Doing Geography

Geographers mess around with interesting things. They are curious about the world. They discover what the world looks like, what it is made of, and what happens to it. To do these things, geographers need tools.

Geographers Use Tools?

Yes, indeed! Geographers use compasses, notes, sketches, diagrams, maps, and photographs. They make notes, and they make maps.  These are some of their simple tools.

Geographers use their tools to learn more about the world and to tell other people what they have learned. This is what makes geography fun!

Why not make your own compass?

Geographers want to know where they are and where they are going.  A compass gives this information. Why not make your own compass?  Captain Clark used his compass to chart the Corps of Discovery's daily course.  Click here to see how to make a compass.

Why not make your own sketchbook to record your geography observations?

Lewis and Clark kept journals and sketches of their trip through Idaho.  Each day they recorded what they saw and thought.  Look at the Lewis and Clark web site (click here) and read what they wrote.  Why don't you make a journal and sketches of your neighborhood? Click here to see how.

or

Take pictures and  make a geography scrapbook.  How will you arrange the pictures?  Could you include the five themes in your scrapbook?  What other ways could you organize the pictures?

Geographers make and use maps.  Why not make some maps?  Learn how to read and follow maps.  Create maps of your bedroom, backyard, neighborhood, city, country, or continent.  Maybe it would be fun to make a treasure map or a map for your pet.

Here is an idea for making your own school map.  (Click here)

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The Idaho Compass
Copyright © 2004
by
Katherine A. Young and Virgil M. Young
Producers, Designers, Writers, and Websters
in cooperation with Boise State University