continents and oceans

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Home : 2002 : November : 6

continents and oceans
By Curious

For any activity where students have to memorize locations, (continents and oceans, states and capitals in a region, south american countries and capitals) I have made a shower curtain game. What I did was make an over head
of the map, and then traced it onto a shower curtain. I then colored it and made cards that are to be placed onto the large "game board." The cards are the names of the continents and oceans in the case of the continents and ocean map.
I then give students a blank map, and they make their own cards (smaller) by cutting up index cards and putting them in an envelope. They then get

a miniature version, that is correctly labeled as the key. They take this game home to study.

We then play the "game" as a large group. One student places the cards onto the map. They all get a turn practicing, and then we time them the second time around.

I then have all the maps in a center in my room for them to practice and time themselves at any time during the year. The timing piece is a bit contraversial. I don't make a big deal out of "who is the fastest." But I find that the kids spend more time studying at home because they LOVE playing the game in class. We talk about strategies for remember certain locations, especially when we are doing the states and capitals.

Oh yeah- with states and capitals. . . first they use the state cards to place on the map. Then they use the state cards to match with the capitals. It is a way of making something that is more rote memorization hands on.

Hope this idea helps.