Geography isn’t always easy to teach in a hands-on way, but here’s an easy activity that will teach your children (and you!) each continent’s highest peak in no time!
Supplies needed:
- Map (a globe or atlas will work)
- Playdough or other modeling clay
- Toothpicks
- Construction paper (really, any paper will do)
I’m going to help by telling you each continent’s highest peak. The countries (or states) that they are within are listed in parenthesis:
- North America (Alaska): Mt. McKinley
- South America (Argentina): Aconcagua
- Europe (Russia – Caucasus Mountains): Elbrus
- Africa (Tanzania): Kilimanjaro
- Asia (Nepal, China – Himalaya Mountains): Everest
- Australia: Kosciuszko
- Antarctica: Vinson Massif
Cut out small strips of paper and write the names of the mountains, and then glue or tape them around the toothpicks to make small signs. Shape seven mountains out of playdough.
You can play the game multiple ways, just make it a game – learning and fun all rolled into one! You can place the mountains on the map in the correct spots, stick the toothpick signs in the mountains, remove and repeat; or stick the toothpick signs in the mountains and then place the mountains in the correct location, remove and repeat.
The second is more difficult because you have to actually find the mountains on the map, and remember which mountain goes on which continent.
We have played this game a few times, improving noticeably with practice. I just keep the signs and pieces of playdough in a baggie, easy to whip out when we need a fun, hands-on activity.
Do you have an easy, hands-on geography activity to share?
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Great idea! I’m going to use this one. Thanks!
Great idea! I’m seriously thinking about hs my boys next year (will be 4 & 6 yrs old in spring). I’m going to Stumble this post for future reference!
That’s cool, Dawn. My cousin’s husband climbed all of these! He completed his last climb in 2009.
What a cool idea to be interactive and involve the kids in learning a little bit of geography. I’m always looking for ideas to use for my book signings and other appearances to keep it interactive for the kids, and I always offer prizes with my activities to the winners.
I have a geography activity booklet on my website since I’m all about the United States (I’m writing a geography series as a handheld game that gives the kids (characters and readers) clues and they have to guess which state is being described. Each book will be one state. The activity booklet has a road trip game (trek across 49 of the 50 states without entering any state more than once), a state math game (very easy addition but it will take time work through the alphabet grid), a word search, a crossword puzzle and a map quiz. Feel free to stop by my website – http://junior-geography-detective-squad.weebly.com – and go to the activities page and you will be able to click on the file share link to get the activity pages.
I also have study guides available to compliment the books (the books are history and fun and trivia and geography/social studies, but the study guides make them over several curricula – ELA, science/math&map skills/puzzles/extra credit quiz or supplement a grade).
I will be an exhibitor at five homeschool conferences this summer and am open to others. See the schedule on my blog (http://jgdsseries.blogspot.com – on the side bar under book tour page). The first four titles will be available along with the study guides at the ones in June and July; book #5 should be available by the August one and by November, book 6 will be available.
Elysabeth Eldering
Author of the Junior Geography Detective Squad (JGDS), 50-state, mystery, trivia series
STATE OF WILDERNESS, book 1 available now
STATE OF QUARRIES, book 2 available now
STATE OF RESERVATIONS, book 3 available February/March 2010
STATE OF ALTITUDE, book 4, available May/June 2010
STATE OF SECESSION, book 5, avalable August/September 2010
STATE OF NATURE, book 6, available October/November 2010
Does your family attend Classical Conversations??? This is right up their ally!
Thanks for sharing this, Dawn!
This is an excellent idea! I’m gathering ideas for our geography club today. Definitely doing this!
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