Most geography curriculum begins with learning map skills, such as reading coordinates and cardinal directions. You can reinforce concepts such a longitude and latitude, by setting up your own treasure hunt; scavenger hunts are a great way to add some fun in your homeschool!
This is a fun, hands on learning activity for elementary age kids!
Geography Games
To begin, draw a rough layout of the main floor of your house. You could cheat a bit by drawing out the floor plan that you may have received when you bought the house.
Map Skills
With a rough outline of your house, now you are ready to add lines of longitude and latitude. Grab a ruler and add lines about 1-inch apart. Mark the center horizontal line 0 degrees, and label the lines above and below in increments of 10. Label the horizontal lines above 0 degrees with the symbol N {for North} and the lines below, S {for South}. Label the vertical lines in the same way by making the middle line 0 degrees and label lines to left and right in 10 degree increments. Use the symbols W {West} for lines to the left and E {East} for lines to the right of 0 degrees.
Hands on Geography – Make your Own Treasure Hunt
Grab a few envelopes and strips of paper to provide additional clues to help your students find the treasure.
Write the first clue on the map leading to the envelope with the next clue and so forth. I hid some candy in the last envelope as the treasure. To begin, I called Big Brother {8 years} and Little Sis {4 years} to come downstairs for a scavenger hunt. I gave Big Brother the map and told him to read the latitude and longitude coordinates at the bottom of the map to find his next clue.
The coordinate led them over to the fireplace. The next clue led him over to the kitchen....
They found clue number 4 in the laundry room....
Their final clue led them to the living room. They found their way the corner of the room and found their final envelope-- a note of "Congratulations" and a piece of candy for each of them!
Big Brother loved this activity and if he hadn't told a few friends he would be out to play, he would have wanted me to set this up again! Little Sis of course loved the treasure! Hope you have fun setting up a scavenger hunt in your homeschool!
More Geography Games
- My Special Place on the Map
- Trip Around the World Garland
- 9 Creative Ways to Explore the World
- Roll into Geography – Geography Games
- Geography Fun with Salt Dough Maps
Kristina once thought of going into education, but changed her mind a few years in to her degree. Ironically, she now has her hands full as a homeschooling mother of four (infant to 7). She shares a variety of educational and play activities for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and early elementary aged children on her blog, School Time Snippets. Follow along on Facebook and Pinterest. 
