Five easy ways to introduce Geography to the under fives!

Why introduce Geography to under fives?

"The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development and care of children from birth to 5 years old. All schools and Ofsted-registered early years providers must follow the EYFS, including childminders, preschools, nurseries and school reception classes."

http://www.foundationyears.org.uk/eyfs-statutory-framework/

As well as supporting communication and language, physical development and personal, social and emotional development, nurseries, childminders and pre-schools must also support children in four specific areas:

1. Literacy
2. Mathematics
3. Understanding the world
4. Expressive art and design

It is true that 'Understanding the world' is quite a broad phrase, but it's easy to see links to Geography (after all, that's what the subject is all about!).  It highlights the importance of Geography, even at a really young age.  Children are assessed on their understanding of 'people and communities', 'the world' and 'technology' as part of this requirement.

The EYFS framework states, 

"Understanding the world involves guiding children to make sense of their physical world and their community through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about people, places, technology and the environment."

So how can we help our little ones understand our world?  Here are five easy ways...



1.  Play outside: 


Take them to different environments and encourage them to explore, ask questions and talk about what they can see.  If they're not talking yet you can name things for them, "tree", "stone", "shell".  Give them things to hold if possible.  Give them time to really look at something.  Ask them questions, "Do you think any animals live in this tree?", "Why is the ground really wet here?", "Do you think people made this hill?"  Even if the child (or you) doesn't know the answers it doesn't matter, it helps to develop an enquiring mind.

2.  Get them a globe:  For a few pounds you can get a good inflatable globe.  It may be used as a ball some of the time and that's OK, but it's great to introduce them to the concept of our planet being that shape at an early age.  You can discuss it with them, "we live here!", "Guess how long it would take to get from here to here", "this is land and this is the sea." If any relatives live abroad or anyone you know goes on holiday you can show them where it is and talk about how they travelled, how long it took and so on.

3.  Go Jetters!:  Go Jetters is a fab programme on the BBC channel CBeebies.  Four earth-exploring adventurers try to prevent Grandmaster Glitch interfering with the world's famous landmarks and natural features. Don't just take my word for it though, Dr Paula Owens, lead consultant on Go Jetters explains why children love to learn about their world in this great article... 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/grownups/learn-geography-with-go-jetters

4.  Talk about the weather:  We all love to talk about the weather don't we?!  Each morning when your child gets up, or at points during the day have a look out the window (or go outside!) and talk about the weather.  Is it sunny? Rainy?  Is it windy? How can we tell that it is windy?  What should we wear if we go outside?  Would we need sun hats? Umbrellas? Make it a part of your normal conversation when you're planning outings and outfits.

5.  Watch YouTube videos together: There are thousands of relevant videos online that can encourage children to talk about the world.  Videos of giraffes, cheetahs and meerkats introduce hot, dry environments. Dolphins  and coral reef videos show them that life exists below the surface of the ocean. Antarctic penguins or arctic polar bears show children that some parts of the world are always extremely cold.  It may even help to have your inflatable globe with you! 

Even if they can't follow, understand or remember all the facts it doesn't matter.  If they can begin to understand that the world is more than only what they see, then that's the biggest lesson of them all.