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I was wondering if having a globe is essential to BLHFHG. Maybe there is something in the guide, but I haven't really read through it, yet. I also wanted to know, if you use a globe, where is the best place to get one and what model would be best for a younger child? It's nice to find out what works for others.

We do not use a globe as we have a great set of wall maps that we got at BJ's a few years ago. However, I just saw some at Barnes and Noble over the weekend and noticed the price was about $30. It was in color and seemed nice. I personally prefer the maps because they're right on the wall and aren't cluttering a counter or shelf, but if you have a good place to put a globe it may be a better choice. I don't have my BLHFHG guide handy but I believe there is geography once a week, and you'll need a map or globe so you can find the place your learning about. I'm sure someone else will be along with a more definitive answer.

We picked up a globe last summer at Target for about $20-25. (you might find one cheaper online)
We've used it many times this year with BLHFHG. It's not essential for the geography lessons but I was glad to have it and the kids spent lots of free time looking at it.
A ball or balloon could work just as well as an "earth substitute"

Thank you. I probably will get one, not that I have a lot of space, but I think dd would benefit from a globe versus a wall map. I will use both, but to really process how the earth looks, she probably will need that. The land features and water will be beneficial as opposed to a balloon or ball. We've taken trips out of state and I have introduced her to the US map. She probably will be fascinated with a globe. I had a globe years ago for our older kids. When they understood geography, they liked to take the globe and spin it with their eyes closed and a finger on the globe. Where the finger was touching when it stopped, they pretended they were going to that place. Our two oldest love to travel, as well as myself. So, geography can be a lot of fun. I look forward to enjoying this part of HOD with dd.

I was just on beachballworld.com. They have inflatable globes in different sizes. That wouldn't take up space and dd would love playing with that. I saw they even have one to label. Does anyone use an inflatable globe?

I got an inflatable one for about $6 at a teacher supply store. Works well for our lessons and kids love playing with it...they learn more from it quite casually that way!

We picked one up at Target last year, also. i remember if being only $15. i don't even think it was a sale. it is on a blue plastic stand and the world is all in color. my kids and i both love it . Just have to calm them down sometimes because they would just love to keep spinning it. My 6yrold picks it up all the time to ask me where stuff is. We used it just last week when we were studying explorers, like Columbus, Ponce de Leon... We looked to see where they had traveled from and where they went. That was in LHFHG Unit 21.

Praying you find one that works for your family

Jenn D.

I have an inflatable one. I also got it at a teacher's supply store for $5 or $6. We don't really need it for anything in LHFHG yet, but DS loves playing with it. My parents travel alot so he likes to follow along on the globe and see where Grandma and Gramps are going on their trips.

I think I got my globe at Walmart or something, but I don't use it much, 'cause Mom can't see it. I never can find those darn glasses. I'd rather have a large globe, one I can read! Globes are actually better for showing the relationship between where we live and where we're discussing. As I kid, after seeing the flat map, I always wondered what was on the "other side" of the world. I was probably dumber than most kids, but I couldn't get the context of the locations. I figured the entire flat map was on "our" side and there was this entire land mass I didn't know about and why isn't anyone telling me?

Yes it's true, "I" am teaching my child. Scary thought.

I like a globe that we got from Timberdoodle. It is cloth and you can put it in the washing machine.
http://www.timberdoodle.com/Hugg_A_Plan ... 79-229.htm

That cloth one does sound like a neat idea, too. I think until dd is older, the beach ball or the cloth one would be sufficient. Thanks for the ideas.

We've had an inflatable globe (kids played with it instead of using it as a globe) and a wall map --which I liked a lot but everytime we wanted to look at something we 'd all have to get up and go over to the wall. I finally found a very nice globe on a stand at a thrift store and bought it and we love it. It has given my kids a much better perspective of how the world fits together (like how close Alaska and Russia are). The globe we have also has much more detail (rivers, cities, even raised areas for mountains) then any of our wall maps.

I picked up my globe for $1 at a yard sale. It was a newer, full size one and up to date.

If you don't need it immediately you could keep an eye out this summer or even look at places like Salvation Army and Goodwill.

All of these globes sound good! We got one at Barnes and Noble, and then it sadly was used SO much that after one too many drops, the stand broke. The next one I got was at Walmart, and I actually liked that one better as it was more colorful and easier to read. It was cheaper too. Whatever kind you end up with, having one is nice, and I think Annaz made a good point about it being important to see where locations are in relation to one another as far as being around the other side of the world or not. You'll use it with virtually every HOD guide anyway, so it's worth the purchase over time.

In Christ,
Julie