As I consider topics to share in this column, I check in with friends and family of all ages to ask them what special activities they remember sharing with their parents or grandparents as they grew up. Many recalled simple activities that centered around singing, playing games or reading together. Other friends mentioned special trips they took with a family member. One 90-yearold friend reminisced about growing up in Omaha, Nebraska, where her father worked at a meat packing plant. As the family had no car, her father walked to work daily. She explained that she often walked with her father until they came to a busy street at which point she turned toward home. When questioned about her age at that time, she said “age 10”. I can only imagine the many life lessons that might have incurred on these walks.
My sister and I also talked about which events stand out in our minds. We both agreed that 4-H club gave us many opportunities to learn lifelong skills with parental guidance. We raised cows and pigs; learned to cook, sew and how to create a design, and plan to remodel a bedroom. We gave speeches and entered different events such as the county fair. It affirms my belief in the value of parents and grandparents whether near or far.
So let’s begin! This month’s topic: GEOGRAPHY
BOOK SUGGESTIONS:
I recently received a copy of The Reading Pig Goes to New York City by Susan Shin (K-4). Having toured New York City on a red double-decker bus and having seen all the landmarks mentioned in this children’s book as well as the illustrations makes this a favorite book to share with little ones of all ages.
Two books on my bookshelves that bring geography closer to home are “Grand Canyon, Exploring a Natural Wonder” by Wendell Minor (5–8) and “Down the Colorado John Wesley Powell, the One-Armed Explorer ” by Deborah Kogan Ray (3–6).
Other book series that often use location as a focus are the Madeline books in Paris, London, and at the White House (1–4) as well as The Magic Tree House (1–6) series. To enhance the books and reading why not get a laminated map(s) of Arizona, or the United States and teach your child how to ‘read’ and use a map? There are many games you can make up as you start looking at the map together. I can’t imagine not having a map in a classroom to give places more meaning. Teach children the directions (east, north, west and south). A favorite in my classroom was to create a compass rose that showed the four directions. They were always works of art.
