Holling Geography 3-7 Teacher Guide

Travel the US through beloved picture books! At the end of this geography homeschool unit study, your student will have formed a relationship with three main geographic regions of the United States, and the cultures, animals, and industries that define them.

This award-winning homeschool geography teacher guide is a literature-based program designed to bring geography to life for children! Featuring four iconic Holling C. Holling books—Minn of the Mississippi, Paddle to the Sea, Tree in the Trail, and Seabird—this unit study offers a comprehensive exploration of the Great Lakes, Eastern Seaboard, national landmarks, rivers, lakes, and an introduction to world geography. In this social studies curriculum, students will dive into learning about 30 states and their capitals, indigenous animals, natural science, cultures, and industries.

The teacher guide supports parents in leveraging these beloved books to dive deep into the geography of the U.S. and the world. The curriculum focuses on three key regions of the U.S.—the Great Lakes and Eastern Seaboard, the Mississippi River, and the Southwest—and provides a solid introduction to the natural world and a broader view of the world’s continents and oceans through the book Seabird. Designed for 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th grade students, this unit study is perfect for both middle school and elementary school learners.

The guide helps maximize the impact of these stories with comprehension questions, discussion prompts, hands-on activities, and vocabulary words. Each lesson encourages exploration and learning through literature, making geography both fun and engaging. The teacher guide also includes four specially designed 18” x 24” inch maps for coloring and labeling, allowing children to reinforce their learning through mapping activities.

This geography unit study is the perfect way to combine reading, mapping, and exploration of the world, all while developing an understanding of geography in a hands-on and meaningful way.