This hands on geography unit provides primary aged students an opportunity to learn, or review, the location of the Earth�s seven continents, the four major oceans, cardinal directions of North, South, West and East, and map symbols and legends; as well as an introduction to geographic terms through activities that target different learning modalities.

The title Geography Alive! represents the idea that geography does not just consist of the color-coding of maps. Geography, like all other subjects, should be taught in ways that meet as many different learning styles as possible. This unit provides instructional techniques for teaching geography to primary aged children using Howard Gardner�s Multiple Intelligences; kinesthetic, mathematical, musical, linguistic, spatial, interpersonal, naturalistic and intrapersonal.

The complete until includes 8 lessons, 40-50 minutes in length (may be shortened or lengthened to fit different schedules). Worksheets are also included. Lesson titles are: Our Orange Earth!, Living Continents!, Quilting Directions!, Stand In the Place Where We Live!, Corky Directions!, Creature Continents! (2 days), and Where in the World Is Earth?!

Skill Objectives include:
1.Students will review map and globe uses and representations
2.Students will be introduced to the skill of compare and contrast.
3.Students will locate and identify the seven continents and four major oceans on a flat world map.
4.Students will be introduced to geographic terms of continent, country, state, city, and island.
5.Students will be introduced to the three countries in North America; Canada, United States, Mexico and the location of Central America.
6.Students will be introduced to the Equator, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere, North Pole and South Pole.
7.Students will locate and identify cardinal directions of North, South, West, and East on a map.
8.Students will identify specific animals that are indigenous to each of the continents.
9.Students will learn animal classifications of carnivore, herbivore, and omnivore.
10.Students will identify the points on a compass rose.
11.Students will identify classroom cardinal directions.
12.Students will graph animal classification data.
13.Students will write sentences in the geography content area.
14.Students will respond orally to literature based in the geography content area.
15.Students will review the parts of a friendly letter.
16.Students will move and respond to music.
17.Students will analyze and respond to graphs in writing.
18.Students will practice using story element skills.

Teachers may select only few lessons or may choose to use the entire unit.