Class Activities - Games With a Globe

One of the most important tools in any classroom would be globes. Ideally, there should be at the minimum, one per class. They're excellent to use for interactive and hands-on learning and topics like geography. Students can have a lot of fun playing games and participating in activities while learning about the different landmasses and oceans of the world with the help of a globe.

Here are a few games and activities that you can conduct using a globe.

Around the World

This game can be modified to be simple or complicated, depending on the age and level of the class. Spin and move the globe randomly and place your finger on it. Read the area when your finger landed and have your students name the places near it. You can also mix it up by asking them for any significant landmarks, known cities or states, and even the language of the area. Another idea is to ask them to imagine what they would pack and bring there if they would have the chance to visit the place. Customs and culture are also good topics to talk about.

Find It

The game has very simple instruction. You just need to name a location and the class needs to find it. Turn it into a race to make it more interesting. Divide the class into teams, give them each a globe and a list of countries or cities to look for, and who ever finds all the places the fastest wins. Challenge your students by choosing areas that are not very familiar. Use post-it makers so they don't have to write or pin the globe and avoid damaging it.

World Coordinates

World globes come with latitudes and longitudes. This activity is a great way for then student to learn how to find places using coordinates and how to get the coordinates of certain places. Before you do this activity, make sure the students have a clear idea and knowledge about latitudes and longitudes and that the map's meridian and details are very clear. This is just a variation of the "find it" game, but it's more challenging.

Alphabet Game

Younger kids can also enjoy some activities and games with a globe. Staring with the letter A, have them suggest or name a place for every letter (for example, A for Arizona) and then let them locate the area. To modify this for older students, pick the place yourself, have them locate it and then ask follow-up questions about the area. You can also have them ask you questions as clues to figure out where the place is and then locate it.

These are just a few examples of interactive games and activities that you can do with a globe. You can get a simple, inflatable globe in most educational supply stores. But if you really want to purchase one of those big, wooden or metal ones, some specialty stores do carry them, but it's better if you get them online. You'll have a wider selection and the prices are considerably cheaper.

Gift Ideas - Get a Globe as a Present!

Globes might be the last thing you want to think about when you're picking out a gift, but they're not just for educational or mapping purposes. You can find unique and one of a kind models in specialty shops or even online.

Manufacturers and designers are getting creative with how they present these spheres. Some of them stay true to their original design and purpose while others are made for novelty and aesthetic uses. Below are a few ideas that you might want to look for when looking for a globe for a gift.

Gems and Rhinestones

Get fancy and glittery with a globe made from rhinestones, crystals and gems. Some stores offer these as a specialty item, even making them on a made to order basis. Some stores will let you personalize your gemstone globe and you can choose everything from the size to the stones used .these do come with a hefty price, especially the ones that are made from precious metals or gems, but you can find few ready made some with a considerable price range. A crystal globe is a wonderful idea for an accent piece or a table top decoration for the office, den or study.

Antique Designs

If you're lucky enough to actually get your hands on an antique globe, then you're probably passing down a family heirloom. If not, then you can get antique looking models at the shop or online. World globes have been used for centuries by explorers and navigators. The antique look makes the globe look like it's from the time of Columbus and is a great center piece. Most antique looking globe models have a parchment like, matt, and smooth finish to them. Some are even colored in different shades of brown, unlike the common blue and green globes.

Music Boxes

Imagine receiving a globe with a little surprise inside it. You open it up and find a little music player inside, like those old music boxes. Since a globe is hollow inside, you can get creative and put anything in it. Install one of those little music box players inside and you have yourself a unique music box. Globe music boxes are a clever way to hide little trinkets and surprises, even jewelry if you want to hide them somewhere in plain sight. It's an unexpected treasure that your friends and family will surely enjoy.

Miniatures

You can get a globe in almost all sizes. A great gift to give would be a mini-globe. One of those models that's about the size of a paper weight, something that's big enough to be used as a table accent but small enough that I just blends in with the whole design. These mini-globes can also be used as book-corners or accessories for bookshelves. They don't really show much details when it comes to the actual surface of the globe, but if you're just looking for something to add a little detail in your room's design, this is the perfect thing.

World globes have been used for centuries by explorers and navigators. The antique look makes the globe look like it's from the time of Columbus and is a great center piece.