Of course, outline maps are great for labeling all sorts of political and physical features: bodies of water, rivers, mountain ranges, cities, states, capitals, countries, continents, longitude, latitude, etc. But they can be used in many other creative ways. Here are great ideas to get you started:
- Birthplace of US Presidents
- Inventors and inventions
- Famous composers
- Famous or favorite authors
- Famous artists
- Use your maps as a book list. Plot the storys location.
- Where are your missionaries? Pray for them.
- Imports and exports. Where did your pajamas come from? How about your tea? Sneakers?
- How many US military bases can you find?
- What countries forbid Christianity? Plot the persecuted church. Pray for them.
- Use different colors to show the three major world religions. (Christianity, Judaism, Islam)
- Match the flag with the country.
- Write in as many foreign greetings as you can discover (Aloha! Ciao! Bon Jour!)
- Follow the concert tour of your favorite band.
- Trace your ancestors trek to the "New World".
- International cuisine. What's Babka? Where did the hamburger come from? Bruschetta? Tiramisu?
- Where do all your cousins live?
- Visit the zoo (or your favorite zoo book). Where do all the animals live? Cut out or draw pictures and stick on map.
- Follow the migratory patterns of bees, butterflies, birds or waterfowl.
- How many songs can you think of that mention cities, states, or countries? Do you know the way to San Jose? I left my heart
My kind of town, Chicago is
.
- Follow the schedule of your favorite sports team.
- Note the location of natural disasters. Floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, forest fires.
Check back next week for more great outline ideas!
Spend more time with Maggie Hogan on her blog:
www.homeschoolblogger.com/maggiehogan
Check out her great homeschool resources (including the award winning geography curriculums she *co-authored) at her business site:
www.BrightIdeasPress.com
info@BrightIdeasPress.com
Read more about The Ultimate Geography & Timeline Guide here - http://brightideaspress.com/UGTG.htm
And Hands-On Geography here:
http://brightideaspress.com/HOG.htm
Biography
Maggie and Bob Hogan live in a formerly Amish farmhouse in Dover, DE where they began homeschooling their two (now grown) sons in 1991. She is a regular contributor for homeschooling internet sites as well as print magazines like The Old Schoolhouse. Shes a nationally known speaker and co-author of The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide, Gifted Children at Home, Hands-on Geography and other resource books. Involved in local, state, and national homeschooling issues, they both serve on boards of home education organizations in Delaware. Theyre also owners of Bright Ideas Press, a home school company dedicated to bringing the best practical, fun, and affordable materials to the homeschool market.
