One of the most fun ways to teach geography in the younger grades is through reading and doing activities from countries all around the world. I did a geography unit with my younger girls when they were elementary aged, and we had the best time. We read books about other countries and cultures. We made crafts. We cooked food. We played traditional games. I know that they learned far more than just reading about continents and countries from a textbook. Even now they can remember a good bit about the countries we covered.
In this post, you’ll find a booklist and some activities for countries in all seven continents. There are also some general geography books and activities. If you want some in depth geography learning, you can use these resources to create your own unit study. Use my free Create Your Own Unit Study ebook and planning pack here.
Or just use the resources to learn a little about each individual continent. At the end of the post, don’t forget to pick up the free My Country Study packet. Elementary aged kids can use this packet for any country study. It would be fun to create a notebook with a country study from each continent.
General Geography
Books
Activities
Make a paper-mache globe with these instructions.
National Geography Kids has a great site where kids can learn all about countries all over the world.
Scholastic has a fun, interactive Global Trek where kids can choose a country they want to “visit” and take a virtual trip to learn about that country.
Education Possible has a free Geography Terms BINGO printable.
My Little Poppies has a great post about using Google Earth in your homeschool.
Homeschool Share has some great activities that correspond with Jan Brett books to tour the world.
Countries in North America
Books
The United States of America: A State By State Guide (3rd-5th grades)-US
Our Fifty States (2nd-5th grades)-US
The Kids Book of Canada (3rd-6th grades)-Canada
Good Night, Canada (age 2+)-Canada
Activities
Find some great ideas for learning about the American Revolution here.
Countries in South America
Biblioburro: A True Story From Colombia (K-2nd grade)-Colombia
The Rainforest Grew All Around (K+)- various, rainforest
A Pen Pal for Max (K-3rd grade)-Chili
Victoria Goes to Brazil (1st-3rd grade)-Brazil
Activities
Danya Banya has a fun rain stick craft that kids can make.
Kids can tour the Amazon rainforest with this cool interactive site from PBS.
Get a free printable booklet about the Galapagos Islands here.
Kids can learn about the Nazca Lines in Peru and do a simple art project related to them here.
Find a free printable set of South American geography games here.
Countries in Europe
Books
The Cat Who Walked Across France (K-3rd grade)-France
France ABCs (K-5th grade)-France
Italy ABCs (K-5th grade)-Italy
Energy Island: How One Community Harnessed the Wind and Changed Their World (1st-4th grade)-Denmark
Fair Monaco (1st-3rd grade)-Monaco
Eloise in Moscow (4+)-Russia
Activities
Paddington’s Guide to London takes kids on a tour of the city featuring some of the sites related to everyone’s favorite bear- Paddington.
Homeschool Share has a free lapbook all about France, as well as one about England.
Adventures in Mommydom has some fun recipes and activities to help kids learn about Ireland.
Homeschool Share also has a list of all of their free literature resources that correspond with learning about European countries.
Countries in Africa
Books
A Long Walk to Water (5th-8th grade)- Sudan
We All Went on Safari (5+)-Tanzania
Jamba Means Hello: A Swahili Alphabet Book (3-5 years)-various, Swahili language
Wangari’s Trees of Peace (K-4th grade)-Kenya
Activities
Ducksters has a whole page of information about Africa with links to different countries and a printable map.
Homeschool Share has free unit studies and lapbooks that correspond with a variety of African countries.
This is a free lesson plan to help kids learn about the seven natural wonders of Africa.
You can find a free Africa’s Lands coloring page here.
Learn Create Love has instructions for making African tribal masks.
Countries in Asia
Books
Four Feet, Two Sandals (1st grade+)
Sami and the Time of Troubles (3rd grade+)- Lebanon
Bee-Bim Bop! (PreK-2nd grade)-Korea
What Should I Make? (PreK-1st grade)-India
I Live In Tokyo (K-2nd grade)-Japan
Activities
Homeschool Share has a free lapbook about China.
Get free Asia geography worksheets from Homeschool Giveaways and Freebies.
123 Homeschool 4 Me has a free printable China booklet for kids.
You can find a food art activity and recipe from India at Kitchen Counter Chronicles.
Kid World Citizen has some cool Indonesian folk tales and a slide show about animals from them.
Countries in Australia
Books
D is For Down Under: An Australian Alphabet (1st-3rd grade)
Stories From the Billabong (2nd-6th grade)
If You Were Me and Lived In Australia (PreK-3rd grade)
Activities
Homeschool Share has a free lapbook about Australia.
Find coloring pages featuring Australian animals here.
Homeschool Creations has a nice set of free, printable Australia pages here.
These instructions will guide you to make a really cute echidna craft.
Sugar, Spice, and Glitter has a great Australian Dot Painting craft.
Antartica
Books
Antarctica (K-3rd grade)
Little Penguin: The Emperor of Antarctica (K-2nd grade)
Explore Antarctica (1st grade+)
Magic Tree House: Penguins and Antarctica (1st-4th grade)
Activities
Get free printable Life Cyle of a Penguin Cards here.
It isn’t free, but this packet from Teachers Pay Teachers would be a great way to compare and contrast the Arctic and Antarctica.
Active Wild has a great guide to Antarctica that has also has pictures and links for further study.
Blue Bear Woods has instructions for making a cool ice cave.
Find some fun science ice experiments here.
And now you can download a FREE My Country Study booklet. Your child can pick a country to learn about in more depth. The booklet contains pages for recording information about the country they choose.
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