Exploring World Geography is a one-year curriculum that combines geography, worldview, and literature for high school students. You can use it in 9th grade, 10th grade, 11th grade, or 12th grade.
Watch this video walkthrough with author Ray Notgrass to see how it works.
Exploring World Geography is divided into 30 units with five lessons each. You can complete the curriculum in one year by doing one lesson per day for 150 days during your school year. Your student can read the daily lessons and follow the instructions independently. You as the parent can be involved as much or as little as you desire.
The curriculum addresses two main questions: How has the physical world made a difference in what people have done, how they have lived, and how they live today? How have people made a difference in the physical world, and how are they making a difference in it today?
Exploring World Geography is designed to be easy to use for parent and student. Each of the 30 weekly units has an introduction that features a summary of the material covered, a list of lessons, Bible memory work, books required for that unit, and suggested writing assignments and hands-on projects.
If you use the course as written, your student can earn one year of credit in three high school subjects: World Geography, English, and Worldview. However, the course is flexible, so you can adjust the assignments as needed to fit your student's schedule and needs.
- The World Geography credit involves reading the lessons and doing the assignments in the Gazetteer (and answering the questions in the optional Student Review if desired).
- The English credit involves completing several writing assignments, including one research paper; and reading the assigned literature.
- The Worldview credit involves examining religious and philosophical perspectives and completing worldview assignments that guide the student in building a Christian worldview.
We recommend twelve works of literature that complement the lessons in Exploring World Geography. These books are not essential for understanding the lessons, but each one adds a valuable perspective on a different part of the world.
Reading the literature is part of earning the English credit. If your student has already read one of the assigned books, or you want to choose a different book for any reason, you can substitute a different book.
Part 1
- Know Why You Believe by Paul Little (Units 1-2)
- Blood Brothers by Elias Chacour with David Hazard (Units 3-4)
- Patricia St. John Tells Her Own Story by Patricia St. John (Units 5-7)
- A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park (Unit 8)
- The Day the World Stopped Turning by Michael Morpurgo (Units 10-11)
- Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson (Units 12-13)
- Lost in the Barrens by Farley Mowat (Units 14-15)
Part 2
- Boys Without Names by Kashmira Sheth (Units 16-17)
- Revolution Is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine (Units 18-19)
- Ann Judson: A Missionary Life for Burma by Sharon James (Units 20-21)
- The Country of the Pointed Firs by Sarah Orne Jewett (Units 24-25)
- Tales from Silver Lands by Charles Finger (Units 27-28)
If you already have the curriculum, our Quick Start Guide will launch you to success in using the literature, suggested supplements, and bonus downloads.