Physical and Political Geography<\/p>\n

We begin with physical geography, introducing three- and four-year-olds to the Globe of Land and Water (Sandpaper Globe). The sandpaper land is rough to the touch; the oceans are smooth. “This is how we see Earth from the sky. This is land. This is water.<\/em>”<\/p>\n

We also introduce children to Land and Water Forms, a Practical Life exercise in geography. As the child pours water into the forms, she has the sensorial impression of, for example, an island and a lake. Naming the land forms using three-part cards and learning the definitions of land forms follow.<\/p>\n

The materials in the primary classroom for political geography include the Globe of the Continents (Painted Globe) and the Puzzle Map of the World (typically introduced as a sensorial work), along with the Continent Maps, outline maps, and the flags.<\/p>\n

Introducing Maps<\/p>\n

Once children have worked with the globes, we introduce maps. This transition from globe to map is often difficult for a child. You can compare the Globe of the Continents to the Puzzle Map of the World, identifying each continent on the globe, then the map. You could say, “A map is an important tool to show what a big place looks like from up high.<\/em>” Perhaps you could demonstrate how to make a flat map of the spherical world by letting the air out of an inflatable globe to flatten it. Then compare it to the Puzzle Map of the World.<\/p>\n

Five- to nine-year-olds might enjoy drawing maps of their school playground, the lizard’s terrarium, or the route from home to school. A treasure map leading to a hidden command card or object in the classroom can encourage map-reading skills.<\/p>\n

Exploring the Continents<\/p>\n

Most teachers spend hours researching and gathering artifacts to present the physical and political geography of each continent in turn. Storytelling and photographs can bring the countries and continents to life as we introduce children to:<\/p>\n