North Star Geography Textbook (with downloadable Companion Guide)

SKU
059250
ISBN
9781892427526
Grade 7-12
Teaching Method
Traditional
Teacher-centered curriculum commonly used in classrooms that may include a text, teacher manual, tests, etc.
Charlotte Mason
A methodology based on the work of a 19th century educator who maintained that children learn best from literature (Living Books), not textbooks.
Classical
A methodology based on the Latin Trivium (three stages of learning), including the grammar stage (memorization and facts), logic stage (critical thinking), and rhetoric stage (developing/defending ideas).
Unit Study
A thematic or topical approach centered around one topic that integrates multiple subject areas.
Montessori (Discovery)
A methodology based on the work of a 20th century educator that emphasizes student and sensory-driven discovery learning and real-life applications.
Other
Other methodologies
Religious Content
Secular
Contains content contrary to common Christian beliefs (i.e. evolution).
Neutral
Avoids religious or theoretical topics or presents multiple viewpoints without preference.
Christian/Religious
Faith-based or including instructional religious content.
Learning Modality
Auditory
Learns through listening, talking out loud or reading out loud.
Visual
Learns through seeing, prefers written instructions and visual materials.
Kinesthetic/Tactile (Hands-On)
Learns through moving, doing and touching.
Multi-Sensory
Curriculum that employ a variety of activities/components.
Presentation
Sequential
Curriculum progresses through well-defined learning objectives. Emphasizes mastery before moving to the next topic.
Spiral
Topics and concepts are repeated from level to level, adding more depth at each pass and connecting with review.
Conceptual/Topical
Focus is on the “why,” often with a unifying concept as well as specific skills; coverage may be broader.
Teacher Involvement
Low Teacher Involvement
Student-led materials; parent acts as a facilitator.
Medium Teacher Involvement
A mix of teacher-led time and independent student work.
High Teacher Involvement
Teacher-led lessons; may utilize discussions, hands-on activities and working together.
Additional Materials Required
No other materials needed
Everything you need is included.
Other Materials Required
There are additional required resources that are a separate purchase.
Other Materials Optional
There are additional resources mentioned or recommended but are not absolutely necessary.
Consumable
Consumable
Designed to be written in; not reusable.
Non-Consumable
Not designed to be written in; reusable.
Our Price
$89.95 $89.95 $65.95
Rainbow Savings: $24.00
Non-returnable. Contains a digital component.
Description

Have you ever stopped to realize that a comprehensive understanding of the earth, its structure, and its inhabitants are a necessary foundation for interacting meaningfully with our increasingly global-minded world? Taking an overview approach, the North Star Geography course covers geography skills (reading maps, using geographic tools, cartography, surveying, and navigation), physical geography (geology, meteorology, oceanography, ecology, hydrology, and astronomy), and human geography (sociology, culture, religion, transportation, agriculture, government, and economics). Bright Ideas Press and world geography what a great idea! Student Reader plus Companion Guide downloadable PDF file (activities: maps, hands-on, research options, quizzes/tests) what a great idea! Quality content, Biblical worldview, and user-friendliness all rolled up into one package what a great idea!

The text or Student Reader is the heart of the course. Each of the sixteen lessons provides 15-20 pages of reading text, full-color illustrations, photos, sidebar articles, and maps. Lessons are divided into teaching segments which are both highly readable and interesting. The organization lends itself to flexibility, and the course could be done over one year (two weeks per lesson), two years (four weeks per lesson), or even one semester (one week per lesson a bare bones approach). Vocabulary words are in bold with definitions provided in the glossary at the end of the text. The Reader concludes with a reference list that provides options for further study.

The accompanying Companion Guide PDF file is now downloadable (download instructions provided inside the book) provides both basic and "extra" activities in addition to all content from the Reader. It's these PDF files that will allow you to tailor the course for high school, for junior high, or for a combination of ages. Families may make photocopies or print pages as needed, but classrooms and co-ops should contact the publisher for a multiple-use license. Depending on the course time-frame you choose, you will probably have to do some selection of activities, as there is a wealth provided.

  • Hands-On Activities there is lots of variety here some short and simple, some more involved. Materials lists are provided when necessary (and tend to be easy-to-get items).
  • Build Your Own Atlas there's a segment for each lesson that includes labeling outline maps, completing fact files, and creating a set of political, physical, and thematic maps. Outline maps are provided but a good atlas as a reference is helpful (i.e. Wondermaps or Atlas of World Geography).
  • Note-Taking Pages each lesson has a set of 10 questions taken from the text that serve as lesson review and a study guide for the quizzes.
  • Memorization Lists a list of 198 countries, 70 regions and physical features to learn roughly 16 items per lesson.
  • Research Questions a set of questions for each continent which encourage the student to conduct his own research (answers included).
  • Quizzes and Tests quizzes for each lesson (based on note-taking questions and map work). A final exam includes questions taken from all 16 of the lessons (answer keys and grading rubrics included).
  • Graphic Organizers - can be used for all types of studies world/continent, country, culture, regional geography, and government fact files.

Homeschool geography courses have tended to be research frameworks that can be used by multi-age students and over several years. While having lots of advantages for families they require planning, preparation, and, often, outside resources. North Star takes a different approach providing a very solid base of textual information but giving lots of options for additional activities and research. It provides all necessary forms and pages, requiring only a good world atlas to accompany the course. ~ Janice

Please note that book no longer includes a CD-ROM. The Companion Guide must be downloaded as a PDF file (instructions and access information provided inside the book).

Publisher's Description of North Star Geography Textbook (with downloadable Companion Guide)

This one-credit geography course for middle school and high school is appealingly-designed, and covers geography skills (map skills and navigation), physical geography and human geography.

Category Description for North Star Geography

Have you ever stopped to realize that a comprehensive understanding of the earth, its structure, and its inhabitants are a necessary foundation for interacting meaningfully with our increasingly global-minded world? Taking an overview approach, the North Star Geography course covers geography skills (reading maps, using geographic tools, cartography, surveying, and navigation), physical geography (geology, meteorology, oceanography, ecology, hydrology, and astronomy), and human geography (sociology, culture, religion, transportation, agriculture, government, and economics). Bright Ideas Press and world geography, what a great idea! The student reader plus companion guide downloadable PDF file include activities, maps, hands-on projects, research options, and quizzes/tests. Features quality content, a Biblical worldview, and user-friendliness all rolled up into one package!

The text or Student Reader is the heart of the course. Each of the sixteen lessons provides 15-20 pages of reading text, full-color illustrations, photos, sidebar articles, and maps. Lessons are divided into teaching segments which are both highly readable and interesting. The organization lends itself to flexibility, and the course could be done over one year (two weeks per lesson), two years (four weeks per lesson), or even one semester (one week per lesson – a bare bones approach). Vocabulary words are in bold, with definitions provided in the glossary at the end of the text. The Reader concludes with a reference list that provides options for further study.

The accompanying companion guide PDF file is now downloadable (download instructions provided inside the book). It provides both basic and "extra" activities in addition to all content from the Reader. It's these PDF files that will allow you to tailor the course for high school, for junior high, or for a combination of ages. Families may make photocopies or print pages as needed, but classrooms and co-ops should contact the publisher for a multiple-use license. Depending on the course time-frame you choose, you will probably have to assign only some selection of activities, as there is a wealth provided.

  • Hands-On Activities are varied and plentiful. Some are short and simple, some more involved. Materials lists are provided when necessary (and tend to be easy-to-get items).
  • Build Your Own Atlas: there's a segment for each lesson that includes labeling outline maps, completing fact files, and creating a set of political, physical, and thematic maps. Outline maps are provided, but a good atlas as a reference is helpful (i.e. Wondermaps or Atlas of World Geography).
  • Note-Taking Pages: each lesson has a set of 10 questions taken from the text that serve as lesson review and a study guide for the quizzes.
  • Memorization Lists include a list of 198 countries, 70 regions and physical features to learn roughly 16 items per lesson.
  • Research Questions include a set of questions for each continent which encourage the student to conduct his own research (answers included).
  • Quizzes and Tests quizzes for each lesson (based on note-taking questions and map work). A final exam includes questions taken from all 16 of the lessons (answer keys and grading rubrics included).
  • Graphic Organizers – these can be used for all types of studies world/continent, country, culture, regional geography, and government fact files.

Homeschool geography courses have tended to be research frameworks that can be used by multi-age students, often over several years. While having lots of advantages for families they require planning, preparation, and often outside resources. North Star takes a different approach, providing a very solid base of textual information but giving lots of options for additional activities and research. It provides all necessary forms and pages, requiring only a good world atlas to accompany the course. ~ Janice

Details
More Information
Product Format:Hardcover
Brand:Bright Ideas
Author:Tyler and Helen Hogan
Grades:7-12
ISBN:9781892427526
Length in Inches:11.25
Width in Inches:8.75
Height in Inches:1
Weight in Pounds:2.8
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