What's included
Meets on Demand
schedule meetings as needed55 mins
per sessionTeacher support
Assessment
All assessments are informal. These lessons are meant to be relaxing and are really just an introduction to the countries we will study since we only have 55 minutes.Class Experience
US Grade 5 - 12
Beginner - Intermediate Level
This is it! Outschool's original ongoing Country Studies class. This is the PRIVATE LESSON version of this course. This means there is more flexibility with regard to what country(ies) will be taught. Every week, we will study the physical and human geography of one country, with an emphasis on physical geography. WE ARE ON LESSON #145 - NAURU! Please scroll down to see upcoming countries. Please be aware that if no students show up by ten minutes after the hour, I leave the classroom and the student(s) are considered no-shows. **************NEW STUDENTS - It is IMPORTANT that you arrive on time or even one or two minutes early. My first few slides are directed to new students. Thank you. I expect all students to arrive on time, or even one or two minutes early so we can get started right away. There is always a lot of material to cover and we only have 55 minutes. PRIVATE LESSON STUDENTS are allowed to make substitutions if they wish. I have 140 lessons prepared for 144 different countries. Please ask for a list of my prepared country lessons. I have taught Geography for decades and Country Studies is my thing! Join us! There are quite a few students who have been with me for more than two years.... since I started this ongoing class back in early 2021. Each lesson is bespoke and takes about ten hours to create. This is why I don't offer much else. During each class, we will label and sometimes color at least two maps of the subject country and its continent and discuss important topics as we do so. Geography is an extremely broad subject that overlaps with many other subjects such as Earth Science, Government, Economics, and History. Depending on the country we may touch on just some or all of these subjects. Links to the maps and the list of map locations are posted to the classroom approximately 24 hours before class. Students are expected to print these out and bring them to class along with a few colored pencils, a black marker, and a ruler. There are usually two or three maps, plus a list of map locations. **********NB: Upon arriving at class, the student will be provided with a link that will take them directly to the Nearpod lesson. The learner will then split their screens so that Zoom appears on one side of their computer screen and Nearpod will appear on the other side of their computer screen. Learners who do not wish to split their screens can, alternatively, use two devices, where one device is on Zoom and the other device is on their laptop, etc. The lessons focus primarily on physical geography, but, depending on the country, we may also learn about one or more of the following topics: food, history, language, religion, ethnic groups, animal life, economics, government, current events, etc. At the beginning of each meeting, the student will use Google Maps to find and mark the country's location on an interactive map. Nearby countries and bodies of water will also be located and labeled. Learners will draw in the mountain ranges of the country in question as well as label the most important rivers, lakes, deserts, plateaus, and cities of that country. There are lots of discussions about peninsulas, islands, river deltas, archipelagos, mountain building, plate tectonics, disputed territories, UNESCO sites, including the intangible UNESCO list, language & religion, ethnic groups, the movement of people, climate, currents, where cities are located and why, etc. - There is just so much! Most of my lessons include lots of map work (drawing mountain ranges, deserts, etc.), discussions, slides, short videos, and lectures. If time permits, I try to end all classes with a short game/quiz to assess learning. It is expected that the student know their compass directions. N, E, S, W! (Never East Sour Watermelon!) :-) (Never, Ever, Stop Wandering) (Never, Ever, Stop, Wondering) If none of the days/times suit your schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me and request or create another section. Students are encouraged to communicate with me before the lessons and tell me what their greatest specific interests are about upcoming countries so I may incorporate those subjects into the lessons. Here is the list of upcoming lessons. #145 - NAURU - March 7 - 13 OBJECTIVES: On a map, we will locate the country, its capital(s), other major cities, and important physical features. We will focus on what is geographically, culturally, historically, economically, etc. most significant about this country #146 - ESTONIA - March 14 - 20 OBJECTIVES: On a map, we will locate the country, its capital(s), other major cities, and important physical features. We will focus on what is geographically, culturally, historically, economically, etc. most significant about this country #147 - ZAMBIA - March 21 - 27 OBJECTIVES: On a map, we will locate the country, its capital(s), other major cities, and important physical features. We will focus on what is geographically, culturally, historically, economically, etc. most significant about this country Cambodia Tunisia Grenada Oman Albania Nigeria North Macedonia South Sudan Moldova Bangladesh Monaco Equatorial Guinea Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Montenegro Haiti Bahrain Austria Niger Lithuania Vanuatu Tajikistan Djibouti Kaliningrad - An exception Botswana Antigua and Barbuda Lebanon Slovenia East Timor The Gambia Bolivia São Tomé and Príncipe Iraq Malawi Norway Gabon Dominica Laos Liberia Honduras Belarus Kuwait Malta Mauritius Luxembourg Afghanistan Finland Barbados Libya Hungary Armenia Guinea Bissau Federated States of Micronesia San Marino Algeria Syria Ghana Saint Kitts and Nevis
Learning Goals
Students will gain a better understanding of the physical and human geography of countries all over the world. The study of Geography has so much to offer.
Other Details
Parental Guidance
I create all my lessons on Nearpod. These lessons are bespoke and take many hours to create. The learners will be given a link to the Nearpod lesson at the beginning of each class. Learners should be familiar with splitting their screen, where Zoom will be on one side of the screen and the Nearpod lesson will be on the other side of the screen. This skill is not difficult to learn. If this is an unfamiliar skill for the learner, the parent may wish to assist the learner for the first lesson or two. Instead of splitting their screens, some learners choose to use two devices, which is ideal.
Supply List
Every week, links to the maps and the list of map locations are posted to the classroom. Students are expected to print these out and bring them to class along with a few colored pencils. There are usually two or three maps - it depends on the country. Pencil Eraser Medium-point black marker Set of colored pencils Fat highlighter Ruler
External Resources
In addition to the Outschool classroom, this class uses:
Teacher expertise and credentials
Texas Teaching Certificate in Social Studies/History
Bachelor's Degree in Education from University of Houston - Main Campus
State of Texas Certified Secondary Social Science Teacher (Geography, Economics, Government & History)
BS in Secondary Education - Social Science Composite
AAS in Hotel & Restaurant Management
I am a Texas-Certified High School Geography teacher and Middle School World Studies teacher. I am no longer teaching in a brick and mortar school. I have a lifetime teaching certificate in teaching Geography, History, Economics, & Government at the secondary level. I have ten years of experience teaching in the public schools in Texas. I have taught geography for many years to homeschoolers and unschoolers. My expertise is in Geography and the Culinary Arts.
I am a former unschooling mom whose sons were self-directed learners and primarily autodidactic.
Reviews
Live 1-on-1 Lessons
$57
per sessionMeets on demand
55 min
Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 10-18