Level 4 – Geography of Europe

Time Requirements

Level 4 – twice a week for 15-30 minutes.

Key Texts

A Living Geography: Europe by Jill Papsdorf – a PDF provided free for Mater Amabilis families, not to be sold or modified for sale

Maps from d-maps.com (free, linked in this document, printed by the parent or student)

Note: The maps linked below use color for the oceans and seas. You may print in color or black and white. If you prefer, d-maps also provides maps without colored seas, but we have found the colored seas helpful for students.

Atlas of your choice – Many families have successfully used the National Geographic Concise Atlas of the World, third edition or fourth edition.

Globe of your choice

Optional: National Geographic subscription (digital or print; see note)

Note: In Level 4, students should begin to read more widely about the world. In the lesson plans, articles related to the mapwork are linked. Sometimes these are National Geographic articles, which require a subscription. In each instance, a non-subscription alternative is provided.

If you prefer, the student may instead choose to read an article of his or her choice from the most recent print issue of National Geographic or from an older issue you have available.

List of Maps

You may wish to prepare for the course below by printing the maps at the beginning of the year. Label each map with the week number so students can independently find the ones needed each lesson. Students should save the maps each week as often new information is added over multiple lessons.

Europe, rivers – 3 copies – Week 1, first term exam week, Week 15
Mediterranean Sea– Week 13
Europe, states and rivers – 5 copies – Week 16, Week 17, second term exam week, Week 32, third term exam week
Baltic Sea – Week 17
Scandinavia – Week 18
Benelux – Week 20
Central Europe – Week 22
Balkans – Week 26
Switzerland – Week 29
Italy – Week 30
Spain – Week 31

Lesson Procedure

Mapwork for the week – one or more of the following tasks will be assigned:
1. The student will begin with a printed map from d-maps (linked in these lesson plans). Using the globe and atlas, the student will find the specified geographical features or countries and label them either with words or using colored pencils to trace or outline the feature.
2. The student will carefully trace a map from a previous assignment (or an atlas), including the specified geographical features.
3. The student will study a map from a previous assignment (or an atlas), then cover the map and sketch the map and geographical features from memory. After a few minutes, the student should compare the sketched map with the original
On another day, read the linked article OR an article from a recent print issue of National Geographic. Narrate.

Lesson Plans

Term 1

Week 1

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Introduction and The Seas and Shores of Europe, map of Europe (including rivers), atlas. This map will be titled The Seas and Shores of Europe and will be used throughout the term.
Read and narrate – LearnWeather.com: What is the North Atlantic Gulf Stream, and why is it so important for Weather in the United States and Europe? (2021)

Week 2

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Norwegian Sea.
Read and narrate – Medium.com: Do the oceans have real boundaries? (2017)

Week 3

Mapwork – A Living Geography – North Sea, Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, and English Channel.
Read and narrate – National Geographic: Quiet Lives in Villages Overlooking the Sea (April 4. 2017) or non-subscription alternative – Forbes: 7 Fascinating Facts About The Faroe Islands (Jan 16, 2022)

Week 4

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Barents Sea, White Sea, and Dvina River.
Read and narrate – Live Science: See first-ever photos of polar bears playing house in the Russian Arctic (January 28, 2022)

Week 5

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Baltic Sea.
Read and narrate – Marine Finland: The Baltic Sea is a young and fragile northern sea (Pick and choose at least a few of the topics listed at the bottom of the article, where there are plus signs.)

Week 6

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Jutland.

Read and narrate – National Geographic: The secret to Denmark’s happiness? Sand and surf (May 19, 2020) or non-subscription alternative – VisitDenmark: Discover Denmark’s most beautiful places

Week 7

Mapwork – A Living Geography – The Iberian Peninsula and the Rivers of France.

Read and narrate – National Geographic: What it’s like to surf the world’s largest waves (March 22, 2022) or non-subscription alternative – International Living: 6 Incredible Places to Visit on the Iberian Peninsula (January 7, 2021)

Week 8

Mapwork – A Living Geography – The Italian Peninsula and the Surrounding Seas.

Read and narrate – Atlas Obscura: Grotta Azzurra (Blue Grotto)

Week 9

Mapwork – A Living Geography – The Balkan Peninsula and Aegean Sea.

Read and narrate – National Geographic: How sport climbing is helping to revitalize a Greek island (2021) or non-subscription alternative – Monkeys and Mountains: 7 Fun Facts about the Balkan Mountains

Week 10

Mapwork – A Living Geography – To the Black Sea and Beyond.

Read and narrate – Marine Insight: 10 Caspian Sea Facts You Must Know (February 11, 2021)

Week 11

Catch-up / Review

Week 12

Catch-up / Exams.

Provide a blank copy of the original map of Europe. The student could use the map to answer the following questions orally or by writing on the map. (These are sample questions; students do not have to answer all of them.)*

What oceans and seas surround Europe? Name all you can remember.
What islands are found north of the continent of Europe?
Name two peninsulas of northern Europe.
Name the three large peninsulas of southern Europe. Which has a large island off its point? Which has a smaller peninsula attached to it at the south?
What can you say about the coastlines of different areas of Europe?
What three seas form a chain, connected by straights with each other and with the Mediterranean? Name any of these straits. What small peninsula is within the Black Sea?
Name three rivers flowing into the Black or Caspian Seas.
Name three rivers that flow into the Baltic or North Sea.
Name three rivers in France. Which one flows through Paris? Which one empties into the Mediterranean?
Name a river in Italy.

Term 2

Week 13

Mapwork – A Living Geography – The Mediterranean Sea, map of the Mediterranean Sea (including rivers). This map will be titled The Mediterranean Sea and will be used for the next two lessons.

Read and narrate – National Geographic: The Mediterranean nearly dried up. A cataclysmic flood revived it. (March 6, 2020) or non-subscription alternative – The Guardian: Mediterranean was created in Earth’s biggest deluge (9 Dec 2009)

Week 14

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Islands of the Mediterranean Sea.

Read and narrate – Globe Trotting with Goway: Exploring Three Gorgeous Mediterranean Islands on a European Vacation (2019)

Week 15

Mapwork – A Living Geography – The Mountains of Europe, map of Europe (including rivers), atlas. This map will be titled The Mountains of Europe and should be saved as a reference.

Read and narrate – National Geographic: Journey Across 7 Countries on the World’s Newest Long-Distance Trail (April 5, 2017) or non-subscription alternative – The Trek: Via Dinarica: The BEST Thru-Hike You’ve Never Heard Of (Mar 9, 2022)

Week 16

Mapwork – A Living Geography – The Political Map of Europe, map of Europe (states and rivers).

Read and narrate – National Geographic: Majestic medieval churches ascended along Christian pilgrims’ paths (December 17, 2019) or non-subscription alternative – The Guardian: 10 of the best pilgrim routes in Europe: readers’ travel tips (31 Oct 2019)

Week 17

Mapwork – A Living Geography – European Russia, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, a new copy of the map of Europe (states and rivers), map of the Baltic States.

Read and narrate – Forbes: Five Stunning National Parks To Visit Across The Baltics (April 25. 2022)

Week 18

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Scandinavia: Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, map of Scandinavia.

Read and narrate – BBC Travel: Norway’s soaring mountain staircases (22nd November 2021) OR BBC Travel: The Kystriksveien: Earth’s most beautiful road trip? (24th May 2022)

Week 19

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Finland, Iceland, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, map of Scandinavia from last lesson (Scandinavia), labeled map of Europe begun a few weeks ago (A Partial Political Map of Europe).

Read and narrate – National Geographic: The Eerie Folktales Behind Iceland’s Natural Wonders (August 8, 2017) or non-subscription alternative – Adventures.com: The Top Eight Natural Wonders of Iceland (December 9, 2020)

Week 20

Mapwork – A Living Geography – France, Monaco, Luxembourg, and Belgium, second labeled map of Europe (A Partial Political Map of Europe), map of Benelux.

Read and narrate – Visit Ardenne: The Forests in the Ardennes

Week 21

Mapwork – A Living Geography – The Netherlands, Germany, and Poland, second labeled map of Europe (A Partial Political Map of Europe), labeled map from last week (Benelux),

Read and narrate – Thought.Co: How the Netherlands Reclaimed Land From the Sea (September 08, 2019)

Week 22

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Hungary, map of Central Europe

Read and narrate – BBC Travel: Welcome to Europe’s cowboy country (8th August 2014)

Week 23

Catch-up / Review

Week 24

Catch-up / Exams.

Provide a blank copy of the state map of Europe. The student could use the map to answer the following questions orally or by writing on the map. (These are sample questions; students do not have to answer all of them.)*

Tell what you know of the Mediterranean Sea. Name as many of the seas within the Mediterranean as you can.
Name five islands in the Mediterranean Sea.
Name five mountain ranges in Europe. Which two ranges form part of the boundaries of the area known as Europe?
Where are the tallest mountains of eastern and western Europe? What are their names? In which countries are they located?
Name at least one other important mountain in Europe and tell what you know about it.
Try to identify as many countries in Europe as you can using the blank map.
Name two or three important rivers in Russia.
Name the natural boundaries of Russia.
Tell what you know about the three Baltic states.
What waters bound the Scandinavian Peninsula?
Describe the coast of Norway. Compare it with the coast of Sweden.
In what part of Sweden lie the largest lakes?
What is the peninsula of Denmark?
What immense lake occupies the south of Finland?
What are the British Isles? What countries and states do they include?
Along what three arms of the Atlantic do the coasts of France stretch?
What are two or three important rivers in France?
By what mountain chain is France separated from Spain, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy?
What tiny country is bordered by France and the Mediterranean Sea?
What can you tell about the coastline of the Netherlands? What river flows into the North Sea there?
On what sea does the coast of Belgium lie?
What countries lie along the Northern European Plain?
Name a major river in Germany.
Name a major river in Poland.
Describe the course of the Danube River from its source to its outlet.
What mountains lie at the southern border of Poland? Through which countries do they rise?
Describe the Great Hungarian Plain.

Term 3

Week 25

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova, second labeled map of Europe (A Partial Political Map of Europe), labeled map of Central Europe (Central Europe).

Read and narrate – Rough Guides: 12 reasons to visit Moldova – Europe’s least-visited country (7/8/21)

Week 26

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania, labeled map of Central Europe (Central Europe), a new map of the Balkans.

Read and narrate – TripSavvy: The Historic Iron Gates of the Danube River Between Serbia and Romania (06/07/19) and Rolandia: The Carpathian Mountains. (Optional: You may also enjoy looking at the photos in National Geographic: This clifftop monastery is surprisingly accessible (February 4, 2020).)

Week 27

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia & Herzegovina, labeled map of Central Europe (Central Europe), labeled map of the Balkan Peninsula (Balkan Peninsula).

Read and narrate – The Guardian: Why I fell in love with Slovenia (24 March 2018)

Week 28

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Serbia (and Kosovo), Montenegro, and North Macedonia, labeled map of the Balkan Peninsula (Balkan Peninsula).

Read and narrate – Our Wanders: Your Everything-To-Know Guide To Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia and Serbia.com: See All of Serbia’s Amazing Waterfalls in Only 60 Seconds!

Week 29

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein, a map of Switzerland, labeled map of Central Europe (Central Europe).

Read and narrate – Butterfield & Robinson: 8 Reasons Why You Must Visit Lake Neusiedl

Week 30

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Italy, San Marino, Malta, and the Vatican City, a map of Italy, second labeled map of Europe (A Partial Political Map of Europe).

Read and narrate – National Geographic: Incredible Photos of Hiking Italy’s ‘Iron Roads’ (January 20, 2017). For fun (or a non-subscription alternative), you may wish to read about San Marino in the Aperture Tours Blog: Why is San Marino a country? (December 5, 2021)

Week 31

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Spain, Andorra, and Portugal, a map of Spain.
Read and narrate – Rick Steves’ Europe: Andorra: Not Lost in the Pyrenees

Week 32

Mapwork – A Living Geography – A Review of the Political Map of Europe, a new map of Europe.

Read and narrate – OneStep4ward: How Many Countries Are There In Europe? (April 2020)

Week 33

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Lines of Latitude and Climate Zones

Read and narrate – Because the reading in A Living Geography is longer than usual this week, this article is optional. ZME Science: What are the different climate zones? A simple explainer (January 22, 2021)

Week 34

Mapwork – A Living Geography – Lines of Longitude

Read and narrate – Time and Date: What Is the International Date Line?

Week 35

Catch-up / Review

Week 36

Catch-up / Exams

Through what countries do the Dnieper and Dniester Rivers flow?
What difficulties do cartographers face with the Crimean peninsula?
Through what countries does the Danube flow? Where is its source? Where is its mouth?
What is unusual about the borders of Moldova?
What can you say about the geography and countries of the Balkan peninsula? What mountain ranges are found there?
What can you tell about the geography of Greece?
What can you tell about the countries of the Alps? What do you think is the most famous mountain of the Alps?
What is one lake in Switzerland?
What are the smallest countries of Europe? What do you know about them?
What mountain chain runs through the peninsular part of Italy from north to south?
Name three or more cities in Italy.
What is a famous river in Italy? What about famous mountains in Italy?
Name the seas surrounding Italy.
What great peninsulas lie east and west of Italy? Divided from it by what seas?
What can you tell about the geography of the Iberian peninsula? What mountain range separates it from the rest of Europe? What major rivers are found there?
How is the Mediterranean connected with the Atlantic? What land is on the other side of this narrow channel?
How many countries are in Europe? How many can you name using the blank map?
Describe the lines of latitude. Name five particular lines. What are the climate zones? What do all the places along a line of latitude have in common?
Describe the lines of longitude. What is the Prime Meridian? What do all the places along a line of longitude have in common? How do seafarers determine their longitude?

*Some of the sample exam questions are taken from Charlotte Mason’s Geographical Readers for Middle Class and Elementary Schools, Book IV for Standard V, The Countries of Europe.

Level 4 – Geography of Europe