{"id":225353,"date":"2010-01-25T01:33:23","date_gmt":"2010-01-25T06:33:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.richmond.edu\/openwidelookinside\/archives\/2239"},"modified":"2010-01-25T01:33:23","modified_gmt":"2010-01-25T06:33:23","slug":"teaching-geography-with-children%e2%80%99s-literature-from-kalamazoo-to-timbuktu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/225353","title":{"rendered":"Teaching Geography with Children\u2019s Literature: From Kalamazoo to Timbuktu!"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"from-kalamazoo-to-timbuktu-book-cover-image.jpg\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Millie and Mike in Kalamazoo
\nWere restless and wondered what to do.<\/p>\n

Said Millie to Mike, \u201cI have a notion.
\nLet\u2019s pretend to cross the ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n

This begins the exciting adventure as Millie and Mike use a map, a canoe in their back yard, and their imaginations to travel around the world.\u00a0 What a great concept – its amazing what you can do with a map and your imagination!\u00a0 From Kalamazoo to Timbuktu!<\/a>, written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Tanya Roitman is a fun way to introduce many aspects of geography, travel, other climates, locations, and cultures to children.\u00a0 The author uses fun rhymes and some silly ideas to keep the children laughing and learning.\u00a0 After beginning their \u201cadventure\u201d on a bicycle built for two, so they could pedal to Timbuktu, Millie and Mike proceed to use many fun and different means of transportation on their travels.\u00a0 They travel on a bus, helicopter, canoe, whale\u2019s tail, sailboat, and a camel.\u00a0 After Millie and Mike finally get to see the ancient, historical city of Timbuktu, they miss their parents and board a plane home to\u00a0 Kalamazoo.<\/p>\n

The illustrations in the book are colorful and fun.\u00a0 There is a lot to learn just by \u201creading\u201d the illustrations.\u00a0 Some show aerial views of the places Millie and Mike visit. The children can see mountain roads, city skylines, the ocean, and a desert city from above.\u00a0 Through the pictures the children can explore various surroundings and how they affect clothing, shelter, and transportation.\u00a0 Even the inside covers can be utilized.\u00a0 Both show a map of the world and track the route and modes of transportation Mike and Millie explored in their imaginations. The book is simple and fun.\u00a0 It is a great tool to introduce many beginning concepts of geography.<\/p>\n

Curriculum Connections<\/strong>
\nThis book is suitable for any age, but specifically can be used to introduce and\/or reinforce many of the Kindergarten and First Grade Standards of Learning.\u00a0 For Kindergarten, the inside covers show a map of the world with a line showing the travel route of Mike and Millie.\u00a0 After reading the book, show the children the same path using a globe to help them see the similarities and differences between looking on a map and on a globe.\u00a0 (VA SOL K.4)\u00a0 There are several illustrations showing an aerial view along their travels.\u00a0 These can be compared to the illustrations showing a view from the ground. It can be used to describe how objects appear smaller from above. (VA SOL K.5)\u00a0 For First Grade, the map of the world on the inside covers can be used to locate the shape and position of the United States.\u00a0 (VA SOL\u00a0 1.4c)\u00a0 Various types of group activities can be done to describe the children\u2019s own community and how it is different from the places Millie and Mike visited.\u00a0 The climate, physical surroundings, food, shelter, transportation can all be included in discussion.\u00a0 (VA SOL 1.6)<\/p>\n

Virginia Kindergarten Standards of Learning: Geography: K.4, K.5; Virginia First Grade Standards of Learning: 1.4c, 1.6.<\/p>\n

Additional Resources<\/strong><\/p>\n