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Home » Montessori » Curriculum » Continent Maps Learning Resources & Ideas for Preschoolers

Continent Maps Learning Resources & Ideas for Preschoolers

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Montessori geography is a beautiful piece of the Montessori learning environment. Moving from concrete to abstract children get their hands on sandpaper globes, landform materials, a world map puzzle, and continent maps. There is a lot of fun and learning to be had in this area. I have to say map work is one of my favorites areas of Montessori learning.

Learning Resources for Continent Maps

One of the coolest parts of Montessori geography are the variations that come with the continent maps, for example. Even the youngest children in the classroom have the opportunity to trace, pin poke, cut, and sew maps and globes using the continent maps. By the way, a fantastic early continent learning is Montessori Map Work by Bobby and June George.

Montessori Map Work

Learn Montessori Geography - Continents Map

How to Teach Montessori Geography – Puzzle Maps Lesson

  • Introduce the world puzzle map
  • Introduce the World Map by bringing the continent globe to the work area.
  • “This is the earth. It is a sphere. A globe is a way for us to show the places on Earth.”
  • Bring the world map to the work area.
  • “Maps are another way to show the places on Earth. Maps are flat, though, not spheres, like globes. This is a map of the world.”
  • Point out the matching continents: “This is North America. And this is North America.”
  • Continue with the remaining continents.
  • Pull out each continent carefully and intentionally using the three-finger grip.
  • Place randomly on the work mat.
  • Pick up a continent piece and find its place.
  • Give the child a turn to put the puzzle together in the template or on the work mat.

Presenting the remaining puzzle maps

Present each puzzle map in the same way. Introduce first as a sensory experience and then introduce the names of the countries.

What are the seven continents_

Puzzle Maps Activity

Create a Continents Booklet

Use the world map to trace and create their own continent/country booklet from the map.

Continent Booklet Materials:

  • The world map or a continent map
  • A clear plastic circle the same size as the hemisphere on the map
  • Small sheets of paper
  • Colored pencils
  • Take the map to the floor.
  • Demonstrate how the child can use the piece of the puzzle to trace an outline of the continents.
  • Encourage the child to continue tracing the outlines and coloring in the outlines of the continents
  • Make a continent/country booklet

Trace a Continent

  • The world map or a continent map
  • A clear plastic circle the same size as the hemisphere on the map
  • Large sheet of paper
  • Colored pencils
  • Take the map to the floor.
  • Demonstrate again how the child can use the piece of the puzzle to trace an outline of the continents.
  • Encourage the child to continue tracing the outlines and coloring in the outlines of the continents in the format of the larger map.
  • Use control maps & tracing paper to create beautiful maps

Montessori Continent Maps Work

Additional Resources

  • Tracing paper
  • Colored pencils
  • Construction paper
  • World map puzzle
  • Continents globe
  • Continents map
  • Country & Flag Match
  • Geography Puzzle Set
  • Sandpaper globe

For more geography activities, check out these 8 awesome geography activities for kids.

Tagged With: Shelf Work

About Marnie Craycroft

Marnie hails from Maine where she spent summers buried in sand and winters buried in snow. She is the daughter of a nearly four decade veteran of the public school systems. Teaching has always been a part of her life. She founded Carrots Are Orange in 2010.

Carrots Are Orange is a Montessori learning and living website for parents and teachers.

Marnie graduated from Wesleyan University in 1999 with a BA in Economics. She spent nearly a decade working in investment management. In 2006, she earned her MA in business from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.

Marnie moved to the west coast in 1999 and currently lives in Boulder with her husband and three sons. She is Montessori trained. Her work has been featured on Apartment Therapy, Buzzfeed, PBS Kids, BabyCenter, the Melissa & Doug blog, Huffington Post, and WhattoExpect.com. Besides writing, passions include running (usually after her three sons), photography, and outdoor adventures.

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