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Review by Bridgette Taylor

galloping-globe

Galloping the Globe by Loree Pettit and Dari Mullins is a comprehensive unit study that not only teaches world geography but also history, literature, language arts, science, and the Bible using notebooking. Math and spelling are not covered. The study is created for grades K-4, however, there are some companion texts included that could be used to expand the material for older students. 

What I like most about “Galloping the Globe” is that there is no set schedule. You can adjust the lessons to fit into your school week in manner that suits your family. There is no rush to complete the program, as it is designed to be completed over a period of 1-3 years. This is great for homeschoolers, like myself, who use many different curricula throughout the year. You will need to collect some of the suggested materials before beginning the study, such as a globe, a child’s atlas, and the literature. You may also want to supplement some of the core subjects, such as language arts and science, with additional materials. 

The book begins by introducing the continents as a whole and then moves through each continent stopping at several of the countries therein. Each lesson covers one country and has a reproducible map with facts the student fills in. Each country’s lesson also includes numerous resources for each subject (geography, literature, history, etc.) that your child can use to create their notebooks. Many other activities are also available on the included CD-ROM such as word searches, maps, mazes, crossword puzzles, games, and reproducible notebooking sheets. What really makes this curriculum special though, is the little added touches that make it so much fun for the children. Kids can have a great time making a 3D map out of salt dough, learning about tourist hot spots, or even trying out a recipe from another culture. 

“Galloping the Globe” is a fun and original unit study that your whole family can have fun with. This would be a great addition to any homeschool library.