When we first started homeschooling (my oldest was 5 years old), we used Five in a Row. One of their suggestions, was to put labels of the picture books on a map to teach kiddos about geography.
I loved this idea. In fact, I liked it so much that we still haven’t outgrown it! I print out tiny little images of the covers of many of the books we read and the kiddos stick them in their settings on the maps. The little book covers are about 1.5 inches tall.
Con: Our dining room looks like a school room. I finally had to get over myself, and just put the maps up where we had the space regardless of how “messy” it looks. We are not formal or fancy – we homeschool.
This system is a great visual reminder of where we haven’t been yet and which places we’ve visited most often.
I grew up watching LeVar Burton and his show about books and taking a step further to explore what was in the books, “Reading Rainbow”. I’m sure that this childhood experience has helped to influence and inspire my current teaching method of books & field trips & doing experiences related to what we’re reading.
Thank you, Mr. Burton, for your work in bringing books to life!
Reading Rainbow Theme Song Lyrics
Butterfly in the sky, I can go twice as high.
Take a look, it’s in a book, a Reading Rainbow!
I can go anywhere.
Friends to know,
and ways to grow.
A Reading Rainbow!
I can be anything.
Take a look,
it’s in a book.
A Reading Rainbow.
Reading Rainbow Theme Video (vintage)
Thanks to Charla from travelmeanslife.com for leaving the comment that inspired this post!
heavens to betty 
I love maps! And I love this idea! To me, this is a fabulous use of the dining room. When I worked, I had a world map in my office. People would always come in to look at it. Now, you make me want to put one up back at home.
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Thanks Betty! I think a map in the dining room could look really nice if it were framed! 🖼️ 🤓
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I like visual teaching. Life is a learning room anyway. I liked reading rainbow. I think E watched that too but maybe not consistent. Are the labels where the story took place?
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Yes, the labels are pictures of the front covers of the books and then they are stuck on the maps where they took place.
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Love it! Also…I regularly start singing the Reading Rainbow theme song when a butterfly flies by 🙂
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Yes! 🦋 🌈 🎶
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This is a motivating visual reminder! Love how you kept it up even after you finished “Five in a Row.”
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I really really like maps. Sometimes I just look and look at one, discovering new things as I look around it. I think it is great to have maps in central places where everyone can look, ponder, imagine, and remember. Great job!!!
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