Last Updated on October 6, 2023 by Editorial Team
Geography in middle school covers topics related to landforms, water bodies, climates, cultures, countries, flags, etc. Although not meant to replace traditional textbook learning, online games can be an effective supplemental tool to teach and assess geographical knowledge.
These interactive learning tools can be used after discussing a topic to let students practice what they have learned. Besides helping kids understand geographical concepts, online games refine their map reading skills.
Short sessions of online games are ideal for middle schoolers. Fun and interactive games take the pressure off and allow students to tackle the subject in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere. So, let us take you through our picks of interesting geography-related games to play online.
Engaging geography games for middle schoolers to play online
Here is a list of popular and engaging games students can play online to brush up on their understanding of geographical concepts.
1. USA: Rivers
The US has several rivers. Play this game to learn about the different rivers flowing within the country and know their exact locations. The game displays a map indicating rivers in the country. You are given the name of a river which you have to identify and click on. Don’t worry if you do not get it right. The correct location of the river starts blinking if you fail to get the right answer.
2. Wonders
Zoomtastic brings this online game to scale up your geography knowledge. A map appears on the screen, which zooms in gradually. You have to then identify the location from the choices you get on screen. You will also get a few hints like a hemisphere, picture, and country flag to give you an idea of the correct answer. Remember! It is a time-bound game. So, keep your eyes on the timer as well.
3. Amazon Rainforest Digital Scavenger Hunt
Here is a game that allows you to enjoy the thrill of a scavenger hunt while boosting your geographical knowledge. The theme of this scavenger hunt is the great Amazon rainforest. An interactive on Amazon rainforests is made available to you with tons of information on it. Simultaneously, you get the scavenger hunt questions, the answers to which are hidden in the interactive module. Select the correct answer if you know it already, or read through the module to hunt for the right answer!
4. World: Oceans, Seas, and Lakes
Water bodies are a crucial part of the earth. This online map game is a nice way to identify the locations of different water bodies on our planet. Different water bodies are pointed out on the map. You must identify the correct water body corresponding to the question. If you click on the wrong location, you can try until you click on the correct location.
5. World: 21 Major Cities
This is another map quiz game by Seterra where you get to test how well you know the major cities of the world. Cities like London, Paris, Sydney, and New York are covered in the game. Learning about cities and their locations can be boring, but this game helps you remember them by displaying related images when you give a correct answer. All you need to do is scroll over the map until you identify all the major cities.
6. The US: Geophysical Regions
Geography also involves the study of various geophysical forms on Earth. In this game, you get to learn and identify the geophysical regions in the US. Covering a large land mass, the country is adorned with fascinating physical features like the Appalachian Mountains, Central Lowlands, Atlantic Coastal Plains, etc. Take out a few minutes to play this game and learn about the USA’s geophysical regions.
7. RubyCave
RubyCave is a simple yet challenging game to test your knowledge of the flags of different countries in the world. A flag is displayed on the screen, and you are given four choices. You must pick the correct answer to move to the next question. Each player gets three lives in the game. Give three wrong answers, and you will have to start all over again. If you score well, your name may be displayed on the leaderboard of the top 20 players in the game.
8. USA Map Challenge
This game challenges your map skills wherein you need to place a state’s outline onto the entire map of the USA in its correct position. A timer notes how long you are taking to complete the game. You also get visual clues telling you the correct position of the state in case you don’t know where a state is. The simple drag-and-drop feature lets you enjoy this game with ease.
9. Mountain Ranges of the World
This game concentrates on different mountain ranges found across the globe. If you’re not aware of them all, you have the option to learn where each one is located through the ‘map’ option displayed on the initial screen. After you have had a look at the map, you can take on the challenge of locating them on the map on your own.
The names of mountain ranges appear one after the other, and you must identify them correctly. Worry not if you don’t get it right in one go because the game allows you to take as many attempts as you would like to get to the right answer.
10. Countries in Europe
Here is a map game that aids in learning about different countries in Europe. The game displays the name of one European country at a time, and you are required to locate its position on the map. You get a total of four chances to answer. If still incorrect, the question is marked incorrect. The color variations on the map help you easily identify a country in this simple yet engaging game.
11. River Courses
This game is all about rivers and their features. The game covers topics like river features, identifying whether a feature is present in the upper, middle, or lower course of a river, erosion, and deposition. The question includes an image that you need to see and answer accordingly. This online game can be used after a lesson on rivers and its features are discussed in class or at home.
12. Matching: Countries
National Geographic Kids brings this stimulating online game wherein you must match countries, locations, etc. Six cards are displayed on the screen. You need to flip them open one by one and find their matching pair. When you are done matching the pairs, you get to learn a country fact in the end. There are other games as well that involve spotting the differences and finding what goes together.
13. World: 196 Countries
Test your knowledge of different countries around the world with this interesting interactive online game. The game consists of 196 questions, and each question requires you to identify a country on the map. You get three tries for every question.
If you don’t get it right, you have the option to see the answer and improve your knowledge base. This game is a great option to test how well you know the countries. Your score will indicate the effort you need to put in to get a full score in the future.
Final words
Like students of other age groups, middle school students can also benefit by engaging with different learning tools. Online games can be used in collaboration with textbook learning at schools and at home to build a strong foundation in the subject.
Topics like countries, capitals, flags, etc., can be a little tedious to memorize right from textbooks. By utilizing interactive online games, students can learn these topics effectively. Hopefully, the above list of games has given you sufficient choices to practice geography lessons in your curriculum in a fun and exciting way.
I am Priyanka Sonkushre, a writer and blogger. I am the person behind “One Loving Mama,” a mom blog. Equipped with a Bachelor’s degree along with an MBA, my healthcare background helps me deeply understand learning difficulties. I know how challenging it can be for parents to find the right resources to help their children excel in life. So, here I am to blend my healthcare expertise with my parenting experience to create valuable and helpful resources for parents and teachers supporting children with learning differences. If you wish, you can follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.