Since we travel so much, I now love teaching geography! Well, I don’t like ‘teaching’ it, but I do like for the kids to learn it – it now seems so much more relevant! We have visited 39 states so far…who knows, maybe we will get to travel beyond the US borders one of these days, and I suppose that we should have an idea of where we would be going!
Reviewing Geography I for Memoria Press sounding interesting, especially since it did not just cover The Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, but also included a review series for the US states and their capitols!
Memoria Press, around since 1994, is a full curriculum (through 7th grade) publisher specializing in classical teaching tools with a Christian worldview. They are ‘characterized by 3 things: simplicity, quality, and affordability’; that statement alone made me want to try their products! LOL!
The Geography I set includes 5 work texts, only 2 of which are consumable, for $48. The workbooks included are:
*The United States Student Workbook (consumable) – and –
*The United States, Teacher Key, Quizzes, and Tests (reusable)- both geared towards students in a 4th to 6th grade level, these books help the student remember and retain the knowledge they gleaned from Memoria Press’ study States and Capitols.
*Geography Student Text (reusable)
*Geography Student Workbook (consumable)
*Geography Teacher Guide (reusable) – for 5th grades and up.
The main goal of this curriculum is for students to look at a map and identify each country and it’s capitol city. The Geography I course links present and former (ancient times) geographical information, and the fun facts they provide about each country are interesting!
Students cover 2 to 3 countries per week, and learn a general overview of the country. There is map work to do each day, but the overall lesson is not writing intensive. I had Joel and Daniel work on this program, and both did very well with it. There were unfamiliar names (overseas countries) that I had to help them with, but otherwise they were independent learners, but still retaining the info.
Things that I loved about this program – the very best one, was that it is not teacher intensive. I love teaching materials that encourage my students to be independent learners! I really appreciated clear, clean, uncluttered pages. It was easy to follow the directions, and there was adequate room to complete the required work. I love the concise review books for use in remembering what the students had learned in their last books.
Things I didn’t care for – we haven’t finished quite yet, but so far so good! 🙂
Because of the interesting Fun Facts page, and the writing down the information in addition to seeing it in print and reading about the country, makes the information more memorable.
If you would like to read other homeschooler’s reviews of Memoria Press’ Geography, or some of Latin, please feel free to head to the TOS blog!
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