Most of you already know I’m a huge fan of a good book. Whenever I can use a book to kickstart a lesson, I jump at the chance. When I saw the book Legends & Leagues had a Workbook to go along with it, I couldn’t pass it up!
Legends & Leagues or, Mr. Tardy Goes from Here to There by Ned Bustard introduces you to two funny little men named Mr. Longitude and Mr. Latitude. They take forever to help poor Mr. Tardy find his destination as they ramble on and on about maps and their importance. In the end, Mr. Tardy is very thankful for their explanations. Surprisingly, he even gets to his destination on time despite the roaming conversation of Mr. Longitude and Mr. Latitude.
The book was cute. I’m not going to say it’s on the top of my living literature list, but I don’t consider it twaddle either. The better part for me was the Legends & Leagues Workbook! It takes concepts from the book and turns them into easy to understand lessons with great map making activities. My children are hands-on learners who don’t prefer to fill in worksheets if they can help it. This workbook gave them just the balance needed between worksheets and creating their own maps.
Not only are the activities very creative, but I couldn’t believe how many mapping skills were covered for the early to mid-elementary crowd. Topics like:
- Strip maps
- Map symbols
- Using a compass
- Hemispheres
- Grids
- Latitude and longitude
- Continents
- Geography terms
- Landmarks
- Time Zones
In 44 pages, there’s even a little final exam, a glossary and a memory song with piano notes! The book isn’t absolutely necessary to go along with the workbook, but the book does make a nice addition. You can purchase both for $19.00.
What are your favorite resources for teaching map skills?
-Written by Cindy, eclectically Charlotte Mason mom of three. You can find her blogging at Our Journey Westward and Shining Dawn Books.
The biggest reason Cindy chose to homeschool was because she loves experiencing life with her children and watching them grow inside and out. She's sure that’s why the Charlotte Mason method first caught her attention. It allows her to be creative in scheduling, rigorous in learning, yet opens the door for plenty of close-knit time, opportunities for her children to explore their interests and offers enough free time for them to be children. She implements many of Charlotte Mason's methods with an eclectic twist of things that work for her family! At Cindy's website, Our Journey Westward, you will find a blog packed with fun learning ideas and a shop full of creative curriculum, including the NaturExplorers studies.
This book + workbook would go great for our Journey North Mystery Class activity. I am always on the look out for books that talk about longitude and latitude. Thanks!
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Thanks for sharing this, Cindy! We are currently working through A Child’s Geography and are really enjoying it. I have a couple children’s books about maps, but our favorite resource is the antique globe that belonged to my grandfather. 🙂
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It sounds really neat. Thanks for the review of a totally new to me product/curriculum. We just use a plain old atlas so far. But I have plans to incorporate more geography with specific activities.
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Thanks for a great review…something I’ve never even heard of before. The mapmaking looks like it’d be right up our alley too. But what ages is this for? would it work for maybe 2nd or 3rd grade?
Yes, Alicia, I felt like it was best for the 1st-3rd grade crowd.
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Thanks for the review – these look like just the sort of thing my boys would love!
Thanks for the review. This Fall there are four sequels coming out along with workbooks for each. I hope you enjoy them as well. This book was targeted at the K/1st crowd—these next books pick up there and are for 2nd-5th
Veritas Press catalog suggests using Geography Songs by Larry and Kathy Troxel and states & capitals songs and maps by Kathy Troxel along with Legends & Leagues. Is that too much? I am looking at it for 1st grade with my son.
Melanie, if your son enjoys learning through songs, both of those can be helpful additions. When we use songs, I typically pop them in during car rides to make them seem less like “lessons.”