How to Get the Best First Grade Geography Curriculum

First Grade Geography

First grade is an important time to start kids with good foundations, but does that include a first grade geography curriculum?

We would say YES! It’s a necessary skill in today’s global world, ranking right up there with telling time or tying shoes. 

After all, in today’s world we can communicate across the globe instantly.  We are able to experience other cultures thousands of miles away by clicking a link.  And even search engines are translating languages for us so we can read posts that would normally be out of our reach.

Since the world is now at our fingertips like never before in human history, kids need to understand the world they live in like never before.

But our educational system has not done a good job providing this foundation. At least in the United States.

A report done by a collaboration of American universities showed the US ranking second-to-LAST in geographic knowledge, beating only Mexico.  Kids consistently failed simple map location questions.

This is tragic. Especially because our kids need geography now more than ever.

One of the first steps to fixing this problem is to make geography a priority. And that means introducing geography early. Yes, in first grade!

The Basics for First Grade Geography Curriculum

First grade is a time to teach the basics. We immediately think of reading and writing and math, but let’s not stop there.

It’s also a great time to teach kids the basics of geography.

Kids should have a foundational understanding of the globe, the continents & oceans on it, and the major cultural differences around the world.

In my class of first graders, I ask them at the beginning of the year what country they live in.  Many of them don’t know.

Many don’t know their state or their city, and many don’t even know what that means.

Sometimes I ask which ocean they were swimming in when they were at the beach that summer, and most of them have no clue. To be honest, a lot of the older elementary kids don’t know, either.

This is really basic stuff.  And first graders should know this and more.

For starters, first grade geography should make sure kids can identify the country where they live. What’s more, they should also have a general idea about other countries beyond that.

After all, kids need to understand that the world is a big place with many languages, cultures, and lifestyles that are far different from their own.

And, of course, they should know all of the continents and be able to identify them.

And let’s not forget the oceans.

Foundational things.  Important things.

And they can learn all this by looking at continents and countries around the world, a little bit at a time.  And in an interesting and engaging way.

How to Teach First Grade Geography

So… what is the best way to teach first grade geography?

No, it’s not just memorizing a vocabulary list of geography terms. 

And let’s be real.  Most kids already know what a mountain or an island is.  And if by some chance they don’t, a simple explanation will do it.  Let’s not make it complicated.

The best way is to teach about the world is to have the child experience the world. From the comfort of your own home or classroom.  And what does that look like?

I’m glad you asked. Here are a few things that a good first grade geography curriculum should have:

What to Look for in a Good First Grade Geography Curriculum

Lets Go Geography Year 1
  1.  First, the curriculum should show kids actual countries.

    Kids should know that other people live in other places that are different from their own. Kids should learn that the world is a very big place with lots of different people, different environments, and different ways of life.

    The curriculum should show real people & real places

    Geography for first graders starts within this frame of reference.
  2. Secondly, the curriculum should keep it short.

    It’s first grade, remember?  This is not the time to master everything.

    Kids just need to see the overall picture of culture, climate, plants & animals, and landmarks of the location.

    The high spots. The big ideas.

    The curriculum should keep it fun and fascinating, and keep it simple.
  3. Third, the curriculum needs to have some hands-on activities on each lesson’s theme.

    Activities with flags and maps are just the beginning and are valuable.

    Flags reinforce the idea that all countries are unique and different from each other.

    And maps not only show location, they also give the opportunity to talk about geographical terms in context!  Like explaining the Arctic Circle when your country is a part of it. Or explaining the Equator and asking if your theme country tends to be warm or cold after you have pointed out both on the map.

    Games are also important and can be incorporated with maps.  Like playing “I Spy” with different countries on a continent.  This is a fabulous way for kids to become familiar with various country names.

    Granted, kids should be able to at least recognize letters for this so they can find countries with clues like, “I spy a country in Europe that begins with the letter ‘S’.”

    Kids love games. And combining learning with fun is good for both the student and the teacher!
  4. Lastly, a hands-on craft or project is key for first-graders. This learning-by-doing approach will help them remember highlights and give them another frame of reference.
Let's Go Geography knows how to make elementary geography fun! Find out the secrets and get ready to toss the workbook pages. Kids love geography with these hands-on activities and ideas! Share with friends! #homeschoolgeographyelementary #homeschoolgeographychildren #homeschoolgeography #letsgogeography #geographyforkids #firstgradegeographycurriculum #1stgradegeographycurriculum #elementarygeographycurriculum

So make sure your chosen curriculum incorporates crafts or projects to go along with each theme.

Sometimes a simple coloring page will do. But it’s much better if the curriculum provides a craft on something about the theme country that stands out.

This helps kids remember things they have learned.  Later when you talk about Greenland and you say, “Remember this country?…It was the week that you made the snowy owl,” their eyes will light up because now it clicks.

The crafts & projects at Let’s Go Geography make this geography curriculum unique. And Let’s Go has coloring pages, too.

In Let’s Go Geography, kids finish every lesson with a hands-on activity, and they write the name of the country on these projects.  This helps kids remember the country both when they initially make it AND later when they are looking at all the things they have created.

A Winning First Grade Geography Curriculum

Fun and fascination with a few key ingredients.  Combine those things for a winning first-grade geography strategy.  It only takes about an hour a week.  And you will give your first-graders a critical head start on the world.

The curriculum at Let’s Go Geography is built on this model, and all the thinking and planning has already been done for you. Check out Let’s Go Geography’s “Around the World” curriculum!

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About the Author

Carol Henderson is the author of the Let's Go Geography curriculum. She previously homeschooled all 5 of her now-grown kids, and currently teaches several history and geography classes at a large homeschool co-op. After creating and then using her own geography curriculum for several years, she has published it here to share with you!

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