by Trenna Sue Hiler

Created on: November 16, 2008   Last Updated: January 06, 2012

Studying geography can be fun, interesting and beneficial information for your entire life. We live in a time where global issues have a great affect on every day life. What happens on the other side of  the world affects everyone in the world.

Geography is a very broad term. It's not just about looking at a map. It includes politics, physical features, culture and climate.

It's easier and a much better way to study to put all the factors together when you are studying an area. You give your brain many more paths to find the information you have studied about.

For example, let's see what a study package for India may look like. You would have maps and information about the topography of the area. You would learn how they make their money, what industry is there. What is the day like for a typical citizen in the city and one in a rural area? How does climate affect what they do for fun, eat and work? Try some of their traditional dishes. Examine their clothing and perhaps traditional dance.

A good geography unit would be one that when the student was done they would be very familiar with the area.
In fact, if they were to visit the area study they may feel a sense of being familiar.

Any good study habit should use as many senses as possible in the study. You should hear, smell, see, taste and touch anything you can.How can this possibly be accomplished? Perhaps you could make a topographical map out of paper Mache. Maybe you could listen to tradition music while you were learning about their leaders. Perhaps you could watch a movie in their language with sub titles. Get creative.

Make yourself a geography passport. Begin in your area and study things there. Stamp that location as done. Then journey to other locations. The Internet has the ability to bring any location into your home and school. Just the other day I used google earth to see the new home that my grandson has moved to. I saw the actual house, over a thousand miles away. Through my web cam later he took me on a tour. This is possible all over the world.

Having a passion for geography and the way the world is moving is more common now. You will notice much attention is being paid to taking care of our world and appreciating the differences we all face.

I personally love the mountains. I am passionate about mountains. I love living in a place with four very distinct seasons. Sharing these things I am passionate about are all a part of geography. I don't understand the beach and the ocean. I need someone else's passion to understand that geography. Seek out people to teach you geography.

We all share this big planet. Let's figure it out together.

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