Geographic Science
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Geographic Science (or Physical Geography) topics are covered within the Science & Nature Studies subject for grades 1-6th (separate from the Geography subject). As these topics tend to build on each other, like science, they are organized into 2-year cycles, so Cycles 1 and 3 have the same schedules, as do Cycles 2 and 4 (students will move up a level every two years). There is a different topic scheduled for each term (Term 1: Weeks 1-11; Term 2: Weeks 12-20; Term 3: Weeks 21-30).
Home Geography (Long) and Elementary Geography (Mason) are used as the spines for all six years, though any additional resources or options will be listed as well. Outdoor Geography (Hatch) is another useful resource for Grades 1/2 outdoor activities (updated handbook).
While some topics can be taught in a classroom, many such as direction, compasses, distance, sun, and weather, are best learned “by-the-way," to be experienced and observed, with particular attention paid to the physical geography of where one lives. This lays the foundation for learning about other places.
Cycle 1: Geographic Science
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Cardinal Directions: Fixed direction (north, south, east, west). The sun shows direction: East is where the sun rises, west is where it sets. Stars (North or Pole Star, constellations) show direction and help mariners find their way. The length and direction of shadows can help us tell time as well as direction.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 2: How the Sun Shows Direction; Ch. 3: How the Stars Show Direction
Compass: A compass can show direction when sun and stars are not visible. Magnetic needle always points north. Points on the compass (N, S, E, W and also halfway in between: NE), how sailors use a compass.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 4. How the Compass Shows Direction
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 28: The Points of the Compass; Ch. 29: The Mariner's Compass
Poles: The poles; earth's spinning on its tilted axis makes the four seasons
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 11: Poles and Axis; Ch. 12: The Four Seasons Part I; Ch. 14: The Four Seasons Part II
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
The Earth's Surface: Earth's surface is mostly water; highlands (cooler), lowlands (warmer), mountains (foot, slope, summit) and valleys
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 34: The Surface of the Earth Part I; Ch. 35: The Surface of the Earth Part II; Ch. 36: Highlands and Lowlands
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 11. Plains; Ch. 12. Hills, Mountains, Valleys
Rivers & Waterways: Rivers and waterways; rivers start at a mountain spring and flow to the sea; a river's source, mouth, bed, two banks, tributary (branch), rapids, cataract, waterfall. Oceans and their parts, why rivers wind, work of rivers (fertile after flooding, pebbles, gravel, sand)
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 21: Work of Flowing Rivers; Ch. 22. Waterdrop's Story
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 38: Countries; Ch. 39: The Waters of the Earth Part I; Ch. 40: The Waters of the Earth Part II; Ch. 41: The Oceans and Their Parts
The Water Cycle: The water cycle: clouds, rain, rivers, ocean, evaporation (vapor); dew, snow
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 13: Rain, Wind, and Snow; Ch. 14: How Water is Changed to Vapor; Ch. 15: How Vapor is Changed to Water; Ch. 16: Dew, Clouds and Rain; Ch. 18: How Rivers are Made; Ch. 19. More About Rivers
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 37: Rivers
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Animal Features & their Purposes: Animal features (feet, teeth, covering) and their purposes; how we use animals (meat, milk, fur, silk, horns, hooves, labor, pets)
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 37: The Parts of Animals; Ch. 38: The Covering of Animals; Ch. 39: Uses of Animals
Things Found in the Earth: Things mined from the earth: minerals and metals such as coal, iron, gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, mercury, salt. Quarried stones: granite, sandstone; limestone (chalk), marble, slate and their uses. Where brick and glass come from; mortar.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 41: Things Found in the Earth; Ch. 42: More About Things Found in the Earth
Food Crops: Food crops (vegetables, grains fruit) and other useful plants
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 43: How People Live, and What They Are Doing; Ch. 44: More About What People Are Doing; Ch. 45: A Review Lesson
Cycle 2: Geographic Science
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
A Round World: The world is round. Left, right, front (before), back (behind) are positions; know which is which and realize they are dependent on perspective.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 2: Our World Part I
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 1. Position
Hemispheres: The round world can be divided into two spheres. The line dividing it across the middle is the equator; its parallel lines are latitude. The line where the earth meets the sky is called the horizon.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 4: Our World Part II
Rotating Planets: Planets rotate around the sun. Earth rotates around the sun in 365 days, making a year. The earth's turning makes day and night.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 6: Our World and Other Worlds Part I; Ch. 7: Our World and Other Worlds Part II; Ch. 9: Day and Night
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Sun Rising & Setting: The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 24: Sunrise and Sunset; Ch. 26: Why the Sun Rises and Sets; Ch. 27: Mid-day Lines
Measuring Distance: Measuring distance: inch, foot yard; mile. A country's proximity to the equator or poles determines its climate. Parallel lines from pole to pole are longitude.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 18: Hot Countries and Cold Countries Part I; Ch. 20: Hot Countries and Cold Countries Part II; Ch. 22: Parallel Lines
Maps: A map (plan) is a picture of a room, town, country or earth and should show where N is; how maps are made; maps of towns, regions, countries, the world.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 7: How to Tell Distance; Ch. 8: Pictures and Plans
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 30: The Plan of a Room; Ch. 31: The Plan of a Town; Ch. 32: Map of a County; Ch. 33: How Maps are Made
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Things Plants Need: Trees, flowers; what plants need to grow
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 33: Forest Trees; Ch. 34: Flowers; Ch. 35: What is Necessary to Make Plants Grow
Landforms: Land forms such as continent, island (archipelago), mountain, hill, isthmus (neck), mainland, peninsula, cape, plain, prairie, shore, forest, field, plain, tundra, desert, oasis. Bodies of water such as brook, creek (stream), river, pond, lake (inlet, outlet), sea, ocean, cove, bay, gulf, strait
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 24. A Map; Ch. 25: Forms of Land and Water; Ch. 26: More About Forms of Land and Water; Ch. 27: A Trip to the Highlands
Cultural Geography: People around the world live in different dwellings, eat, work, learn and play. Terms: agriculture (farming), stock-raising, mining, lumbering, fishing. Town people: manufacturing, trade/commerce, transportation and other occupations.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 43: How People Live, and What They Are Doing; Ch. 44: More About What People Are Doing; Ch. 45: A Review Lesson
Cycle 3: Geographic Science
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Cardinal Directions: Fixed direction (north, south, east, west). The sun shows direction: East is where the sun rises, west is where it sets. Stars (North or Pole Star, constellations) show direction and help mariners find their way. The length and direction of shadows can help us tell time as well as direction.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 2: How the Sun Shows Direction; Ch. 3: How the Stars Show Direction
Compass: A compass can show direction when sun and stars are not visible. Magnetic needle always points north. Points on the compass (N, S, E, W and also halfway in between: NE), how sailors use a compass.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 4. How the Compass Shows Direction
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 28: The Points of the Compass; Ch. 29: The Mariner's Compass
Poles: The poles; earth's spinning on its tilted axis makes the four seasons
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 11: Poles and Axis; Ch. 12: The Four Seasons Part I; Ch. 14: The Four Seasons Part II
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
The Earth's Surface: Earth's surface is mostly water; highlands (cooler), lowlands (warmer), mountains (foot, slope, summit) and valleys
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 34: The Surface of the Earth Part I; Ch. 35: The Surface of the Earth Part II; Ch. 36: Highlands and Lowlands
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 11. Plains; Ch. 12. Hills, Mountains, Valleys
Rivers & Waterways: Rivers and waterways; rivers start at a mountain spring and flow to the sea; a river's source, mouth, bed, two banks, tributary (branch), rapids, cataract, waterfall. Oceans and their parts, why rivers wind, work of rivers (fertile after flooding, pebbles, gravel, sand)
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 21: Work of Flowing Rivers; Ch. 22. Waterdrop's Story
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 38: Countries; Ch. 39: The Waters of the Earth Part I; Ch. 40: The Waters of the Earth Part II; Ch. 41: The Oceans and Their Parts
The Water Cycle: The water cycle: clouds, rain, rivers, ocean, evaporation (vapor); dew, snow
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 13: Rain, Wind, and Snow; Ch. 14: How Water is Changed to Vapor; Ch. 15: How Vapor is Changed to Water; Ch. 16: Dew, Clouds and Rain; Ch. 18: How Rivers are Made; Ch. 19. More About Rivers
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 37: Rivers
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Animal Features & their Purposes: Animal features (feet, teeth, covering) and their purposes; how we use animals (meat, milk, fur, silk, horns, hooves, labor, pets)
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 37: The Parts of Animals; Ch. 38: The Covering of Animals; Ch. 39: Uses of Animals
Things Found in the Earth: Things mined from the earth: minerals and metals such as coal, iron, gold, silver, lead, tin, copper, mercury, salt. Quarried stones: granite, sandstone; limestone (chalk), marble, slate and their uses. Where brick and glass come from; mortar.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 41: Things Found in the Earth; Ch. 42: More About Things Found in the Earth
Food Crops: Food crops (vegetables, grains fruit) and other useful plants
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 43: How People Live, and What They Are Doing; Ch. 44: More About What People Are Doing; Ch. 45: A Review Lesson
Cycle 4: Geographic Science
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
A Round World: The world is round. Left, right, front (before), back (behind) are positions; know which is which and realize they are dependent on perspective.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 2: Our World Part I
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 1. Position
Hemispheres: The round world can be divided into two spheres. The line dividing it across the middle is the equator; its parallel lines are latitude. The line where the earth meets the sky is called the horizon.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 4: Our World Part II
Rotating Planets: Planets rotate around the sun. Earth rotates around the sun in 365 days, making a year. The earth's turning makes day and night.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 6: Our World and Other Worlds Part I; Ch. 7: Our World and Other Worlds Part II; Ch. 9: Day and Night
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Sun Rising & Setting: The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 24: Sunrise and Sunset; Ch. 26: Why the Sun Rises and Sets; Ch. 27: Mid-day Lines
Measuring Distance: Measuring distance: inch, foot yard; mile. A country's proximity to the equator or poles determines its climate. Parallel lines from pole to pole are longitude.
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 18: Hot Countries and Cold Countries Part I; Ch. 20: Hot Countries and Cold Countries Part II; Ch. 22: Parallel Lines
Maps: A map (plan) is a picture of a room, town, country or earth and should show where N is; how maps are made; maps of towns, regions, countries, the world.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 7: How to Tell Distance; Ch. 8: Pictures and Plans
Elementary Geography (Mason), Ch. 30: The Plan of a Room; Ch. 31: The Plan of a Town; Ch. 32: Map of a County; Ch. 32: How Maps are Made
Physical Geography Topics (By Term):
Things Plants Need: Trees, flowers; what plants need to grow
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 33: Forest Trees; Ch. 34: Flowers; Ch. 35: What is Necessary to Make Plants Grow
Landforms: Land forms such as continent, island (archipelago), mountain, hill, isthmus (neck), mainland, peninsula, cape, plain, prairie, shore, forest, field, plain, tundra, desert, oasis. Bodies of water such as brook, creek (stream), river, pond, lake (inlet, outlet), sea, ocean, cove, bay, gulf, strait
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 24. A Map; Ch. 25: Forms of Land and Water; Ch. 26: More About Forms of Land and Water; Ch. 27: A Trip to the Highlands
Cultural Geography: People around the world live in different dwellings, eat, work, learn and play. Terms: agriculture (farming), stock-raising, mining, lumbering, fishing. Town people: manufacturing, trade/commerce, transportation and other occupations.
Home Geography (Long), Ch. 43: How People Live, and What They Are Doing; Ch. 44: More About What People Are Doing; Ch. 45: A Review Lesson
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