Disclosure: I was compensated for my time reviewing Beautiful Feet Books, but all opinions are honest – I want to help YOU in your choice of homeschool curriculum!

Homeschool U.S. Geography for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade

Kids love having books read to them, and in these younger years a literature based curriculum really makes the most of this. The U.S. Geography Through Literature Pack K-3 from Beautiful Feet uses a wonderful mix of hands-on activities, deep dives into mapwork, nature study, culinary connections, and exploring more through other resources. 

Children make realistic connections to the places you study as a family. They read, make, visit (virtually), eat, and draw about each region in the United States. Lessons are short (about 30 minutes) and are easy to teach.

It’s simple, effective, and… beautiful.

Literature Based US Geography Curriculum For Homeschool

Like I mentioned above, I’m new to literature based studies. If you are too, you might wonder how this looks. Originally I thought literature studies would start with reading an entire book and then doing related activities after you’re finished. I guess that’s just how my logical mind works!

Instead, the Literature based US Geography Curriculum from Beautiful Feet works a little differently.

Teach Geography With Literature

Most lessons in this homeschool geography curriculum include reading a few pages from various books. It’s set up to use the literature books as textbooks in a way. For example, you may read a few pages from the Dr. Seuss book There’s a Map on My Lap, then read about highlands and mountains from Geography From A To Z. While studying the Northwest Region, you’ll read parts of the book Grandma Gatewood Hikes the Appalachian Trail.

Picture books like Mike Fink, Apples to Oregon, Southwest Sunrise, and Follow the Drinking Gourd tell wonderful stories set in states and regions studied. You’ll read a small portion of these books at a time, then branch into related activities like looking up unfamiliar words, marking the places mentioned on a large map, coloring the state pages in The United States Activity and Fact book, and taking a video tour.

Hands-On Projects

In the first unit which focuses on map skills, kids complete some hands-on activities to get them familiar with directions, map reading, and geography. A link in the beginning of the book takes you to a free download of their Picture Packet – you’ll print this to use with these activities.

Kids complete a page or two in their US activity books as they learn about the different states.

Develop Significant Map Skills

One of the core activities in this homeschool curriculum is marking on the blank 36” X 24” foldable map. With nearly each lesson, students will be adding names, trails, landmarks and more to this big sturdy paper map. This gives kids a reference that they keep going back to each day as they create their map of the United States – all from stories, lessons, and virtual visits.

Learn More By Virtual Visits & Digging Deeper Links

I absolutely love that all the lessons in the Beautiful Feet US Geography Through Literature curriculum include multiple links to virtual visits. This is something I’ve always loved doing with my kids – with so much technology at our fingertips it’s a no-brainer to show kids videos of places they’re learning about.

Every lesson in this homeschool geography curriculum includes many links to websites where you can show your kids videos of the places they are learning about.

In the daily Dig Deeper and Explore Your World sections, you’ll find plenty of enriching links to learn more about related topics.

I absolutely love being able to SHOW my kids the place they’re learning about!

Connect With Geography Through Culinary Connections

If you love to cook with your kids, you’ll absolutely love the Culinary Connections section that appears often throughout this book. Make a Georgia Peach Cobbler, a Louisiana Gumbo, or a northeastern Whoopie Pie! You’ll find links to recipes in each Culinary Connection, along with a compelling reason to get cooking.

Rabbit Trails

For families that absolutely love to read, you’ll be delighted with the Rabbit Trails section that precedes each unit. This is an extensive list of books you can check out at your library that correspond to what you’ll be studying in that unit. So if you’ve got a bookworm like I do, be sure to take advantage of these book lists.

What Does A Typical Lesson Look Like With Beautiful Feet US Geography Through Literature K-3?

I always like to help people envision what a typical lesson looks like. It’s hard to commit to something on the guess that it might work for your family dynamic. 

So here’s how a typical lesson would play out:

• Using the Our 50 States book as a guide, label a few landmarks on the 50 States Map.
• Read Follow the Drinking Gourd and discuss using the stars for directions.
• Trace the family’s journey from the book onto the 50 States Map.
• Draw the “drinking gourd” constellation
• Read about Ohio and Indiana, then color in these states on the map.
• Color these states in The United States Activity and Fact Book.

Do more if you want:

• Take a night hike with just a flashlight and talk about it.
• Visit a website link that will help you find the Big Dipper.
• Practice finding constellations, or visit some a website that shows the current night sky constellations.

Ways To Help Kids Learn U.S. Geography:

• Visit places virtually. Kids make connections to things they experience, so being able to visit places through virtual tours really helps them remember the places they learn about. US Geography curriculum from Beautiful Feet Books includes extensive links to wonderful virtual tours and videos.
• Read literature that makes places come alive. There are so many wonderful picture books that help kids learn about different places simply by reading great stories. A literature based geography curriculum from Beautiful Feet Books taps into this great resource.
• Choose a curriculum that includes creating their own map. Kids remember more of what they learn when they create with the information. By incorporating map creation into geography lessons, curriculum like the US Geography Pack from Beautiful Feet Books makes US Geography lessons incredibly effective.
• Connect with food. Try out recipes that are popular in different states and regions. As you cook different dishes, talk about what life is like in those states and why they might use certain ingredients. The Culinary Connection portion of the US Geography curriculum from Beautiful Feet Books helps you do just that.
• Allow kids to explore more about places that interest them. When you allow your kids to follow their own curiosity and interests, it gives them ownership of what they’re learning. It’s helpful to use a curriculum that offers plenty of links and resources for learning more about topics your kids are interested in. If you need this in your life, take a look at the U.S. Geography Packs from Beautiful Feet Books.

The US Geography K-3 Pack from Beautiful Feet Books is Our Top Pick For:

• Eclectic Homeschoolers
• Charlotte Mason Minded Moms
• Families That Like To Cook
• Nature Lovers
• Kids Who Love Picture Books
• Families With Multiple Kids In Lower Elementary
• Anyone Who Loves Learning Through Literature

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I hope you enjoyed this review of Beautiful Feet Books.

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Blessings,

Christy

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