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 Prime Meridian #10 - Highlights by Cindy Wiggers The Prime Meridian A periodical email newsletter from the folks at Geography Matters Greetings fellow Geography buffs, You've received this e-Newsletter because you have subscribed. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Geocaching - a great family adventure Take your kids on a treasure hunt using a hand held GPS. Our son-in-law introduced us to geocaching (gee' O cashing) a couple of years ago and it has provided us with some interesting times together. I highly recommend it for any family who enjoys the out of doors and the mystery of finding treasure. Thousands of geocache boxes are hidden in a myriad of locations across the U.S. There are over 14 within ten miles of our rural Kentucky home. You can learn all about geocaching at this website: http://www.geocaching.com. Find locations in your state or zip code region and enter the coordinates into your gps. Pack a lunch and head out with the family in search of the cache. Each hidden box is loaded with fun stuff to keep and a journal to write your name and anything else you want. Don't go geocaching empty-handed, though because if you take something from the box you should leave something, too. Don't have a GPS? Many of the geocaches listed give written directions, too. You might find a travel bug. A travel bug is an item left in the cache that has a metal numbered tag and a specific goal. If you find a travel bug, follow the instructions with it and place it in another cache. You'll log back onto the geocaching site to tell where you found it and where you put it. We found one whose goal was to see how many states it could be placed in one year. The person who finds it by a certain date is supposed to mail it back to the owner. We took it from Minnesota and placed it in a cache in Kentucky. When we introduced Josh's brother and his family to geocaching while they were here for a visit, they retrieved the travel bug with and took it with them to Oregon where they placed it in yet another geocache. One family I met at a convention in Minnesota placed 3 travel bugs; one each for the father and his 2 sons. They have a contest to see whose ends up traveling to the most number of places. They check the geocaching site regularly to see where their travel bugs have gone and mark the locations on a map. In addition they study a bit about each state where the travel bugs are taken. To learn more about travel bugs go to: http://www.geocaching.com/track/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What's New at Geography Matters Awards and Recognition We were honored by Practical Homeschooling magazine with 2 Reader Awards in the geography category. We received 1st Place for The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide and 3rd place for the Trail Guide Series. Reader Award winners are listed in Issue #63 where you'll also find a feature article on Geography Matters and the Wiggers family. Broadman Holman recently published 100 Top Picks for Homeschool Curriculum by Cathy Duffy. We were honored she selected The Ultimate Geography and Timeline Guide as a top choice in the geography category and mentioned the Trail Guide Series as well. Articles and Reviews Watch for the reviews of Trail Guide to World Geography and Trail Guide to U.S. Geography in the Jul/Aug issue of Home School Enrichment magazine. Check out Cindy's article on the Renaissance of Western Europe and Germany in the Spring 2005 issue of The Old School House Magazine. New Products - hot off the presses! We have just completed 3 new teaching tools to assist you in your geography teaching endeavors. These new items meet our mission to help make learning fun. • Eat Your Way Through the USA http://www.geomatters.com/products/details.asp?ID=252 By Loreé Pettit This more than just a cookbook - it's a taste buds-on approach to geography! Each state has its unique geographical features and agricultural products. These influence both the ingredients that go into a recipe and the way food is prepared. This cookbook makes a unique addition to any U.S. study and helps you to experience a different meal from each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Recipes are easy to follow and, though they aren't written at a child's level, you should feel free to include your children in the preparation of these dishes. This provides life skills and is a source of bonding and pride for your children. Add this book to your geography curriculum and Bon Appétit! (Or should we say Chow Down?!) • Cantering the Country http://www.geomatters.com/products/details.asp?ID=253 by Loreé Pettit and Dari Mullins From the authors who brought you Galloping the Globe, we are pleased to offer its U.S. counterpart, Cantering the Country. This unit study course teaches a wide range of academic and spiritual disciplines using the geography of the U.S.A. as a starting point. Teach science by studying the state flowers, trees, animals and birds. Cover language arts as you read literature set in each state. Build character by learning to apply the principles of the preamble to the constitution of each state. Bring history alive with the stories of famous people, founding fathers, and Native American groups from around the country. One of the greatest features is the excellent book list provided for each state. This valuable information can be used for years to come for any study of U.S. geography or history. Many recommended books are available from the library. A few are used repeatedly throughout the year, and we try to keep them stocked. Check out our website or call for more information. In addition, we've bound a CD-ROM packed full of printable outline maps and activities in the back of this 256 page book. • USA Activity CD-ROM http://www.geomatters.com/products/details.asp?ID=262 This is a great addition to whatever U.S. geography or history curriculum you use. It is a CD- ROM filled with maps and activities. There are outline maps of each state and the nation, word scrambles, puzzles, mazes, words searches and more. Each activity is tied to a specific state and is a must for puzzle-loving kids. Some deal with the geographical features of the state while others give a fun and interesting look into the agriculture and industry of the area. This CD-ROM is included with the Cantering the Country course by Loreé Pettit & Dari Mullins, but we are making it available for separate purchase because it fits in so easily with any study of the U.S. Over 170 printable activity sheets on CD-ROM easily prints from any home computer. Uses PDF files with two to four sheets per state. Recommended Websites Stately Knowledge http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/stateknow/ These web pages will help you find out the basic facts of any state in the Union, including Washington, D.C Global Goodwill Holiday Project http://teacher.scholastic.com/holiday/jumpin.htm Connect with students in other countries to share and compare your holiday traditions. Country Watch http://www.countrywatch.com/ Provides up-to-date news and information on 192 countries of the world. Teaching with Historic Places http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/twhp/descrip.htm A series of free lesson plans created by the National Park Service interpreters that use historic sites to explore American history. Helpful Hints Using Outline Maps • When using larger paper outline maps store them in page protectors or pocket inserts. • Erasable colored pencils are a great tool for coloring outline maps. Any mistake can easily be erased and corrected and the colorful maps are a great addition to any student notebook. Using Atlases Use atlases often. Look up places mentioned in the news. Take a look at the thematic maps associated with the area. Note other places and physical features nearby. By doing this you'll model basic learning skills and improve your understanding of why things happen where they do. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Free Map Download Our free map in this issue is of the continents with no country boundaries. http://www.geomatters.com/files/maps/May_Map.pdf ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To our Trail Guide to U.S. Geography users: We hope you enjoy this issue of the Prime Meridian. We welcome your input and suggestions. Sincerely, Josh and Cindy Wiggers Geography Matters [Excerpts from the Prime Meridian eNewsletter #10 sent 8/05] Did you Know?
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