Discovering the World from Home: A Fun Guide to Teaching Geography in Your Homeschool

Geography is more than just maps and capitals—it’s the story of our planet, its people, and the places they call home. Whether you’re teaching a curious seven-year-old or a budding teen explorer, geography offers endless opportunities to ignite wonder and curiosity. Here’s how to bring geography to life in your homeschool, using creativity, conversation, and curiosity.

🌍 Why Geography Matters

In a globalised world, understanding geography helps children:

• Develop a sense of place and direction.

• Understand global cultures and traditions.

• Learn about physical landscapes, climates, and ecosystems.

• Explore how humans interact with the environment.

Geography also builds skills in critical thinking, map reading, research, and communication—key areas in any well-rounded education.

🧭 Starting with the Basics: Where Are We?

Begin with the familiar. Help your child understand their local area before expanding outward.

Activities:

• Draw a map of your home, street, or town.

• Explore the UK: Find your region on a UK map, and discuss landmarks or historical features.

• Use Google Earth to zoom in from space right down to your doorstep.

Encourage questions like:

• “Why do we live here?”

• “What’s the weather like in other parts of the UK today?”

• “What’s the nearest mountain, river, or coastline?”

🗺️ Learning About Continents and Countries

Use colourful world maps or globes to introduce the continents and oceans. Make it interactive:

Ideas for engagement:

• Country of the Week: Focus on one country each week. Learn its capital, flag, language, food, and traditions.

• Postcard Projects: Create or collect postcards from different countries. Pen pals or relatives abroad can help!

• Storytime Around the World: Read folk tales or stories from different cultures.

For younger learners, use songs or puzzles. For older ones, research projects or virtual museum tours are ideal.

⛰️ Dive into Physical Geography

From volcanoes to rivers and deserts to rainforests, physical geography brings science into your humanities learning.

Experiments and models:

• Build a volcano with baking soda and vinegar.

• Create a climate chart tracking local weather patterns.

• Make a salt dough map of the UK or a continent with mountains, rivers, and cities marked.

Discuss natural disasters, climate zones, and ecosystems. Documentaries like Planet Earth or Blue Planet are perfect companions.

📚 Geography Through Books and Games

Geography doesn’t have to come from textbooks alone. Make it fun and memorable with:

• Atlas exploration: Let children browse atlases and quiz each other.

• Board games: Try Ticket to Ride, Where in the World?, or Geoguessr (for older children).

• Books: Explore titles like Maps by Aleksandra Mizielińska or Lonely Planet Kids Travel Book.

🌐 Real-World Connections

Make geography relevant by linking it to daily life:

• Follow the news and locate mentioned countries on the map.

• Discuss climate change and its impact around the world.

• Look at packaging labels to find where food and products come from.

🏕️ Field Trips and Outdoor Learning

Nothing beats getting outside to explore geography in action.

• Visit local rivers, hills, or coastlines.

• Explore museums with maps, globes, or natural history exhibits.

• Use compasses or apps for orienteering activities in a nearby park.

Even a walk around your neighbourhood can lead to a discussion on urban geography, land use, or map-making.

📌 Final Thoughts

Geography is an exciting, ever-evolving subject that connects your child to the world and its people. With hands-on activities, rich stories, and a bit of imagination, your homeschool can become the launchpad for lifelong explorers.

Happy adventuring!