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January 6, 2006 - by Terri Johnson,
author
of Homeschooling ABCs (www.homeschoolingabcs.com
) -
dedicated to helping new homeschoolers gain the
confidence and the necessary skills to successfully teach
their children at home.
The Where of History
Geography is a subject many parents feel inadequate to teach.
The "where" of history is just as critical to the story as the
"who" and "when". To close your eyes to geography while
studying history is akin to learning math without
manipulatives. It can be done, but it leaves holes in the
complete picture, very much like putting together a puzzle
without all the pieces.
We often don't remember much from our own geography lessons,
and a sincere question, such as "where is Calabar?", from a
curious, upturned face, can feel quite intimidating. It can be
challenging enough to find Chattanooga on a map, much less
Calabar. In truth, this place is not even shown on most modern
maps you might have around your house.
How does a home-educating parent incorporate geography into a
history lesson? With a few simple tools and resources on hand,
the task can become quite painless and even enjoyable. One key
to remember, however, is that it is perfectly acceptable to
learn geography alongside your students. You don't have to have
all the information or answers ready in advance. Investigating
the answers together can be a rewarding and bonding
experience.
Before reading a historical account, whether from an
encyclopedia, a biography, or a work of literature, make sure
that you have on hand a globe, a wall map, and a historical
atlas. Optional, but helpful, items include outline maps (preferably
historically based) and a timeline (any format will do -
wall,
book, or computer software). Why is a
timeline recommended for incorporating geography into history
when this tool focuses more on the "when" aspect of history? A
timeline will allow the student to see what was happening in
other parts of the world at the same time as the event he is
studying.
Let's take a look at the life and ministry of Mary Slessor,
pioneer missionary to Calabar in Western Africa. Mary grew up
in Scotland in the time of the Industrial Revolution, and this
had a profound effect on Mary's upbringing during the 1850s and
60s. Her father moved the family from Aberdeen to Dundee before
landing a job as a laborer in a mill, while her mother took a
weaving job in a factory. As a teenager and young adult, Mary
worked twelve-hour shifts as a factory-girl. It was during this
fourteen-year period that she ministered to young street
ruffians and prepared for her journey to the faraway and
romantic coast of Western Africa.
This would be a good time to find Scotland on the globe. Where
is this small European country? Who is its nearest neighbor?
Using your historical atlas, find the areas of heavy
industrialization. If you are using an outline map, place a
star by the cities in which Mary and her family lived. Label
and trace the outline of England and Scotland. Label the island
country to the west and the country directly across the channel
to the east. Label the bodies of water surrounding Great
Britain. Use your globe or atlas for the answers. This is not
cheating; it is how we learn. Make this a time of exploration
and discovery, rather than a test or drill. If your children
are young, don't require much writing; rather, let them color
the map that you helped them to label.
Let us return to our story: the Presbyterian mission in
Calabar, founded by Jamaican ex-slaves, intrigued Mary Slessor.
She left her homeland and traveled to the coast of Nigeria, the
very coast raided by slave-traders who bought and sold human
beings as chattel for the far-off plantations in the New World.
Of course, slavery had been abolished in most parts of the
civilized world by this time, but its horrific history still
had an enormous impact on the people of that land.
Take some time to look at a map of the whole world. Locate the
area of West Africa to which Mary Slessor dedicated thirty-six
years of her life. Follow the western coastline down from
Morocco until it cuts in to the east and forms the Gulf of
Guinea. Find Scotland and Jamaica in relationship to Nigeria.
How far did these pioneer missionaries have to travel to reach
this dark, exotic jungle and spiritual wasteland?
If you have older students (about sixth grade and up), a
challenging, age-appropriate activity would be to pull out some
graph paper and draw a blown-up view of the Calabar region. Use
all of the information that you gained so far to piece together
an inexact map, or dig through some old biographies of Mary
Slessor and find a suitable map to trace.
About one hundred miles east of the mouth of the great Niger
River is the smaller Cross River. It was up this river that
Mary Slessor ventured, ever further into the thick jungle and
heathen societies that dwelt there. Label the towns you would
come to if you were paddling upriver in a canoe. First there is
Duke Town, Old Town, and Creek Town. Paddling further upstream,
the river covered with a thick white bed of water lilies and
trees overhead filled with tropical birds squawking out their
warnings, you would come to the villages of Akpap and Ekenge of
the Okoyong people. Mary Slessor dedicated fifteen years of her
life to these tribes and raised many of the Okoyong children as
her own. If you continue up the Cross River, you would reach
Itu, Use, Asange, and finally Ikpe, where Mary spent many of
her final years. Although it is just over forty miles from Duke
Town to Ikpe, it would take you at least two full days
traveling by canoe to reach this destination.
Mary's heart ached for the salvation of the Nigerian people.
The desire to bring the light of Christ to these people that
she loved is what drove her to journey ever deeper into the
interior, where sinister practices continued to rage, and wild
animals menacingly roamed. In 1903, Mary finally procured for
herself a bicycle to travel between towns, drastically
improving her commute time. This was an incredible advance in
transportation for this part of the world. Ironically, it was
in this same year that the bicycle-makers from Dayton, Ohio,
first flew their airplane at Kitty Hawk and forever changed the
world of transportation. By using your timelines, you can see
the connection between these two events, happening in different
parts of the globe during the same time period.
Over the next 10 years, world tensions began to escalate,
particularly in Europe, leading to the start of the First World
War in 1914. Your timeline in progress would show you that this
event occurred toward the end of Mary's life. What is the
connection between this world war and the unpublicized efforts
of Mary Slessor, who was changing precious lives and savage
customs in the West African bush? In truth, it was learning of
WWI that sent Mary's health into a tailspin from which she
would never completely recover. Her sorrow over the state of
her homeland, coupled with the loss of two of her dear friends
killed in the war, drove her to bed with a raging fever. Her
health was already poor by this time, but this global tragedy
took its toll on the beloved white "Ma" of the Nigerian people.
On January 13, 1915, Mary Slessor went home to be with her
Lord. It was the quiet conclusion of a life of giving all that
she had to bring God's glory to the people of Calabar…
"Over
this vast, sun-smitten land she wept, as her Master wept over
the great city of old, and she did what she could - no woman
could have done more - to redeem its people, and sought, year
in, year out, to make the Church rise to the height of its
wonderful opportunity - in vain." -
W. P. Livingstone
Upon her death, her African children and friends mourned her
departure with the deepest grief. Fellow missionaries,
government officials, and loved ones from home knew that there
was no one who could fill the large shoes this courageous woman
left behind. With redoubled effort, many men and women were
sent to the bush, and Mary's lifelong dream was eventually
realized: a Christian church in Nigeria!
The use of maps and timelines
completes the historical picture of the life and ministry of
Mary Slessor. It fits the final pieces into the puzzle, giving
a clearer overall perspective of the story. Don't allow
insecurity to keep you from teaching geography alongside
history. Without it, the scene developed in your students'
imaginations may be dull and flat. With it, their imaginations
may "pop" with vibrancy, and their fascination with the
subjects of history and geography may soar to a new
level.
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