Are your elementary kids overwhelmed, unenthusiastic, or just plain bored by US geography? Do they wish they didn’t have to study lists of lifeless facts about the fifty states?
What if we told you that US geography could actually be enjoyable--for both you and your child? Here at Storylark Road we are all about making learning fun and memorable through story-based learning … and that includes making US geography a subject your child will love!
Here’s how our Hit the Road Geography curriculum tackles the common challenges of traditional geography programs and transforms the subject into an exciting adventure for your students!
Problems with Traditional Geography
How Hit the Road Geography Overcomes Them
❌ Boring and monotonous content
Many geography curricula rely heavily on dry facts and rote memorization as students trudge through endless lists of dates, states, capitals, and flags. Students suffer from disinterest and burnout.
✅ Engaging and humorous content
Led by the silly and loveable Thaddeus the traveling cat, our high-interest, story-based approach turns each lesson into an entertaining adventure. Studying geography becomes a journey filled with wonder and laughter.
❌ Time-consuming lessons
Traditional geography units can be lengthy, content-dense, and overwhelming. Students struggle to stay focused or retain information.
✅ Bite-sized learning
Each lesson averages just 15-30 minutes, divided into fun, easy-to-manage pieces. Students stay engaged and retain information more easily.
❌ Too much prep work
Many geography programs require extensive preparation before even starting a lesson, taking valuable time away from actual teaching and learning.
✅ Low prep, open-and-go
With a straightforward print-and-go format, parents and educators can jump right into teaching. Each activity is carefully designed to eliminate lengthy preparation and setup.
❌ Too much reading
Most US geography programs require students to plod through pages of dense text without relief. Students are daunted and quickly become distracted or bored.
✅ Balanced reading with activities
Each lesson is a mix of fun read-aloud stories, speaking, hands-on activities, and creative writing prompts. Students are actively involved in the lesson, which reinforces their understanding and retention.
❌ Low visual appeal
A lack of color and interesting visuals makes geography cold and lifeless.
✅ Fun, full-color illustrations
Vibrant and often humorous illustrations capture kids’ imaginations. The colorful visual appeal makes learning about the states an exciting experience.
❌ Mindless worksheets
Repetitive “busywork” worksheets and coloring sheets are tedious and do not aid learning or retention.
✅ Varied, hands-on activities
From booklets and printable board games to science experiments and map skills activities, there’s plenty of opportunity for hands-on work that kids actually look forward to.
❌ Lack of review
Review may be limited to non-essential information like flags and capitals, often through rote fill-in worksheets.
✅ Reflection sheet activities
Reflection questions bring the student’s own life experiences to the adventure, making geography personal and relatable. Comprehension questions promote critical thinking, while interesting creative writing assignments directly relate to the day’s journal adventure.
❌ Too much too soon
Many elementary US geography programs cram too many facts, dates, and numbers into each unit by combining geography with history. Information overload makes learning more difficult and confusing for young students, and much harder for them to retain.
✅ Focus on physical US geography
An exclusive focus on US geography lays a solid foundation of spatial understanding. Students first learn the geographical and geological “lay of the land” of each state and its location on the map. Historical information on indigenous cultures is included organically in the stories and sidebars. Students absorb and retain information more easily when that information is presented in the right amount at the right time.
Take Geography to New Heights!
Are you ready to say goodbye! to the mundane and hello! to a fun-filled exploration of the United States? Check out how our Hit the Road Geography units can transform US geography into your student’s favorite subject!
