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Published: Feb. 24, 2016, 4:28 p.m.

We often hear it said that the world is getting smaller, but for our children, it is still a vast unknown. This episode explores how we open the world to children from their own backyard, to regions and countries thousands of miles away. We also discuss the living books that will take them to those far places and the means of introducing the use of maps.
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"[E]very subject has its living way, with what Coleridge calls 'its guiding idea' at the head, and it is only as we discover this living way in each case that a subject of instruction makes for the education of a child. No neat system is of any use; it is the very nature of a system to grow stale in the using; every subject, every division of a subject, every lesson, in fact, must be brought up for examination before it is offered to the child as to whether it is living, vital, of a nature to invite the living Intellect of the universe. (Vol. 2, p. 279)

"But the peculiar value of geography lies in its fitness to nourish the mind with ideas, and to furnish the imagination of pictures." (Vol. 1, p. 272)

"Geography is still regional, that is, children are led to form an intimate acquaintance with the countries of Europe so that the map of any country calls up in a child's imagination a wonderful panorama of the diversities of the country, of the people, their history and occupations. It is evident that this kind of geographical image cannot be secured in any other way than by considering Europe country by country. They begin with a general survey of the seas and shores of the continent, of the countries and peoples, of the diversities of tongues and their historical origin, of the plains and mountains, of the rivers and their basins. . .The young scholars are at home with the map of Europe before they consider the countries separately." (Vol. 6, pp. 225-226)

“Perhaps no knowledge is more delightful than such an intimacy with the earth's surface, region by region, as should enable the map of any region to unfold a panorama of delight, disclosing not only mountains, rivers, frontiers, the great features we know as 'Geography,' but associations, occupations, some parts of the past and much of the present, of every part of this beautiful earth.” (Vol. 6, p. 224)



If you would like to study along with us, here are some passages from The Home Education Series and other Parent's Review articles that would be helpful for this episode's topic. You may also read the series online here, or get the free Kindle version from Fisher Academy.

Home Education (Vol. 1), Part II, Chapters IX, XIII

Home Education (Vol. 1), Part III, Chapter XVII

School Education (Vol. 3), Appendix II



Ambleside Geography Books Book 1, Book 2, Book 3, Book 4, Book 5

Kon Tiki, Thor Heyerdahl

Hans Brinker, or The Silver Skates, Mary Mapes Dodge

Lois Lenski's Regional Novels

Snow Treasure, Marie McSwigan

Seven League Boots, Richard Halliburton

(Contains affiliate links)



Nicole's post on Physical Geography