| Educating World Geography with the Use of Maps,Globes and White Boards |
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| Written by Edmond Waganer |
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Geography Education and its Importance Students in all levels must know and memorize world geography because geographic literacy and its basic fundamentals are highly required especially in our generation today. It can be done using outline maps, globes, whiteboard, white boards displays and other learning tools. Teachers must let them instill to their students mind the outline of maps and places of different countries of the physical world. In fact, the study of geography was designated as a core subject along with English, Math, and Science in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Map skills relate directly to Math skills such as chart reading and geometry. Our best teachers understand the importance of distinguishing countries on a blank world map, identifying physical structures, and understanding the people who populate them. Because of these facts, utilization of learning instruments like, maps, white boards and magnetic dry erase boards are necessary to improved activities related. Government Interventions Geography was included in the Act of 2001 designated the No Child Left Behind act giving its official inclusion in important subjects together with math, science and English. Here you will learn skills like chart reading and geometric mapping which can enhance math related skills. Skills like identifying countries on a blank world map, how to distinguish their physical structures and also its population are just some skills that may be learned. To further elaborate the issue on lack of geography education, take look back in pageant History. Lauren Caitlin Upton participant of Miss Teen USA 2007 was asked why one fifth of the Americans cannot find their country on the world map. She answered with confusion and seems like disconcerted. This suggests that she cannot pin point the United States on the world map. If she only had a good geography background she could have answered it confidently. But in recent years, Geography education was having problems in some countries like the United States. The geographic literacy dropped down and it is pretty evident in the case of Miss Teen USA 2007. Lauren Caitlin Upton was asked about the result of recent polls that one fifth of Americans can not locate their own country on a world map, and her answer was so far out and irrelevant that she just mentioned countries in Asia and Middle East. This just proves her lack of knowledge of the geographic location of her country. A useful resource is the National Geographic site on Geography Awareness Week. Its part of their My Wonderful World educational program. Lesson plans and tips everyday are given by these sites. But heres one thing you can make your own geography schedule in your class like, Mondays is for world cultures .Showing whiteboard displays in front of the class along with a detailed map is guaranteed to be a fun experience. National Geographic website is a site where you can find online lesson plans and guides for every weekday. For example, Monday is for Human geography and cultures. Tuesday is about physical geography and the environment. And so on. The internet is one example of many ways of learning about geography and to share it to everyone. There are multiple lesson plans listed by grade level on the Discovery Education Site. Among them is a lesson called, Around the World. Students identify continents, and then travel to various locations gathering information on weather, landforms, animal life, and culture. You can create interactions in your class by gathering their thoughts, writing them in whiteboards for classroom presentation. Useful Teaching Tools Using teaching tools that are interactive are the most effective way to keep the students interested. Globes, boards, white board displays, games, puzzle and world maps are some tools that are effective for students who are learning geography. If you have less finances you can get free download of free worksheets on a variety of subjects, an outline world map to fill in, or print out simple games from educational sites. Magnatag and Lakeshore are websites that offer map-printed carpets, write-on maps and globes, and talking books, whiteboard. They provide manipulative teaching tools that are suited for geography education to make it an effective presentation. Find these tools as well as the magnetic dry erase board at http://magnatag.com. About the Author: Discover how a whiteboard can help to render work flow or enhance demonstrations. Employing white board displays puts the presenter in charge and are fundamental tools. This and other unique content '' articles are available with free reprint rights. Kindly provided by 4Girls.dk You are welcome to use this article on your own website, if you include this link. |