Study of geography for children: a world to discover

"The unity of all sciences is found in geography. The importance of geography is that it presents the Earth, as the permanent seat of man's occupations "-John Dewey (1859-1952).

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Geography studies the relationship that exists between human beings and the physical environment. It is essential, then, to teach geography to children as soon as possible. But, how can this be done and what benefits are obtained ?

Geography concept

In itself, geography is the science that studies the shape of the earth . In fact, it is related to the study of climate, soil, water and vegetation formations on a surface. And taking into account the origin of the term geography (from the Greek geographe ), it attempts to describe the elements of the earth's surface as well as its distribution and disposition .

Geography is not an isolated science,but it is deeply linked to astronomy, geology, natural sciences, history and political economy . This fact establishes a deep relationship with the population entities and the different cultures that exist in the world. In addition, it affects the communication networks established by man in the physical environment.

Benefits of geography for children

Next, we will proceed to mention some benefits of geography for children:

• It forces them to think about the spatial location of the various places present in the world.

• It helps to raise awareness regarding the importance of caring for the environment .

• It teaches children that there are cultures other than their own, which are present in other parts of the world. Therefore, we must learn to respect them.

• In view of the problems present in the environment (global warming, pollution, economic crises, water scarcity, etc.); It is essential that children learn geography in order to teach them the importance of solving these problems together, in view of the fact that they also affect them.

• It provides valuable information about the physical, social and biological aspects that can help human beings to prepare themselves for a natural catastrophe.

• It teaches how to make better use of the natural resources present in a specific place, a fact that can favorably influence the economic development of various nations.

• It records in children the concepts of homeland and nation, which are deeply related to the soil that is inhabited.

• It helps to understand the history of various civilizations in the world .

All human actions, in addition to being performed at a specific time; they also demand their development in a certain place.

From this fact it is understood why various ancient civilizations settled near rivers and favorable climatic regions, what allowed them to develop in an economic sense. Now, how to make it attractive to children to learn geography?

How to teach geography for children

Currently, various methods are used when teaching geography for children. Some of them will be mentioned below:

• Use maps , although it is a material that is not too striking for children because it is difficult for them to imagine the relationship that exists between a place and that drawn on a map. However, it helps them to have a mental image related to a place present on the earth's surface .

• Use of images related to the places to be taught where the activities and landscapes characteristic of a region can be appreciated . This gives a greater realism in teaching.

• Although it is said that the best way to learn geography is by traveling , this often results in impossible cost and time. However, in view of the advancement of technology, the Internet or simulation techniques can be used when teaching geography for children.

• Use comparative tables, where differences or contrasts between regions are established.

• Establish the advantages and disadvantages of a country with respect to its interrelation with the rest of the world, which is deeply linked to the place where it is located on the earth's surface.

• Make drawings of the surfaces where various countries are located in the world . This allows these images to be recorded in the child's mind when making a trace of them.

What is sought with these methods is that natural landscapes are known and valued, many of which man converted into his habitat at the cost of degrading environmental conditions, so it is necessary to raise awareness among future generations regarding the care of the environment.

Technological advances and the relationship with geography for children
There is no doubt that technological advances have been an essential tool,since they allow us to know the characteristics of a place with the purpose of knowing how degraded it is; and so take the necessary measures to improve the conditions in which we currently live.

Only then can people collaborate with the care of the environment to know what are the consequences of not doing so . In fact, learn from the mistakes made by various civilizations or peoples, not taking care of the habitat where they settled is one of the fundamental elements of the present and the future.

Solution to the problem of global warming and pollution

The minimal efforts that many people make in caring for the environment should not be taken for granted, since all humans with what little they can do are contributing to the general solution of the problem present in the world in relation to pollution and global warming.

But the above can only be achieved if people are taught from a young age, both in primary and secondary school, the importance of learning geography in order to solve the natural conflicts that humanity faces in daily life .