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National Geographic Explorer

ByChristi Fultz

I’m sure you’ve heard of National Geographic Magazine, but did you know they have student editions too?  A few years ago I requested to switch to National Geographic Explorer from our previous classroom subscription. I decided to create a packet to go with each magazine that would activate background knowledge and provide extension activities.  After the first year, I only had to plan every third one since my grade level teachers are now taking turns planning the packets.


Here’s what I love:

  • The magazines integrate reading, writing, science, and social studies.
  • The students are excited about our National Geographic week
    every month and get to take the magazines home when we’re finished with
    them. 
  • The online teachers’ edition has lesson plans, worksheets,
    and interactive whiteboard lessons for free. You can also use the digital edition for projectors.
  • It comes in two reading levels. They both look alike and have the same topics and pictures, but one is written at the second-third grade level and one is written at the fourth-sixth level. You can mix and match to create differentiation within your classroom this way. Because I teach third grade, I use the Pioneer Edition for all of my students. It challenges my higher readers, but my lower readers are able to participate with extra support.
  • Each magazine comes with a two-sided poster in the Teacher’s Edition. I display the posters during the week and then put them in our classroom auctions.
  • The website has ecards, games, videos, vocabulary challenges, and related articles that update to match the magazine each month.   

If you’re looking for a new way to engage your students with nonfiction, I’d suggest National Geographic Explorer.  Click on over to check it out for yourself.


16 Comments

  2. Thanks for sharing! We have been looking for a different type of weekly subscription to go to next year rather than the kind we have right now. I will have to share this with my co-teachers. It looks great!
    Krista
    stellar-students

  6. I'm your newest follower. I've enjoyed my time at your cute blog! Come by when you get a chance.
    Have a lovely week!

    Chatterbox Blessings,
    Rebecca

  8. Hi Christi! Thanks for letting me know you found my blog – I'm following you now, too! I actually grew up in Indiana – a little town called Franklin, near Greenwood (if you've ever had Ritter's Frozen Custard, it started in Franklin!). Glad to have found another third grade teacher blogger friend! 🙂

    Have a great week!
    katherine
    Third Grade Teacher Files 

  10. I do get a class set. They usually have three articles. I teach one article each day during our reading block and then use the fourth day for a quiz and writing response. I try to save them for shorter weeks so I don't have to do something totally different on the fifth day. Some of the articles are big/long enough that you could break them up over multiple days though.

  11. I am using the National Geo Explorer for the first time this year. I'd love some ideas on how others use it. Right now, we are using it in our Read to Self stamina building then plan on using it for reading buddy discussions.

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