Friday 12 June 2015

Home School - Maps (A Cheeky Request)

One of the topics we are covering in Home School this term is Maps.



We’ve currently been creating maps of our house, our local area and plan, this week, on making the map of the UK.
The objectives for this topic our simple:

  • To locate a variety of places at home and abroad
  • To find places on a map
  • To recognise features of places
  • About the location of other places
  • About the types of transport used to get to other places

Now, like most of our Home School topics, I like to add an extra twist to it and make it far more enjoyable for both the Boys.
But what could I do?

Well it occurred to me that I write this blog and have a range of readership across the UK, so why not try and take advantage of this?
So William and I have a request:

We are looking for you lovely readers to help us out.
What we would like is a letter, postcard or anything that can be sent to us that highlights the area you come from.

(One suggestion, if you can't get a postcard, is to print a picture off of a local landmark on and send us that)

We respect that you will want to keep the identity of yourself and of your children, including your address, private. All we are looking for is evidence of which Town or City that you live in; this could be by a postmark on an envelope, a local postcard or even just a small letter with your location on.
So what will we do with it once we receive it?

We will look at the location on a map and discuss if it is local or far away. We will Google the place and find one interesting fact or landmark and discuss this and then investigate, hypothetically, how we would get there i.e. by Car, Bus, Train or Plane.
Once we have done this we will add it to our Map and create a catalogue of the different places within the UK.

(We would ask our lovely readers from abroad to join in but we realise how expensive it would be to send something, even as little as a letter or postcard, abroad.)
As mentioned above we are not looking for any personal information from you or your family just a location. If you want a thank you from us both then please attach a Twitter handle to it so we can identify who sent it and give you a little shout out on Twitter and a mention in a post of the completed activity.

If you do decide to help us please Direct Message me on Twitter at @mr_kitney and I will give you our address.
(If you are unsure and want more information please contact me and I would be happy to explain it more with you)
It will really enhance the learning that we are doing and allow a little excitement to the topic as well as contributing to their education. However, I am aware that this isn't for everyone and know some of you won't want to join in and if that's the case please pop back and see how we got on. 

Thank you so much in advance from us all.

36 comments:

Unknown said...

I love this idea! Yes we will definitely send something and I'm sharing an old post this weekend encouraging people to send more mail to each other! It only takes a few minutes, the kids will love it and I look forward to hearing how James' project goes!

Martyn Kitney said...

Fantastic!! Thanks a lot! Definitely love the idea....I know most children enjoy the excitement of getting mail. It's why I thought it would add a nice twist to a possible boring subject.

Unknown said...

When you branch out and need something from the U.S. make the request. Assuming that I actually manage to (1) remember to read your blog (2) remember to buy the postcard and (3) remember to actually mail it...your boys will have Real American Literature! OK, maybe a postcard isn't *exactly* literature, but close enough.

Great idea to make the geography & maps topic interesting for your kids!

Unknown said...

Wow! What a fantastic idea!! And how exciting for your little ones to get loads of post!! Not a very common occurance anymore. Will pop something in for you. Xx

Ali said...

thats a fab idea, really teaches your boys about distance, it's like an interactive field trip without leaving home! #bigfatlinky ali @ mum in nutshell

Unknown said...

That's a great idea! If I can find something somewhere!! will send you a tweet! xx #bigfatlinky

Cuddle Fairy said...

Fantastic idea! It will bring the concept of maps into reality for the boys. Thanks so much for hosting #bigfatlinky

Luke Strickland said...

Great idea! Will DM you...

Silly Mummy said...

What a brilliant idea! I'm sure the boys will love this. #bigfatlinky

Tubbs said...

What a lovely idea! I'll DM you now #bigfatlinky

Lins @ Boo & Maddie said...

This is so great and adds so much to the learning lessons, it will enhance their ability to remember too #bigfatlinky

Martyn Kitney said...

Haha thanks Jeff!! It is tempting but I'm unaware of costing and wouldn't want to put anyone out just for our home school work. But if we do. I'll definitely give you a shout!

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks! I thought it might add a little extra to a topic and combine a few things with it. I think he'll love getting things in the post too.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks Ali that was my thinking. It's difficult at times to make learning extra fun a) for home school b) because it's just those 2 doing it.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks Sarah! We really appreciate it!

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you. I really hope it will. No problem. It's always a pleasure.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks a lot luke!

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you! I'm sure they will. And not only will it help with home schooling which child doesn't enjoy post being sent to them.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you. We really appreciate it!

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you. I'm glad you like it. I agree completely. This will be so good for them.

JOhn Adams said...

Very imaginative idea. How about I give you a postcard at BritMums Live next week? Good luck with this project and great to meet you yesterday. #BigFatLinky

Martyn Kitney said...

That would be great thanks John. See you soon!

Becster said...

This is such a fab idea! I will send you a DM now.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you! We really appreciate it!

krissy @whymoms said...

What a great idea! So awesome that you are thinking up ways to make a boring subject more fun!
#bigfatlinky

Random Musings said...

What a brilliant idea! Will make the topic so much more interesting for the boys! I will definitely send something :) Thanks for hosting the #bigfatlinky
Debbie
www.myrandommusings.blogspot.com

Gary Mathews said...

This is an awesome idea Martyn, I'll send you something via FB to document the metropolis that is none has Nowhere, Indiana (New Albany), actually I'll send you something from the whole Southern Indiana/Louisville, KY region.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you. I always try to put an interesting twist to our home school topics.

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you Debbie! And for sending something. We appreciate it. I always try to do something different!

Martyn Kitney said...

Thank you Gary. We'll look at pictures from across the world and see the difference to abroad.

Alan said...

We'd be delighted to help Mr. K. DM your address and I'll have card in the post to you.

Unknown said...

Awh I'd love to do this! DM me your address and we'll send you something!

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks Alan! We really appreciate it! We couldn't let Ireland go all empty ;)

Martyn Kitney said...

Thanks Kellie! I'll DM you. We needed a bit more from Ireland as we didn't want to miss anyone out!

Unknown said...

This is a terrific idea. I hope you guys get lots of post cards from all over!

Jenny said...

I love geography and sending postcards is so much fun! DM me your address and I'll get a postcard out to you next week. @monkeyandmousey