Bring Geography to Life with Tall Tales!

Young children are just beginning to discover the geography of the United States—and they love a good story! This unit combines folklore, geography, and science to introduce primary-aged children to American landforms in a way that is fun and memorable.

Start with the legendary Paul Bunyan and his giant axe. Could his axe really have carved out the Grand Canyon? Of course not—but asking questions like this gives children a fun way to explore the real science behind how landforms form. As children enjoy the tall tale, they can compare the legend with what scientists know about erosion, layers of the Earth, rivers, mountains, and other landforms.

This unit gives you everything you need to turn that idea into an engaging geography and science study, including:

• An annotated book list featuring Paul Bunyan stories along with science and geography books
• Literature, science, and geography activity ideas
• Vocabulary flashcards for key geography and science terms
• An abbreviated Paul Bunyan story with a blank map of the United States for labeling
• Worksheets that review vocabulary, explore the fun of tall tales, and reinforce science concepts such as Earth’s layers and erosion
• U.S. landform photo cards for matching landforms to their locations on a map

Children get to enjoy the tall tale first—and then discover the real science behind the story. It’s a memorable way to introduce young learners to the geography and geology of the United States.