Ask yourself what you hope to achieve by learning geography, and let the answer to that question help guide your scope and approach. For example, if you plan to backpack across Europe, you will want to focus on the region through which you are traveling and learn the culture, currency, and perhaps languages of each area.
Learn every road in my town Learn all the major roads in my metropolitan area Learn all of the cities or counties in my state Learn all of the states and their capitals and governors Learn all of the countries in the world Learn all of the continents and oceans and the most populous countries Learn all of the English-speaking countries Learn all of the regions in Europe
If you select an “inside out” approach, begin by learning about your city or county. Then learn about the surrounding counties, then the state as a whole. Then learn about the bordering states, then the states that boarder those. Learn about all of the states, then the bordering countries. Keep expanding outward until you have a working knowledge of the geography of the world. If you select a “broad to specific” approach, start by learning the continents and oceans. Then learn the countries. Then learn the capitals of each country. Then learn the major cities or regions in each country. Then learn the leaders of each country. Continue until you have the level of knowledge that you set out to learn. You may want to work on one continent at a time each time you move to a new level of specificity.
You may want to find and print copies of blank maps. Copying the names of states, countries, or cities down on a blank map is a good way to learn them, and you can use blank maps to quiz yourself as well. Be sure to cite your maps properly. For example, check out the wikiHow How to Cite Google Maps if you’re relying on this source.
Try to make your study more interactive by “experiencing” the culture of a place. For example, you may find videos of a dance or music style unique to the region you’re studying. You could also treat yourself by cooking a recipe from each area you study to put yourself in the culinary shoes of the local population. [4] X Research source
For example, if you’re trying to learn about the most populous cities in your state, try to visit each city. Traveling from one to another will give you a sense of the distance between each city as well as the key features of each city.
Try searching online for “blank map of [place]. ” For example, you may search for “blank map of Africa. ” Use pencil while filling out the map so that you can erase and make changes. Additionally, you could reuse the map to quiz yourself again if you erase everything cleanly.
Make a bet with a friend who is also learning geography about who can fill out a blank map of an area faster. The loser buys the other person dinner. Make a fake passport, and every time you feel that you have mastered details about a country, give yourself a “stamp” from that country. Play an online geography trivia game. Play trivia that includes a geography category. Many bars and restaurants have regular trivia nights, and you can use these as an opportunity to flex your geography “muscles. ” You might even win money or a gift certificate that could pay for your meal!
If the program you are using gives you a score, keep trying to improve your score each time you use the program.
