Quick note: This episode is a repost, but it’s the perfect one to revisit during summer planning as you think about how to make geography more engaging and easier for students to understand.
Welcome to Part 1 of the 5-part Social Studies Summer Series!
In this episode, we’re going back to the basics of teaching geography skills in upper elementary. Geography can sometimes feel like it’s all about memorizing maps, places and vocabulary, but it can be so much more than that.
I’ll share simple ways to help students understand geography by making it relevant to their lives, connecting it to different cultures, using technology and encouraging curiosity. You’ll also hear ideas for practicing map skills in a way that feels meaningful instead of repetitive.
Whether you’re planning for next year or just wanting fresh ideas for your social studies block, this episode will help you make geography more fun, practical and connected to the world around your students.
Episode Highlights
In this episode, you’ll hear ideas for:
- Going back to the basics with geography skills
- Making geography relevant for students
- Learning about different cultures
- Using technology in geography lessons
- Encouraging student questions
- Connecting geography with other subjects
- Practicing map skills
- Helping students better understand the world
- Trying some of my favorite geography activity ideas
Resources and Links
Check out the Create A Country Project
Check out the Geography Daily Passages
More geography-related resources
Mentioned in this episode:
Grab the Back to School Social Studies Pack!
Get your upper elementary students excited to start the school year using these low-prep back to school social studies getting to know you worksheets! With 20 pages of engaging activities targeting geography, history, and classroom community building, it makes a great back to school resource for the first week or first month of school!
Learn more about the Back to School Social Studies Resource
Teacher Summer Talks and Bootcamp - Double Dose of PD!
The week of July 20th is jam-packed with some exciting PD for teachers!
Sign up for the Teacher Summer Talks audio summit >> https://thesouthernteach--secondstorywindow.thrivecart.com/tst-26-max-pass/
Sign up for the Social Studies Bootcamp >> https://thesouthernteach.com/bootcamp
