What Is Geography?

According to National Geographic, geography is the “study of places and the relationships between people and their environments.” 

Geography is much more than just studying maps and knowledge of country capitals.

Geography can help us understand the planet’s movement, changes, and systems. Topics that are relevant to today such as climate change, water availability, natural resources, and more are much easier understood by those who know geography well.

• Ask geographical questions

• Collect and record evidence.

• Analyse information and draw conclusions.

• Use geographical vocabulary.

• Use maps to find the location of places, describe where they are and find out about those places.

• Recognise how places fit together 

Take students outside to the school's playground. 

Divide students in small groups (4-5 students). Use a lightweight map of your country (or any continent). 

You can use a political or a physical map. Depending on the map, you can adjust the questions.  

Ask students about the shape of the country or the continent.  

Does it have a distinctive border or an unusual shape?  

Can they name the different countries or provinces? 

Can they identify the big rivers or mountains? 

What do they know about each country? 

Allow time for discussion and questions.

Distribute A4 paper to each student and pens and pencils. 

Looking at the map, ask students to draw the state or country, focusing carefully on the identifying shape.

Find an acceptable area for students to create chalk images. 

Use the lightweight map and ask students to draw a country or any area that is being studied. 

Fill the space with color.

Discuss with students about each country.