What Reviewers Say

Reviewers overwhelmingly praise 'Mapping the World with Art' for its unique ability to teach complex geography through kinesthetic drawing. Cathy Duffy and various homeschool bloggers highlight the curriculum's 'stealth learning' approach, where students internalize global proportions by drawing maps from scratch. While the videos are highly regarded for their clarity, some forum users on The Well-Trained Mind note that the historical readings are relatively short and may need supplementation if used as a primary history credit. The consensus is that it is an exceptional elective or geography supplement that turns a dry subject into an artistic accomplishment, making it particularly effective for visual learners and students who typically struggle with memorization-heavy geography.

How It Works

A typical lesson begins with the student reading a short, two-page historical story that provides context for the region being studied, followed by a step-by-step video drawing lesson. The student follows the video instructions on a blank sheet of paper, pausing as needed to replicate specific lines and landforms to build a map from scratch. A single session generally takes 40 to 60 minutes, and the only required materials are plain paper, a pencil, an eraser, and colored pencils for shading. The parent's role is minimal, acting primarily as a facilitator to ensure the video is cued up, though many parents choose to draw their own maps alongside their children to make it a joint activity.

Switching to This?

Because this is a single-level elective rather than a multi-year sequence, the publisher does not offer a placement test; families simply start with Lesson 1 and work through the 30 lessons in order. It is most appropriate for students in grades 5-10, though artistic younger students can participate with parental help. Families can easily start this curriculum mid-year as a supplement or a dedicated geography elective because each lesson is self-contained. Parents switching from a standard textbook program should prepare for a shift in focus: instead of memorizing lists of capitals from a map, students will be learning to visualize and recreate global proportions through kinesthetic movement.

Curriculum Details

Price

$14 - $44

Digital download for curriculum only is $14.95; digital bundle with videos is $29.90. Physical book is $29.95, and physical book with DVD is approximately $44.95.

Grades

5 - 10

Available As

Digital Print Video Workbook

Coverage

Single subject

Subjects

History/Social Studies Art

---

Pacing

Flexible

Parent Time

5-15 min/day

Parent Involvement

Minimal

Student Independence

Semi-independent

---

Academic Level

Above grade level

Worldview

Neutral

Teach Multiple Ages

Yes

Engaging for Reluctant Learners

Yes

Videos

Reviews We Consulted

Updated: March 2026

How This Compares

Compared to the 'Draw the World' series, which uses a printed book of static diagrams, McHenry provides video instruction that is often more helpful for students who struggle to visualize where a line should begin or end. When weighed against 'Trail Guide to World Geography,' which is a research-based program involving atlases and almanacs, this curriculum is much more focused on art and 'stealth learning' through drawing rather than data retrieval. Parents looking at 'Memoria Press Geography' will find that while Memoria Press focuses on the rigorous memorization of political boundaries and facts, McHenry’s program prioritizes the physical shapes of landmasses and their historical discovery. Against literature-rich programs like 'Beautiful Feet Books,' this curriculum is far more hands-on and better suited for visual or kinesthetic learners who prefer 'doing' over long periods of reading. Finally, compared to 'Map Trek,' which uses pre-drawn maps for labeling, McHenry requires students to start with a blank page, which results in a much deeper internalization of global geography.

Getting Started