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"New
Teaching Tools from Answers in Genesis" is the subject
line
of the e-mail accompanying and sponsoring this newsletter.
 New
Creation-Based Worldview Magazine
and Curriculum from Answers in Genesis
These resources and teaching tools will help you
give your children a solid, Christian-worldview
foundation. Books, DVDs, Videos, CDs,
magazines, and curriculum.
_______________________________________________________________
View this
newsletter online.
_______________________________________________________________
Information, Inspiration, and Encouragement
From
a Distinctively Christian Perspective of Home Education
Cindy Short and Sue Welch,
Co-Editors /
www.TeachingHome.com
_______________________________________________________________
Table of Contents
• Your State Home-School Convention
__________________________________________
5-Part Series: The Geography Connection
Past Issues
Part 1. Cultural Geography, Newsletter
145
Part 2. Physical Geography, Newsletter
146
Part 3. Teaching Geography, Newsletter
147
This Issue: Part 4. Integrating Geography
• Start with Other Subjects
• Start with a Geography Topic
Next Issue: Part 5. Geography Today and Tomorrow
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Recommended Resources
• The
Ultimate
Geography and Timeline Guide
• Welcome to the Wonderful
World of Geography
• The Victory Drill Book Phonics Program
• Atommate:
The Chemistry Card
• The Teaching Home Back Issues
Sunnyside Up: Humorous Anecdote
Greetings,
One of the basic principles of education is that new
information
is best understood and remembered when it is
connected to other
knowledge.
In this issue we resume our 5-part series on geography
by
offering practical suggestions for relating your study of
geography
to other subjects.
There are two ways that geography can be related to other
subjects. We will explore both methods in this issue.
1. Start with other subjects, then find and follow the geography
connection.
2. Start with geography, then find and follow the connections to
other subjects (i.e., use a topic in geography as the theme
of a unit
study).
May the Lord bless you and your family for
His glory.
Cordially,
The Pat Welch Family, Publishers
Pat, Sue, Heather, Holly, and Brian
The Teaching Home is a home-school, family-run business
operated in our home since 1980.
_______________________________________________________
Your State Home-School Convention
Renew and expand your vision for teaching and
training your
children by attending your state home-school convention!
Follow the
link
for your state to get more convention
information.
May AR, IL, MS, MT, NC, NJ, PA, WI
June CO, CT, IA, ID, IL, KS, NY, OH, SC, VA, WV
July AL, AZ, CA, KY / August OR, TX
Read "Getting
the Most Out of Home-School
Events."
_______________________________________________________
Start with Other Subjects
The basic journalism questions can be applied to any subject
by
asking: Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How? Naturally the
"Where?"
question
is our geography connection to other subjects,
some of which we explore
below.
Basic Study for Any Subject
Start with these suggestions for any geographic location
that you
encounter in any subject.
• After finding a location on the globe (which gives the best
geographical perspective), use a wall map and/or detailed
map in a
book or atlas to fine-tune the location.
• Images of the location can then make the place more real to
your children. You can find them in library books, travel
videos, or movies set in the location you are studying.
• Research the location in books and online.
Operation World
CIA World
Factbook
Library of
Congress Country Studies
Many links to online information are contained in the first
three
issues of our series on geography (see Table of Contents
above).
_______________________________________________________
The (Award-Winning!)
Ultimate
Geography and Timeline Guide
by Maggie Hogan and Cindy Wiggers
Everything you need to teach geography
from kindergarten through high school.
All-in-one: lesson plans, ideas, unit study,
and inspiration! www.brightideaspress.com/UGTG.htm
www.geomatters.com/products/details.asp?ID=76
_______________________________________________________
Specific Study by Subject Area
After doing the basic study suggestions above, add the following.
1. History
History is a subject for which the "Where?" question is a
necessity; without a place setting, the events of history are
meaningless.
• When you study or otherwise encounter any historic event, use
both a timeline and a globe to locate its place in time and
space. This will add perspective and interest.
• Geography
Matters carries many products with timeline and
mapping activities to use with any history curriculum.
2. Literature
Each piece of literature, with the exception of science
fiction and fantasy, has a setting that can be located
in both time and space.
• If the book you are reading has been made into a movie, it
may
portray a good sense of place even if other aspects of
the book are not faithfully represented.
3. Science
Often the location of a scientific discovery or activity is
relatively unimportant. However, looking up any location
associated with science or scientists provides an opportunity to
become acquainted with different parts of the world and gives
your children a global awareness of the interconnection of people
and events.
4. Art and Music
Art and music can be traced geographically according to:
• The subject matter of the piece.
• The home and/or background of the artist.
• The location in which it was created and the influence that
location (and time period) had on the work.
5. Bible
The geography (both physical and cultural) of Bible lands
adds
greatly to the understanding of many stories and passages in
the Scriptures.
This is a region of the earth that your children should know
very well.
• Study the geography of Bible lands systematically.
• You will need maps that show the different place names and
boundaries unique to each time period, not just modern ones.
• Most Bibles have helpful maps in the back.
Resources
• Geography
Matters offers "Trail Guide to Bible Geography,"
Bible timeline figures, and Bible atlases.
• Bible Maps &
Resources offer quality study maps including
elevation, physical, and political maps of Israel, maps
showing events,
Bible timeline figures, and Bible atlases.
• BiblePlaces.com features
photographs and descriptions of
sites related to the Bible with an
emphasis on biblical
archeology, geography, and history, as well as
many links
to more information.
_______________________________________________________
"Welcome to the Wonderful
World of Geography"
World Physical Geography
Written by Brenda Runkle
This one-year curriculum, covering the
fundamentals of geography, is appropriate for
grades 6-12. It includes a student textbook,
student activity workbook, and a teacher's guide.
Order from Geography Matters, 606-636-4678.
www.geomatters.com/products/details.asp?ID=10
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Start with a Geography Topic
A geographic area can become the theme for a unit study
integrating several subjects.
1. Choosing Your Area
The size of the geographic area that you choose as a unit
study theme will affect the depth and length of your study.
• The broader the geographic area, the broader your unit study.
• A smaller area will make your studies more detailed.
• You may also limit your unit study focus by selecting a
historic time period as well as a geographic location.
• The length of time your unit study lasts will depend on the
amount of material available, the time in your school
schedule, and the interest of your family.
2. Gathering Your Resources
As you gather your resources, set aside a large box or
a shelf to assemble all of them.
What To Look for
• Materials on several different levels of depth or
difficulty for each child participating.
• Atlas, encyclopedia, dictionary, and other reference books.
• Christian textbooks on various levels with one on a high
school level for older students and your own information.
• Resource books such as Eyewitness, Usborne, Dover, or
Reader's
Digest illustrated, nonfiction books.
• Reading and literature books.
• Audio tapes of recorded books and music.
• Videos of classes, travel logs, documentaries, or movies.
• Activity or coloring books and educational games.
• Educational software.
Unit Study Curriculum & Helps
For more information, suggestions, and resources for writing
your own unit study, see the following.
• Unit Studies, Part 1, Newsletter
55
• Unit Studies, Part 2, Newsletter
56
Prepared Geography Unit Studies
• Geography
Matters offers geography unit study resources.
_______________________________________________________
 "The Victory Drill Book" Phonics Program
Works for the Beginning or Poor Reader
Use this effective tool to achieve smooth,
skillful, proficient skills in reading rapidly and
understanding what is read. Complete program
includes: "Victory Drill Book," Teacher's Guide,
Worksheets, Pre-Drill Book, and CD with accurate
pronunciation of phonetic sounds. www.victorydrillbook.com
_______________________________________________________
3. Enjoying Various Activities
Use this checklist for any unit study.
Research and Study Skills
• Teach your children how to research, evaluate, and gather
materials and information from a variety of
sources (see the
links in our geography series).
• Teach your children to take notes for reports or review.
• Have each student and teacher keep a notebook on your topic,
adding information, completed assignments,
notes, maps,
pictures, resource lists, etc., as you go.
Bible / Christian World View
• Use a Bible concordance, topical handbook, or online Bible
search to look up key
words related your study.
• Write out, discuss, and memorize selected
Scripture passages.
• Show and discuss how a Christian should apply and use in a
practical way the knowledge and information you are
studying.
Reading and Literature
• Assign topic-related reading at each child's level. Include
historically-correct fiction, good literature, poetry, and
nonfiction (essays, biographies, histories, diaries, etc.).
• Choose at least one piece of good literature related to your
topic for reading together as a family.
• Discuss what you have read. Ask comprehension questions
about facts,
inferences, and generalizations.
(See Newsletters
23, 25-26, and 28-30.)
• Describe the setting and locate the time and place on a
timeline, globe, and map.
Language Arts
Assign reading, comprehension, spelling, grammar, and
penmanship exercises, using passages from books on your unit
study topic for copywork, dictation, identification of parts of
speech, sentence diagramming, spelling, vocabulary, etc.
Writing
• Do a parent-supervised Internet search on your topic and
write a report with links to e-mail to your friends.
• Write a newspaper-type article about events you study.
• Make a simple, illustrated book for children telling about
some facet
of your topic.
• Write essays, poems, stories, reports, plays, book or movie
reviews, etc. related to your topic.
_______________________________________________________
"Atommate"(TM):
The Chemistry Card
Game That Makes Learning Easy
& Fun!
• 49 cards with 32 elements include atomic
symbols and facts about the element.
• Instructions for seven games.
• Suitable for beginners through advanced
students -- ages 10 and up.
• Designed by a Ph. D. Chemist.
stores.ebay.com/Atom-Cards
_______________________________________________________
Speech and Drama
• Give an oral report using maps, pictures, or charts.
• Dress in a national costume while giving your
report.
• Make a video of your report or dramatization of a scene.
• Watch a video or movie.
• Give an illustrated travel lecture or design a travel
brochure on your topic location.
Vocabulary and Spelling
• Start with a short list of key words that define or outline
your topic, and add new or significant words
as you
encounter them.
• Verbally test your students by asking them to spell and
define the words and use them in sentences.
Penmanship/Typing
• Have children copy or write as you dictate passages from
books on your topic. Assign a couple of sentences
for
younger children; a couple of paragraphs for older
ones.
• You can also use these passages for typing practice.
Art
• Make a relief map using dough art,
clay, paper,
or
papier-mache.
• Draw, label, and decorate a map.
• Make and illustrate a timeline of events.
• Construct a diorama.
• Paint a portrait gallery of people studied.
• Use pencil, charcoal, colored pencils, pastels, paints, or
chalk to draw or paint a picture related to
your study.
• Use chalk, dry erase, overheads, or a Powerpoint presentation
to make a report.
• Display a collection of items relevant to your topic.
• Make a scrapbook of your unit study activities, including
photos and descriptions.
• Visual Manna's Teaching
Geography Through Art helps you add
great art projects to any geography or history study.
History and Geography
• Use a Christian history textbook or other resources on the
time period and place, noting:
Influential people and events.
Political highlights.
• Read historically-correct fiction.
• Locate your topic on a timeline, globe, and map.
_______________________________________________________
Always-Relevant
Teaching Home Magazine
Back Issues
Many home schoolers have
found information,
inspiration,
and support from the writers
who have contributed to The Teaching Home magazine over the last
26 years. Fifty-one
Back Issues are offered for sale online.
• These back issue never go out of date.
• They are relevant
and applicable to your needs today.
_______________________________________________________
Science
• Study famous scientists, discoveries, and inventions of the
location and era you are studying.
• Identify topics in science and geography which overlap
(e.g., climate, oceanography, earthquakes, ecosystems).
Arts and Philosophy
• Study the art, music, and literature of the area and
time period.
• Study the religion and philosophies of the area and time
period and their influence then and now.
• Use Francis Schaeffer's "How Shall We Then Live"
book or
video
series for the relationship of each age's
philosophy
to its art and music.
Cultural Elements
• Look for cultural cookbooks for children, such as
Usborne
Internet-linked Children's World Cookbook and
The
Kids' Multicultural Cookbook.
• Research
to find what clothing would have been worn by the
people you are studying.
Games
• Play educational table games, online or software computer
games, or make your own games.
• Builder
Books carries many geography games.
• Make any game educational by having you child answer a
question related to your topic before taking his turn.
• Shop thrift stores for educational games (check for missing
pieces). Missing instructions can sometimes be found online.
Field Trips
• If you can't go overseas to visit a far-flung location, see if
you can visit a similar location closer to home.
• Take a virtual field trip by travel video from your library.
• Look for products from your topic area in the foreign foods
section at your grocery store or in import stores.
_______________________________________________________
Please Thank and Support
Our Sponsoring Advertisers!
These free newsletters are made possible financially
by the
fine suppliers who advertise in them and in the accompanying
e-mail. Please consider those that advertised in our last issue
(below) as well as the ones in this issue.
• Franklin
Springs DVDs
• Lingo House: Foreign
Languages
• Sing 'n Learn: Over 700
Auditory Products
• Library and
Educational Services
_______________________________________________________
Sunnyside Up
Our 4-year-old daughter, Summer, was rolling on the floor
and did a little tumble. I said, "Good job! You just did a
somersault!"
She smiled and then helped her 2-year-old brother, Parker,
who had his head on the floor, to also flip over.
"Yay!" she cried. "You just did a Parker-salt!"
Submitted by Cindy B., Florida
_______________________________________________________
God Loves You.
Because we have been separated from God by
sin, Jesus
Christ died in our place, then rose to life again. If we trust
Him as our Savior and Lord, He will give us eternal life.
"For by grace you have been saved through
faith; and that
not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of
works, that no one should boast." (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
www.TeachingHome.com/about/Salvation.cfm
_______________________________________________________
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