Upper Elementary World Geography
About This Course
This course is designed for students in grades 3-5 who are ready to begin learning about world geography. Through interactive activities and self-paced lessons, students will develop fundamental map skills including themes of geography, map orientation, scale, projection, legends and keys, and latitude and longitude.
Prerequisites
| Prior Knowledge | No prior geography knowledge required |
| Reading Level | Basic reading ability |
Supplies
| Internet-connected device |
| Globe |
| Wall map |
| Optional: atlas, map compass |
The course covers 4 units: map skills, physical features, political boundaries, and application of geographic knowledge.
Getting Started
Planning & Pacing
This course is designed for 16-18 weeks (half-year), with approximately 45 minutes per lesson. It is fully self-paced.
Technical Requirements
An internet-connected device for YouTube, Google Earth, and external websites.
Topic Support
A guide for parents/educators with PDF resources is available. The course is organized in 4 units with 16 lessons plus a conclusion.
Syllabus
Unit 1: Map Fundamentals (Lessons 1-4)
Themes of geography, map orientation, scale and projection, legends and keys
Unit 2: Physical Geography (Lessons 5-8)
Oceans and continents, climates, latitude and longitude, landmarks
Unit 3: Political Maps (Lessons 9-12)
Borders, the 6 largest countries (Lesson 10), the world at night (Lesson 11), human geography
Unit 4: Anchor Points (Lessons 13-16)
Absolute and relative location, historical maps, review and practice