Fun Geography Games

Internet Games

• Just search for geography games on a search engine and scroll down the list to find many sites. Social Studies for Kids is one site that includes a list of links to various sites that have online geography games. From there, a site called Kids Konnect can be found, where the many games include ones with maps. The link page also lists links to Funschool.com and Geosense, an online interactive game, and an Internet-based Lewis and Clark game.

  The Geosense game is definitely worthwhile to play. It is challenging, but engaging, and can also be played with another player online, giving it a competitive edge. The strategy is simple. The player is prompted to click on a country and city within 10 seconds. The selection and the correct location are highlighted by the game and points are gained for accuracy. It even lists how many kilometers off the answer is.

  On National Geographic's website, there is a Lewis and Clark game. Based on the expedition of Lewis and Clark, players explore the American frontier in the early 1800s. The game is presented as a series of choices the player must make as they go along. It progresses with the challenges and locations of the original expedition, almost like a choose-your-own-adventure story, but guided by factual resolutions.

  At Sheppardsoftware.com, there is an entire range of games based on United States geography. One is tailored to teaching about geographic regions. The player is prompted to click on the appropriate region, and geographical sections are highlighted when the mouse cursor is moved over them. When the correct region is selected, an interesting fact sheet describes the area's characteristics.

  Other games on the Sheppard Software site are based on state capitals, landscapes, rivers, oceans and even placing states on a map. Many of them are separated into beginner, intermediate and expert levels. The highest level is cartographer, which refers to an expert on mapping.

  Many more geography games populate the Internet. It is easy to find them and spend hours improving your geographic knowledge and learning about the vast parts of the globe.

At the store

• One does not just have to stay online to play geography games. Traditional board games also can also offer a lesson in geography. These include a game called Passport to Culture, which provides cultural facts on every country in the world, using playing pieces, a die, and question cards. Others include card games and ones with a memorization strategy. The global puzzle is a 600-piece jigsaw puzzle of the world, while there are also several trivia games related to geography and travel. Trivial Pursuit also includes a geography category as part of its games.