Felt Continents Map (Photo from United Montessori Association)
Earth Day is coming up on April 22, and now is a great time for Earth Day activities along with a study of the earth. It’s helpful for children to understand the earth and their place on it if they are going to help care for the earth.
I already had a post with Montessori-Inspired Earth Day Activities. Today, I have a link to some continent activities that would add to a study of the earth in preparation for Earth Day. The Montessori world (continent) map is an important part of the Montessori geography curriculum.
Making a Continent Map
The Felt Continents Map in the photo is from United Montessori Association. This activity is a DIY version of the Montessori continent map. It can be made with wool felt and doesn’t require carpentry skills. It could be mounted on a wooden board. Foam board would work well also.
Child and Me also has directions for making a Felt Continent Map.
Montessori Print Shop has a number of inexpensive and attractive materials for learning about the world. Montessori Print Shop also has a free printable of Globe, Continent & Ocean Labels as well as World Continents – Pin Map Flags and Maps.
If you want a large map, you could print out one from Your Child Learns. The map can be printed out in whatever size you wish and the continents cut out to use as patterns.
Instructions for Introducing the Continents
If you sign up for my mailing list (in my right sidebar), you’ll receive a free copy of the wonderful Montessori geography album from Karen Tyler at Worldwide Montessori Online. The 177-page geography album gives detailed directions for using the Montessori world map along with the entire Montessori geography curriculum for ages 2½-early elementary.
You can find some basic instructions for introducing a puzzle map of the hemispheres from Monteaco.
Wikisori also has some basic instructions for introducing the names of the continents.
More Extensions of the Continent Map Work
Be sure to check out the continent map work at My Montessori Journey for more ideas along with the popular Montessori work using large push pins to punch out the continent shapes. UPDATE: Even though Montessori schools and homeschools have been using push pins for pin punching for years, I think it’s time to change. Please read this sad post and consider an alternative to push pins, such as Montessori Services’ wood handled puncher.
Another extension would be to add animals of the continents to the felt continents map as in this photo by Amy Kuhl Cox.
Does your child have a favorite activity to help learn about the earth?
I'm Deb Chitwood. My header photo models are my children, Christina, at 1 1/2, my son, Will, at 3, and Christina again at 16. Christina is now 22, and Will is 27. Please see the 
This is such a great idea! I am going to introduce continents to my 2 year old week:) He loves learning new things and this would be a perfect activity for Earth Day week.
Shelley (EvenAndy) recently posted..Monday Spark
Thanks for your commennt, Shelley! That’s great to hear! Have fun!
Deb recently posted..First Blogiversary – Free Montessori Printable!
Would you link this post to my Love of Learning about geography in my home page?
P recently posted..Libertà di apprendere
Thanks, Palmy! That’s a great post! I’ll link to it here for now: http://laproffa.blogspot.com/2011/03/love-of-learning-geography-and.html. I’m going to be writing a post sometime on studying individual continents, and that’ll be an even better place to put your link. That’s my next step of geography studies!
Deb recently posted..First Blogiversary – Free Montessori Printable!
I love this felt set…I would so buy it if it were available for sale. I’m intimidated by the project though! I wonder if I could get my coop moms together to sit and make these as a group. Working on projects like these with other moms would be so much fun!
Janeen B. recently posted..Living in an Incubator
Thanks for your comment, Janeen! That’s such a great idea for moms to work together as a group! If you feel intimidated by the idea from UMA, check out the link from Polestar Montessori. Shelley from EvenAndy used that one to make a continent map from cardboard, construction paper, and colored pencils. Also check out Mary Vales’ great ideas in the comment below!
With all your materials from Montessori Print Shop, you must be in material-making heaven right now!
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this is way cool!! sharing!
mamapoekie recently posted..Natural Parenting Blog Party at The Peaceful Housewife
Thanks so much!
Deb recently posted..Sponsor Spotlight – Montessori Print Shop
What a wonderfully sensorial activity this is!
Felt boards for geography activities can be made from old Monopoly boards as well. I pick them up at thrift stores and couple the tiny houses with land forms activities. Another favorite of the children is to lay out felt, vinyl or fabric continents and follow verbal directions. For example: Put two red houses on the peninsula, Put three blue houses on the cape…etc. This helps to strengthen a child’s understanding of land forms through repetition and play and opens their minds to creating their own environments as they prepare for the more advanced Imaginary Island activities!
What great ideas, Mary! Thanks so much for sharing them!
Deb recently posted..Sponsor Spotlight – Montessori Print Shop
Ooh, I really like this! I made a felt continent map, but mine was copied from a 2D rectangular map. I really like how you put your continents on circles that represent the actual shape of the world much better.
maryanne recently posted..Red Rock
Thanks, Maryanne! I can’t take credit for the map. The photo is from an activity at United Montessori Association, and that’s based on the traditional wooden Montessori world map (which uses the two hemispheres to show the continents). But it is a great way to show the continents, isn’t it?!
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I really love this idea! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Karyn recently posted..Color Scavanger Hunt
Thanks for your comment, Karyn! I love that there are a number of great, inexpensive ways to introduce the Montessori continent map!
Deb recently posted..Vote for the Top 25 Homeschooling Blogs
I just adore the felt continent map! Great idea and thanks for the links too!
Kerri
Kerri recently posted..Young and Adult Animal Activity
Thanks, Kerri! I love that there are such great DIY alternatives to the wooden Montessori world map!
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