Geography Bee: Home

School Login: stthomas
School Password: learn

Step 1: Learn about the National Geographic Bee: Every day you can take a new geobee quiz for practice. Studying geography for 20 minutes a day is better than studying just before the bee.

Step 2: Surround yourself with maps: Print or use the digital interactive blank maps from the National Geographic website and practice pointing and naming the state or country. Look at a map or atlas while you are playing geography games.

Step 3: Check out the "Helpful Websites" section of the Resource page (known in the library world as a LibGuide).

Step 4: Start with U.S. Geography: Develop a good sense of the US map by playing geospy. For example, if you are asked about a fruit that you know only grows in a very warm climate, you probably won’t guess North Dakota. Once you know the 50 states, learn the 13 provinces of Canada.

Step 5: More U.S. Geography: Play more U.S. geography games to learn lakes, rivers, mountains, port cities and state capitals. Learn about agriculture, natural vegetation, major industries, tourist and historical sites, national parks and population trends. 

Step 6: ­­­World Geography: Play world geography games to develop a good mental map of the continents and familiar countries of the world. Learn about landforms, climate, crops and natural vegetation, bodies of water, important cities, culture and religion, general latitude and longitude, and tourist and historical sites. Check out the library to find books about different countries around the world.

Step 7: Current Events: Read up on current events that relate to geography. This is especially important for you if your goal is to win the STS geography bee and qualify for state competition. Reading a weekly news magazine is a good way to learn about current events. News items regarding political upheavals, international agreements, and discoveries are fair game for Bee questions, so make sure you are an informed citizen of the world. We have a school subscription to Newsela, you can login using your regular STS credentials.

Get the Necessary Tools: A good, up-to-date world map, atlas, and geography reference book are your best study tools, along with the online encyclopedia, CultureGrams. Our school login is: PR121STTHO  Password is: culture

• Learn Map Terminology: Understanding what you're looking at and correctly reading labels and coordinates on a map are essential. This article in Britannica School is very helpful in terms of giving you an overview of maps and globes and how to use them.

• Understand how physical features, climate, and culture, are all influenced by each other. Once you understand this, it will be easier to categorize and remember information about countries and regions.

• Remember to Keep Geography Fun!