Geography Folders & Land and Water Form Folders
Materials:
A large envelope with a cut-out of a continent from the World Puzzle Map on the outside. The set includes a folder for each continent.
10-15 pictures per envelope which give an impression of the social and physical makeup of the countries of the continent. Each folder contains a set of images that share categories such as: children at school, children playing a sport, agriculture, landmarks, cultural celebration, etc. Pictures should be backed, without a border, in the color of the continent (as presented in the World Puzzle Map).
A large envelope with a cut-out representing the land or water form on the outside. The full set includes a folder for lake, island, bay, gulf, cape, peninsula, archipelago, and system of lakes
12-15 pictures per envelope that give a visual example of the land or water form. Images for water forms are backed in blue and brown for landforms.
Following Exercise:
A large envelope with a cut-out of the child’s own country from the continent puzzle on the outside
10-15 pictures which give an impression of the social and physical makeup of the child’s own country. Pictures should be backed in the color of the country (as presented in the continent puzzle map).
Purpose:
To give the child an idea of how the human has developed different cultures, but that they meet the same fundamental needs.
To see similarities and differences in physical features that make up the world.
Age: 3½ and up
Preparation for Geography Folders:
The child has worked with the World Puzzle Map.
The child can recall the names of the continents.
Preparation for Land and Water Form Folders: The child has worked with the Land and Water forms
Presentation: Both types of folders are presented in the same manner
Presentation 1: Working with a Single Folder
Invite the child to lay out a rug and bring an envelope of pictures.
If you are working with Geography Folders, bring the corresponding continent from the World Map.
Remove the pictures from the folder. Look at each picture one at a time. Ask the child what they see.
In a conversational manner, offer additional information about the image that may not be obvious.
As you finish with each picture, move it to the right side of the rug.
Presentation 2: Working with Multiple Folders
Lay out two rugs side by side. Bring two folders-one for each rug (and their respective puzzle pieces if you are working with Geography Folders). Using the whole rug, lay out all images.
One at a time, one, look at pictures from the two different folders to identify similarities and differences.
Select an image and look to find a picture that represents the same category in the other folder. Example: “I see a picture with children in school, can you find a picture with children in school on the other rug?”. Have conversations about the pictures.
Control of Error: None
Following Exercises:
Folder for the Child’s Country: Present this in the same manner as Presentation 1.
Sorting: After the child has experiences with the folders, encourage them to bring several to the rug and mix the images. The child will sort them by country and check their sorting by using the color on the back of the picture.
Story Writing: The child can pick an image to write about or even list all the things they see in the picture. Writing can be done with the Moveable Alphabet or on paper.
Pedagogical Notes:
When gathering folder images, show similarities in meeting fundamental needs (food, housing, clothing).
The exception is Antarctica.
We are systematic in gathering images, so all folders share categories. This offers the child the impression of the sameness of the cultures of the world. We focus on people to emphasize this.
Rotate the pictures in the folders to maintain interest.