Amazing Primary Students
Linking Geography, Maths and the Environment
By Dr Charles Margerison, Psychologist, Can Do Kids Worldwide
We have worked with teachers, students and their parents in 25 countries to develop an engaging intercultural education resource which enables students to develop their communication, problem-solving skills and confidence in presentations.
The Can Do Kids Worldwide edtech resource enables students to “fly from their classroom” to many countries to learn about their people and places.
Can Do Kids Worldwide (www.candokidsworldwide.com) provides an opportunity for students to connect with countries around the globe, including the USA, France, Spain, Australia, China, India, Canada, Japan, South Africa and Brazil..
The students are guided on their journeys by the Can Do Kids Band, featuring:
- Amy, the versatile vocalist from the USA
- Ace, the dynamic drummer from South Africa
- Ravi, the talented bass guitarist from India
- Lin, the creative keyboard player from China
- Oz, the adventurous lead guitarist from Australia
The band is a creative force that inspires students to explore cultural connections through music. The Can Do Kids Band’s global influence makes it an engaging way for educators to connect cultural and musical exploration with curriculum subjects such as geography, maths and the environment.
Applications
By connecting geography with maths and environmental studies, teachers can create a dynamic, interdisciplinary approach that helps students develop essential skills while fostering global awareness. Through studying global distances, weather patterns and cultural diversity, students gain a deeper understanding of the world and how various elements—such as time, space and the environment—interact with one another.
These are examples that help primary school educators effectively integrate geography with maths and environmental studies.
Global travel and distance calculations
Geography offers an exciting opportunity to teach about the world’s scale by exploring the distances between different countries. For example, ask students to calculate how far it is from their school to countries such as South Africa, Japan or Canada and also the time it takes to travel between cities and landmarks.
By linking distances to maths, students gain practical skills in measuring lengths and calculating time zones, travel durations and flight times. This not only helps with basic maths, but also builds global awareness.
Students can discuss why understanding these distances is essential for communication and relationships across countries. By connecting maths to real-world global connections, students can see how distances affect the way we communicate and interact across borders.
The Can Do Kids Band also provides a fun, music-based way to explore global cultural connections. Listening to songs and learning about musical instruments in each country can help students better understand the cultural context of the regions they are studying. This musical connection enhances the learning experience by linking cultural diversity to geography.
Maths: Connecting distances with real-world applications
Students can consider practical travel issues to enhance maths lessons.
For example, if flying from London to New York, how would students calculate the travel time, factoring in time differences? This can lead to problem-solving exercises, where students apply measurement and time calculations to real-world scenarios. These activities help develop maths skills while also expanding students’ understanding of the global landscape.
Understanding distances and time zones is especially important for fostering global communication. It also reinforces the idea that the world is interconnected, and that knowing the distances between countries is key to engaging in meaningful, cross-border relationships.
The Can Do Kids Band also plays an important role here, as students can explore musical styles from different regions of the world, thereby enhancing their understanding of the geography and history behind these styles.
Environment: Understanding the impact of weather on global life
Climate and weather patterns:
Environmental studies offer students a tangible way to understand global differences, as weather patterns are deeply connected to how societies live and work. In each country visited, an assessment of the effects of climate change on farming and daily life helps students understand major issues.
Teachers can also help students understand how different climates shape architectural designs, food production and traditional practices.
Exploring countries such as South Africa, Brazil or Japan allows students to connect weather and geography with the local lifestyle. Understanding the environment is not just about recognising physical features like mountains or rivers, but also about understanding how people adapt to and thrive in varying climates.
Bringing it all together: Geography, Maths and Environment
The integration of geography, maths and environmental studies creates an engaging and well-rounded learning experience. By exploring distances, weather patterns and cultural diversity, students gain both practical skills and global awareness.
Conclusion
Integrating geography with maths and environmental studies offers primary school teachers an opportunity to create engaging, cross-curricular lessons that foster global awareness. By teaching students about the distances between countries, how weather patterns impact life and the role of geography in shaping cultures, teachers can help students develop a deeper understanding of the world and how to engage with it responsibly.
These cross-curricular lessons help students gain constructive thinking skills, practical knowledge and a greater appreciation for cultural diversity. Through these strategies, we can help students become more informed global citizens, ready to thrive in an interconnected world.