More Map Skills (With Some Science and Math Thrown In)

The boys are thoroughly enjoying their map and geography book I posted earlier.  The latest exercise called for making their very own compass.  I must mention at this point that my boys are avid campers and have their own compasses (from the kids' meal at Chick-Fil-A).  By avid campers, I mean they put on their backpacks and camp in the yard, the playroom, the bushes, wherever, as long as they can call it camping.  They have been tent camping with Sweet Hubby and are waiting so very impatiently for cooler weather to go again.  So, teaching them how to make their own compass out of household materials was almost more excitement than they could handle.

First, we needed a magnet, a sewing needle, a circle made from cardstock, and a small bowl of water.  Run the needle over the magnet in the same direction 100 times.  (We had to make a slight variation since we were also practicing counting to 100).  Then set the cardstock circle on top of the water.  Put the needle on the cardstock.

After gently tapping the circle to make it spin and make the needle spin, the needle will automatically point north.  Our needle actually did this!  We were so very excited.  We used the kids' meal compasses to make sure our homemade compass was working correctly.  Yep, close enough for cheesecake.

We are very much enjoying our geography book.  The Boys' Wonder look forward to each lesson.

Making a Map

For our geography this month, we are studying maps.  I found a delightful book called "Leagues and Legends" from Veritas Press.  It is a story about a man who walks into the wrong shop only to meet Mr. Latitude and Mr. Longitude.  They proceed to tell him how to find his way using maps.  The Boys Wonder loved the story.  Boy Wonder #1 is determined to be Mr. Tardy (the main character) every time we go for walks now.  The accompanying workbook has exercises that teach how to read and draw maps.  The first lesson was to make a strip map.  We had to make a strip map of the route from our house to the grandparents house.  This was fun, even for me.  The Boys Wonder had to remember what all we saw on the way to Nana and Papa's house.  (This was slightly difficult since we normally traverse this route during naptime since it takes 5 hours).  They had a great time drawing bridges, rivers, fields, and houses.

The strip map created by the Boys Wonder.  One drew the rivers and bridges, the other drew the houses.  They both worked on the grass and fields.

Mr. Latitude (L) and Mr. Longitude (R).  They are helping the boys learn to read and draw maps.

Boy Wonder #2 leading Mr. Longitude across the map from our house to the grandparents house.