Why teach world geography??
So often, it is easy for us to get wrapped up in our small parts of this world and forget how much more world there is around us. However, in the BC Social Studies curriculum, from grades 2 onwards, students are required to begin thinking globally. As such, it is important for children to be aware of more than simply the area in which they live. Although it is unreasonable to expect children to memorize the locations of and facts about all countries of the world, it is important that they are aware that there are other countries in the world, each of which has unique features. The Activity described below is a great way to help teach children exactly that!
World Geography Activity
Find the country you are least familiar with on each continent. For each country, state its name and at least 3 interesting facts about it.
Antarctica: There are no countries on this continent.
Fun Facts:
It is the location of the coldest recorded temperature on earth, which was -128.56degrees Celsius
Antarctica is home to about 70 percent of the planet's fresh water, and 90 percent of the planet's freshwater ice.
This continent has no countries because of the Antarctic Treaty which was signed on Dec. 1, 1959, after more than a year of secret negotiations by 12 countries. Tis treaty dedicates the continent to peaceful research activities. Forty-eight nations have now signed the treaty.
North American Country: St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Fun Facts:
There are over 32 islands and cays that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines; of these, nine are inhabited.
Some of the most fertile soil in the world can be found in the Mesopotamia Valley in St Vincent and the Grenadines. Often referred to as St Vincent’s breadbasket, this broad, fertile valley is brimming with farmlands growing root crops, fruits, vegetables and spices.
The capital city of Kingstown is known to have at least 400 arches and is also referred to as the city of arches.
The movies filmed in St. Vincent & the Grenadines are White Squall, Pirates of the Caribbean I, II and III.
South American Country: Suriname
Fun Facts:
It is bordered by French Guiana to the east, Guyana to the west and Brazil to the south.
The official language is Dutch.
Tropical rainforests make up about 80% of Suriname´s total Landscape.
A typical, mainly urban Creole, expression is “no span” (“Keep cool; don’t worry”), symbolizing the generally relaxed atmosphere.
Suriname and neighboring Guyana are the only two countries on the mainland South American continent that drive on the left.
European Country: Isle of Man
Fun Facts:
It is one of the British Isles, but it is NOT part of the United Kingdom.
The domestic Manx cat, a distinctive tailless breed, is traditionally believed to have originated on the island.
The current government consists of an elected president; a Legislative Council, or upper house; and a popularly elected House of Keys, or lower house.
Facts from: https://www.britannica.com/place/Isle-of-Man
African Country: Lesotho
Fun Facts:
Sotho and English are the official languages of the country.
Lesotho is a high-altitude country, situated at an elevation of 2161 m above sea level. It is also famously known as “The Kingdom in the Sky.” In fact, Lesotho is the only country in the world entirely above 1,000 m.
About 75% of the country’s population lives in rural areas, and animal herding and agriculture is their main occupation.
Facts from: http://thefactfile.org/lesotho-facts/
Asian Country: Azerbaijan
Fun Facts:
Azerbaijan is the first democratic state in the Islam-oriented countries. It is also the first Muslim country to have theater plays and operas.
Mountains vs plains: Mountains cover 60% area of the country and the remaining is covered by plains and lowlands.
In the area, Australia is 89 times, and Guatemala (a Central American country) is 1.25 times larger than Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is the home of two of the world class chess players – Garry Kasparov and Teymur Rajabov.
Facts from: http://thefactfile.org/azerbaijan-facts/
Oceanic Country: Nauru
Fun Facts:
The official language is Nauruan.
It achieved independence in 1968 and joined the UN in 1999 as the world's smallest independent republic.
Nauru's capital city is Yaren.
Next Steps:
Once Students have briefly looked into the countries they are least familiar with, you can have them work in small groups to do a more in depth research project on the one country they know the least about.
See example here
Note about World Maps
An important thing to keep in mind when teaching world geography is that maps and our perceptions of the world are culturally influenced. For example, while Canadian maps place North America in the top left corner, countries in the Southern hemisphere, such as Australia, often have maps that place their own country at the top. Furthermore, it should be considered that a two dimensional map in many ways does not accurately depict a scalar model of the world. Although maps are great for helping us visualize and form some understanding of world geography, we as teacher should be aware of the discrepancies so that we can explain them to students.
For more info on why world maps are inaccurate, check out this video.
Comparison of Canadian and Australian maps
Canadian Map
Australian Map
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