I use the flags as an interesting launching point for teaching the Spanish-speaking countries and their locations. I made 9x12 inch flags for children to hold while we locate the country on the map. I stress that Puerto Rico is a part of the United States; the similar flag colors reinforce that. The colors, shapes, and objects that appear on these flags also complement most beginning curricula nicely. We salute each flag with the song "¡Qué bonita bandera!"
I start with North America in the second grade; I teach Spain, Equatorial Guinea and Central America in the third grade; I devote fourth grade to South America. The children learn the surrounding bodies of water and the large mountain ranges for the appropriate continents. Simple directionals start in third grade - north, south, east, and west. "Cuba está al oeste de Puerto Rico."
The grade 2, 3, 4 children use individual 11x17 black and white outline maps of the appropriate geographical areas I made by enlarging a 8-1/2 x 11 inch master copy. The larger size gives them more room to label everything and color the smaller countries (like El Salvador!).
I also use mini incentive chart stickers to expand the use of the maps. For example, we study pets in second grade, so I use mini pet stickers and tell them "Un perro está en Cuba." The children put the dog sticker on the island of Cuba; then we write the sentence.There are also weather mini incentive chart stickers to make weather forecasts, too. The children learn that it doesn't snow in the Dominican Republic! Incentive chart stickers come in lots of varieties which lend them to many creative uses and they are inexpensive.
Mari Haas's book The Language of Folk Art
has an excellent geography section in the first chapter.
Tracing Columbus's four voyages are a good way to review Spain, the Spanish-speaking Caribbean, Central America, and South America, too, as he visited all these areas.
I also use a chant to teach the map order of the countries in Central America, composed by Ricardo Moraga. The rhythm of a conga is a good accompaniment.
¡Viva, viva, viva Guatemala!
¡Viva, viva, viva El Salvador!
¡Viva, viva, viva, viva Honduras!
¡Viva, viva, viva Nicaragua!
¡Viva, viva, viva Costa Rica!
¡Viva, viva, viva Panamá!
¡América Central! ¡América Central! ¡América Central!
¡Viva!
Teachers' Discovery also sells a large soft globe that the children love to pass back and forth to each other and to me before/during any geography lesson involving the names of countries to add excitement. We shout "¡El mundo! before each exercise. For example, we recite the names of the continents according to size --- Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antartica, Europe, and Australia.
