Give Your Child the World, One Continent at a Time

Do you have a child who is curious about the world? Do you want to introduce your child to other cultures? It is important to educate our children to be good global citizens, and to achieve that, our children need a genuine understanding of the world they live in.

Children begin to develop a sense of their place in the world at a very young age. Informal geography can be introduced as soon as they begin to show interest. Maps, globes, books, movies, documentaries, songs, puzzles, games, and pictures are all helpful tools for driving a child's curiosity about the wider world.

🌎 What Montessori says about geography and global citizenship: Maria Montessori placed geography at the heart of her cosmic curriculum for children ages six and up, but she introduced the concept of the world and its peoples much earlier. Her famous Montessori globe, with its textured surfaces representing land and water, is introduced to children as young as three. Montessori believed that a child who understands the interconnectedness of all peoples and all living things on Earth develops not just knowledge but empathy, a sense of responsibility, and what she called "cosmic consciousness." Research on multicultural education (Banks, 2004, Multicultural Education: Characteristics and Goals) confirms that children who are introduced to diverse cultures and perspectives in early childhood show significantly greater empathy, reduced prejudice, and stronger civic identity throughout their lives.

The geography of a region shapes the lifestyle of its inhabitants. Learning about world geography and cultures helps children understand current events and their own place in the world. Studying geography gives us an opportunity to observe and analyze the natural environment and the diversity of plant, animal, and human life.

What is culture? Culture is simply the way of life of a group of people. These groups could consist of people from the same family, school, workplace, neighborhood, town, city, or country. Each person can be part of multiple small cultural groups that together make up their personal culture.

Teaching world culture to our children at an early age gives them a better understanding of the world. Children are naturally accepting of others, and as parents we have the opportunity to nourish that natural acceptance before the world narrows it.

"Give the world to the small child." -- Maria Montessori

Montessori Geography Resources from ShillerLearning

Geography is a subject that homeschool parents can find challenging to teach. Resources can be costly, difficult to find, or time-consuming to create. A homeschool geography curriculum does not have to be expensive. ShillerLearning has created two activity packs designed to make world geography and culture accessible for all students.

Geography Literature Pack

A curated literature list of beautiful books that teach geography and provide in-depth exposure to cultures around the world. Takes you on a narrative tour of every continent. Most selections are available at your local library.

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Around the World in 80 Activities

Add sensorial exploration of every continent with this companion pack. Topics include historical and geographical landmarks, foods, sports, and native animals. Pairs beautifully with the Geography Literature Pack.

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We would love to see your children at work learning about geography and culture. Tag @shillerlearning on your favorite social platform and share what you are discovering together.