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.

There are also instructions and a free printable for making World and Continent Pin Maps at Polestar Montessori. This is a simple yet very attractive DIY project.

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.

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.

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?