World Geography & Economics
updated September 13, 2024
Recorded here is my own personal collection of articles, resources, favorite links, teaching ideas, and lesson plans. It encompasses many years, from the very beginning of my experience studying and learning about Waldorf to the present time. People from all around the world visit my site and recommend it to others. Welcome!
This site records my journey. I hope my honesty is encouraging and helps break down some barriers that may prevent people from trying Waldorf methods. Because this is an ongoing site documenting my curriculum planning and ideas, some materials are more Waldorf-y than others. Please feel free to take what you like and leave the rest.
This page has helpful links and LOADS of free resources to help you plan your eighth grade year. Enjoy!
Mission Statement - Consulting Services - Lending Library
World Geography & Economics
for Class 8
Rationale
This block is something I read about years and years ago when first researching Waldorf, but I've never written anything up about it -- or
planned it or taught it -- because I couldn't wrap my mind around it. It was just too general and too nebulous of a topic.
The one time I taught World Geography (the Quick & Dirty version) to one of my eighth grade daughters, we actually
did World Geography in terms of hot button topics in the upcoming presidential election. It worked out
really well, in fact!
Resources for World Geography
MLB Pages - World Geography
However, if you did want to put a more
focused Economic spin on it, I have now come to an idea. Cars.
You could just study one item -- cars -- and that would allow you to learn all about
the raw materials (steel, iron, plastic, aluminum, copper, glass, and so on), transportation of products between countries
(shipping, railway), pricing (profit and loss, currency exchange rates), whatever is happening in the oil market, where the precious
metals used in electronics come from,
and more.
Cars are also interesting and fun, and if you've never learned anything about the internal combustion engine, now would
be an excellent time to do it! Physics!!! Plus, your child is likely going to be learning to drive in a few years, so it's a high-interest topic.
The idea of Cars as a main focus in World Geography & Economics
came into my head when I was watching yet another program by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May. It was the
episode where they travel across Mongolia. They were miserable (the only time I've seen Jeremy Clarkson more
miserable and discouraged was when he was filming "A Chopper Is Born") but boy the scenery was fantastic! So I thought I'd begin
with a list of episodes (of that show or of anything) where you get a really good sense of the place.
And then I can come up with a main lesson block from there.
I think this will go well with 8th grade History, too, because you'll be doing the Gold Rush, WWI and WWII, and other factors that will
play into World Economics very nicely. But you could wait until High School if you feel that your child needs to be older
to do this topic because of its complexity.
You would also have to decide how you feel about the adult language that's used on these shows.
Of course, the world economic environment is rapidly changing so any notes will become obsolete.
If you are teaching this, part of what your child will be researching is what is happening right NOW.
North America
South America
Africa
Europe
Asia
Oceania
Kay of the Tobacco Farm
available online for free at the International Children's Digital Library
Tobacco could also be an interesting topic for study (and you're doing Anatomy & Physiology in grade 7/8 anyway), as could any spice.
The spice trade is still a thing (which kids may not realize)! In short, pick something that people
are importing or exporting, and follow the long and winding trail that it will take you down...
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