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LisaDSB
12-07-2009, 11:47 PM
What, if anything, do you do with a gifted kid who's passionate about geography?

We've been sort of unschooling geography -- in other words, I just stay out of the way and DS7 goes about teaching himself all the countries and flags of the world and whatever else he wants to know (today it was coats of arms and translating the Latin mottos). He's been memorizing countries for several years now. It was a great party trick when he was younger, to name obscure countries and see how fast he could find them on the map of the world floor mat.

He already knows about physical geography quite a bit, having done Earth Sciences on Cyber Ed and a lot of independent research.

Anyway, today he asked if we could "do geography". He wants some sort of curriculum. Something heavy on map drawing (he loves to draw) and incorporating flags and trivia perhaps. He's not that interested in the cultural side of geography. He doesn't mind workbooks or textbooks, but I'd like to find something that's appealing to a younger kid who already has the basics down. He doesn't need something that tells him the names of the continents and oceans, which is where most things I've found seem to start.

Anyone found something they love?

TIA,

Lisa

Lovedtodeath
12-08-2009, 02:45 AM
Draw Write Now books 7 and 8 have map drawing lessons and climate/zoology tied in to geography.

KarenNC
12-08-2009, 11:23 AM
I've looked at Mapping the World with Art by Ellen McHenry
http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/id151.html

It's designed for 5th grade and up, but if he is good at drawing and has the interest, might be worth a try. She has sample chapters online as well as links to youtube for a couple of the dvd lessons so he could try it to see if it's appealing.


There's also Mapping the World by Heart, a different curriculum that also centers around drawing. I'm not sure of the target age for this.
http://www.mapping.com/Brochure.html

Do you know about the National Geographic Geography Bee? http://www.nationalgeographic.com/geographybee/ I don't think he can compete until 4th grade but some of the prep materials may give you some ideas.

LisaDSB
12-08-2009, 12:56 PM
Thanks for the helpful suggestions!