North Star Geography (Bright Ideas Press)

North Star Geography is a comprehensive, year-long geography curriculum designed for junior high and high school students (Grades 9-12), and is suitable for earning one full high school credit. It aims to give students both a broad knowledge of the world and a deep understanding of how geography is relevant to everyday life. This program is published by a Christian company and is taught from a Christian perspective, which includes discussions of topics like environmental stewardship within a biblical framework. The course content is structured into three main units: Basic Geography Skills (maps, navigation, etc.), Physical Geography (topography, biosphere, earth structure), and Human Geography (culture, agriculture, and heritage). The curriculum includes a hardcover Reader with full-color maps and text, and a digital or CD-based Companion Guide. Lessons are designed to be concise, around 10–15 pages of reading, ensuring manageability for older students. The Companion Guide provides all the resources a parent needs, making the curriculum highly flexible and complete. It includes multiple scheduling options (16-week, 32-week, and 64-week formats), a grading rubric, answer keys, quizzes, and a final exam. Furthermore, it incorporates hands-on project options, research questions, map work ("atlas building"), and note-taking pages, allowing for a variety of learning styles and enabling students to take ownership of their learning.