This is such a fun project that I have seen many versions of floating around. If you have not seen one check these projects out here and here and here.
I LOVE the idea and decided to do a simple Powerpoint presentation, and a booklet to start. I used the animated venn diagram to do this.
We started this presentation surrounded by maps!!
The initial ppp was a series of overlayed disks/circles seen in many projects. The first frame started with all layered together, and then the animation overlayed each circle from "My Continent" right down to a final small disk labelled "Us" with a picture of the kids. I used all free clip art, and images available from MS ppp and Wikipedia.
The I did a series of slides with descriptions for each layer of the circle.
Then we went back through the presentation, and checking out our maps.
Then we pulled our puzzle map pieces.
We got started with out booklet. This was a series of maps including a view of the Northern Hemisphere. This inspired some great conversation, and most importantly many questions one of which was "How long does it take to sail around the world?".
Checking out the equator, and a map of the Northern Hemisphere.
We did a little reading about Laura Dekker's sail around the world. He found this fascinating!!
Ava matching Polar animals
Mapping and highlighting the route to our house.
This is a great Canadian Children's Atlas that he was very intrigued by, and spent a great deal of time with. He especially loved reading all of the Provincial fun facts.
I created our North American Continent Box Cards and we pulled those out. The majority of the photos are from our travels and that of family so this was quite fun for him. I included the Province on each card, so that he could place them on our large puzzle map.
But first, he labelled our Provinces.
Ava listening to the "ocean" in a conch shell we brought home from Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia.
Our neighbours are from the Arctic, and sent us some wonderful photos to add to our collection. They travel to Nunavut to camp and fish every summer, and the photo he is looking at here is a line of Arctic Char drying. They also sent us pictures of the landscape and an iceberg!!! They gave Xander a lesson about the Kudlik (Inuit Oil Lamp) you can check that out here if you wish.
Xander wrote out some information on the back of his booklet including his address!!
This was a fun afternoon project. Xander loved rediscovering our North American Continent Box.
I must say these cards were so much fun to make.
The Continent Boxes have been a process for me. I started thinking I would make some of the cards, and buy others - then I decided to make them all, other than a few. I must say I have learned so much from making them, and have found it extremely beneficial. I will also say it is very hard to know when to stop!!! That being said I did do a post a while back with resources I found helpful.
Here are few other geography posts to check if you wish.
Thanks for visiting with us!
You are such an ambitious lady. I love taking an inside peek at all that you are accomplishing with your kiddos. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThank you Anita!!! I can't tell you how much that means coming from a mother as extraodinary as you are <3
DeleteThis is fabulous, Cherine! Your materials are always beautiful, and I love the variety of hands-on activities you used for your unit. Thanks so much for sharing at Montessori Monday. I featured your post at the Living Montessori Now Facebook page and added your post link to my DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities post at http://livingmontessorinow.com/2012/09/17/montessori-monday-diy-cosmic-nesting-boxes-map-towers-and-me-on-the-map/
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Deb!!!! Thank you for sharing our posts and activities :))
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