Ready to take know EXACTLY what you were created to do? Click here!

life{in}grace

live with more presence, passion, & purpose

Geography lessons with the Griswalds

by 267 Comments

As a vital part of our homeschool, I like to choose a few quality toys that they can play with while they’re listening to books on tape or while we’re taking breaks. Legos have to be my favorite, second only to Lincoln logs. But girl-ish legos are hard to come by. So, when I saw the Lego RV—the endless educational possibilities began to fly through my mind.

Yes, my friends, that’s a bike rack on top! This RV is be-dazzled with all kinds of amazing stuff.

And my little Emme spent nearly two hours putting this gem together, all by herself. It wouldn’t have taken her so long, but I had the ‘dad’—whom I shall affectionately call ‘Cousin Eddie’ (not only with his cool hair do–but also the snazzy muscle shirt he’s sporting) and ‘mom’ packing up lots of things from the house to get ready for the family’s first big trip in the RV and kept distracting her with my Cousin Eddie voice.

And this is not your grandmother’s RV. If you’ll look real carefully, one of the Griswald children is asleep in the ‘overhead’ compartment. (She’s yellow with an orange hairbow). This RV has brought us so much entertainment already that I’m thinking of purchasing another one. Camping is always more fun with other families, ya know.
Please notice ‘dad’s’ hairdo.

What does this have to do with homeschooling, you ask? Geography, of course. The Griswalds are gonna travel. A lot. And this particular RV is amphibious, so not to worry about how we’ll get through the straight of Gilbraltar. We’ll get through just fine.

This amazing map I bought at Hobby Lobby last week is one of those ‘easy stick’ gadgets that you can stick and then remove and re-stick. So we applied it to our school table so that we’d always have the world map at the finger tips. This could very well be my most favorite idea yet. We talk geography all the time now. And the Griswald’s travel all over the world. Cousin Eddie doesn’t think twice about traveling to Australia one day……and then Alaska the next. He’s quite adventurous and doesn’t even take the time to repack the RV.

We’ve had more fun with this and find ourselves sitting in there all the time asking each other questions like “Where in the world is Belfast?”

And what could be more entertaining than Cousin Eddie playing air guitar on the Rock of Gilbraltar . Elea snickers everytime she shows us where ‘Chad’ is—-her favorite country in Africa.

We even sometimes use our ‘art man’ to take giant steps across the world. If he’s does a leaping splits he can touch Brazil and Australia at the same time.

Who needs a geography book when you have the Griswalds’ and Art Man?

And have you ever heard Cousin Eddie’s famous homeschool quote?

Oh yeah, Yuban Coffee. You know you can sprinkle that stuff on anything? Ice cream, mashed potatoes, or just eat it right out of the can for a quick pick me up.

Excuse me while I sprinkle coffee grounds on my oatmeal!

Reader Interactions

Comments

  6. Carol says

    How creative are you!? I love it!

    What a great idea to put it on your table to have it at your fingertips. And that lego camper… so cool.

    You've given me some ideas.

    Reply

  9. Sarah says

    Fantastic! How adorable is that art man! WOnder where I can get one! The map is awesome, it all looks totally fun! xxx

    Reply

  10. gina says

    LOL- what fun!! A cool project for us too- even with all of the girls in school, there are always nights and weekends…

    Reply

  11. Kathy says

    OK. So I always whine about how I wnat to come to your house to do school…I am now realizing the distraction I would be to our children with my loud guffaws and spitting out yuban coffee through my nose. You are so funny!!!

    Reply

  13. patty says

    you are too cute and if only i had a teacher like you when i was young… might not have taken me until 30 to start dreaming of africa… 🙂

    Reply

  14. Becca~TimeWellSpent says

    Love this! I too love lego's and recently found some cute pink, purple and girly colors for my daughter who has as much fun with them as my son.

    Reply

  15. shelly says

    I love it that your teaching geography with the Griswalds!!! I saw that map the other day, picked it up, and put it back…its next on my list now!!!

    Reply

  16. edie says

    Hi girls! I got the lego set from Walmart (bought the last one at my Walmart) and the art man from IKEA! Good luck in your search and in your 'travels'.

    Reply

  17. Ruthie says

    Oh miss edie… I am loving your geography lesson ideas! There is nothing better than a map of the world, legos and the "Art Man". You took me back to days gone by. We have used all of these things in our home for fun and learning disguised as play. When the girls were little I hung a map of the world on the back of the bathroom door so when the went potty they could look at it and dream about where they wanted to go. When they were older they both hung world maps in there rooms as part of the decor. At this point they would lay in bed and dream…So let me tell you how this has impacted them as high school and college students.
    When they graduated from high school, they both wanted a trip to France so they took four years of French and yes we took them both to France upon graduation. Sarah went on a mission trip to Haiti her senior year of high school. Ashley went on a mission trip to Portugal during college. And yesterday…I sent my baby Sarah off to study for her junior year in Paris! And as a military family moving all over the country they could tell you all the states and their capitals and as we drove through each state on each of our many moves we would talk about the geography and the topography and the crops and the cities and all the amazing sites along the way. This is the most amazing way to inspire your kids and give them a global perspective. Keep up the great work and have fun! I miss those days sometimes… but then I remember that I get to go visit my baby in Paris for Christmas!

    Reply

  18. Mandi Shandi says

    Love the RV, and love your creative teaching methods. Just make sure Cousin Eddie doesn't empty his septic tank on your front lawn! Gotta love the Griswolds!

    Reply

  21. glimpse of my world says

    Glad you are back…. missed your blog for a few days! Hope all is well with you and you and your family are in my prayers!

    Reply

  22. SmallWorld at Home says

    Wonder if that approach would work with a world geography course I'm teaching at our co-op this year–for high schoolers? I gave them a quiz at our first day to see how much world geo they knew, and it was sooooo, um, scary! But I only scored marginally better than their highest scores. I think we need to find that lego RV!

    Reply

  23. Ami says

    Hi there Ms Edie-
    And welcome to your schoolyear- or maybe it's better to say that the learning never stops at your place?

    Wanted to share an idea with you that my Dad who is now a kindergarten teacher uses. He asks friends and family to send postcards to his class when they travel then posts them on a map. This was great back in my globe tripping days for work and I still have friends who send him postcards every now and then. Kind of a fun way to make far away places seem more real.

    Reply

  26. lisa says

    It is good to have most of these articles around to maintain the regular flow of information. Help people that no one cruise rentals could do it later, good work! This is so helpful! Help people that no one could do it later, good work.catamaran hire greece

    Reply

  27. lisa says

    I preferred to send you this truly little statement to assist issues many thanks over again over the pleasing techniques you have looked at on this net web website. This remains to be to remain to be in fact very kind of you to make absolutely specifically what an alternate individual can have developed.Eco Friendly Promotional Products

    Reply

  28. lisa says

    I especially agree with your suggestion to find a good balance on how fast you travel. It can be easy it wants to see more, more, more, but traveling around so quickly makes it hard to work and just live life. Pakistan Tour Packages

    Reply

  29. lisa says

    Her charge, given to her by Trump, is to radically cut the Branch of Education, and to push forward private contract schools over what they call a faltering public educational framework.cape verde holiday

    Reply

  31. lisa says

    Journeying can refer to any type of travel, whether it’s for leisure, business, or personal reasons. It can involve going on a long road trip, taking a plane to a different country, or even just going on a hike in the woods. Journeying can be a exciting and rewarding experience, as it allows people to explore new places, try new things, and learn about different cultures.hualien restaurants

    Reply

  32. Lisa says

    Hi,
    It’s completely understandable if you prefer to stay in one place rather than traveling. Traveling can be stressful and time-consuming, and there are many benefits to staying in one place, such as being able to build deeper connections with your community and saving money on transportation and accommodation costs. Everyone has their own preferences and it’s important to do what feels best for you.first time safari tips

    Reply

  33. Lisa says

    Going on vacation can be one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. It can give you a break from the grind of everyday life, and allow you to explore a new place or culture. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or a thrilling adventure, there are plenty of amazing places to go travel-wise.Morocco desert adventure

    Reply

  34. Lisa says

    Travel is one of the most rewarding experiences a person can have. By visiting new places and experiencing different cultures, you can open your mind and broaden your horizons. Whether you’re looking to see the world’s major tourist destinations or take a trip to somewhere you’ve always wanted to go, travel is always a great way to experience new things and make new friends.Custom tour Morocco Fès Marrakech

    Reply

  36. Lisa says

    Moreover, planning your vacation can also help you save money and avoid any unexpected expenses. You can research the best deals on flights, hotels, and transportation, as well as look for discounts on attractions and activities.travel

    Reply

  37. Lisa says

    Travel presents opportunities to step out of one’s comfort zone and engage in unfamiliar activities. Whether it’s trying exotic cuisine, participating in adventure sports, or exploring historical sites, these unique experiences can spark creative thinking by challenging existing perceptions and generating fresh insights.visiting Peru

    Reply

  266. RobertDuddy says

    I was skeptical not far from CBD at first off, but after trying them like cbd relief cream 1000mg, I’m absolutely impressed. They presentation a commodious and enjoyable sense to pleasing CBD without any hassle. I’ve noticed a calming intention, remarkably in the evenings, which has helped with both anguish and sleep. The beat part is the pre-measured dosage, so there’s no guessing involved. If you’re looking on the side of an easy and ambrosial course of action to experience CBD, gummies are plainly advantage considering—nothing but modify steady to secure from a estimable sort!

    Reply

  267. Jamesvew says

    https://joyorganics.com/collections/usda-certified-cbd-oil-tinctures purvey a tactful and enjoyable method for experiencing the blend’s effects. Readily obtainable in a all the way series of flavors, strengths, and blends, they allow to precise dosing and manumit effects that be liable to pattern longer. Uncountable users transform to these gummies after their calming and stress-reducing benefits. That said, it’s basic to use them responsibly, as the charge of effects is typically slower than with methods like smoking or vaping. Every string dosage recommendations and demonstrate that their use is sound in your область prior to consuming or purchasing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *