GEOpuzzles

Hello blog. Long time, no see. It's always weird to take a blogging break for household projects... for me anyway. Because, I put the camera away when I do that, and then when it's time to start blogging again, I have no "this is what we've been up to" pictures. Anyway, I missed blogging, and I'm glad to finally be getting back to normal, whatever that is, around here.


With lack of pictures for our recent doings, I thought it would be fun to highlight today another educational toy that we love, and use as part of homeschooling. The girls are doing Geography this year as part of their curriculum... learning how to read maps, and a brief overview of the world, the countries, land attributes, etc. Now, when I found out that puzzles were part of their curriculum I ordered, I was a little hesitant. Because, I. REALLY. HATE. PUZZLES. But, the good news was that I absolutely LOVE maps. My dad taught me to read a map about the same time I learned to read, and I've always loved them. One of my college history professors would give us blank maps from all over the world, and we'd have to label countries, rivers, lakes, etc., and for some reason I always got a kick out of it. It's a great skill to have... and I hope that my girls will have it too. (side note: I doubt I could do it now, haha!) Anyway, these puzzles have been SO fun, and we have loved them. Kitchen Counter. After Bookwork. They each get to pick out their own map. Rulers down the middle so puzzle pieces for different continents don't mix. We used to just do one all together, but their learning styles are so very different, I've found we're all happier if they each have their own puzzle to put together their own way. Side note: Watching them put together the puzzles so differently has actually really been an education to me... two different learning styles are so readily apparent when that happens, and it's helped me to customize their days a little bit more to allow them to work on their weaknesses, and exploit their strengths.

Debris loves puzzles... I'm going to have to get more for her. She almost never looks at the picture after the first time. The child has uncanny spatial skill. This works well for a map that is shaped like countries, but I think at some point she's going to need to learn to look at the picture more often, and I'm going to need to buy her different kinds of puzzles to exercise her brain a little differently.

Kiki studies the map constantly... and sounds out the words, and notices the colors to put her puzzles together. She has excellent logic and reasoning, but this has really helped her with her spatial skills. Her puzzle putting together skills are noticeably improved.

Latin America is their favorite, because it is the easiest. Debris copped that puzzle this time. I keep a (100% accurate, ha!) mental file of what ones they've done, so I can make sure they get a good rotation through all five puzzles.

Matching pieces to the picture...

The last piece in each puzzle is very ceremonial... we all must watch and cheer as it goes in.

Then whoever is finished first gets to annoy help the other one finish.

And, watch and cheer!!!

We are 9 weeks into the year (and 1/4 of the way done with almost everything, wow!) and while I still have to help them with the puzzles, every week I help them noticeably less. That being said, I think we'll get at least a few more years of actual education out of these puzzles and they're very well made, so with care they will last for a long, long time. They're quite fun to put together, so I can see them being something they'll pull out after they're beyond the level of using them for school-Shoot, I enjoy putting them together, so they'd be a good "game night" puzzle as well.

The puzzles also provide neat impromptu conversation and learning opportunities because we can talk about family history, world history and Biblical history as we put them together. Since we love to off-road we also end up talking about different land characteristics. We also are able to discuss current world political and natural events and where different foods come from.

My only little complaint: This is not a big deal for a parent, since we pretty much know what the countries look like... but, I wish very badly that they had resisted the urge to put their awards and helpful comments like "pieces shaped like countries" on the front of the boxes. Hello! The front of the box is rather important for helping a kid get their puzzle together properly, and (in this one) you're covering up Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, North Korea, South Korea and Japan, people!!! The lack of logic and usefulness here is kind of irksome. However, I just make sure to be present when they're putting together those areas, and so far it hasn't been a problem.

The nice thing about these puzzles is that the pieces are for the most part shaped like countries... however, there are enough pieces with the usual "in-ey and out-ey" pieces that you can hold the puzzle together so it's not constantly falling apart on you while you put it together. Occasionally I have to give them a hand holding it all together while they fit oddly shaped pieces in, but usually they stay together very well.

These puzzles can be found here.

Have a great day!