I think we've exceeded the allowable limits of fun here this Friday! ~grin~

Grab a comfy chair,  invite the kids to join you, and prepare to embark on a journey of FUN, ADVENTURE and LEARNING!

We've offered up a smorgasbord of boisterous geography games that really are out of this world! 

 Your ticket is as close as a click away!

Geospy

Offered online by National Geographic, this "spy-like" game is visually very appealing to young people and addresses them by name for each answer.  Go spying around the world--the stop watch is clicking! 

Seterra 

FREE Software to download and learn geography in a fun (addictive!) way! (Our family LOVES this game and plays it throughout the day, everyday!) HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Seterra is a challenging geography program with 70 different exercises. Learn about countries, capitals, flags and cities in Africa, Europe, South America, North America, Asia and Australia, using outline map exercises!

Examples of exercises: countries in Europe; American states; American state capitals; French cities; cities in Mexico; countries in Asia, etc, etc...  Monitors and keeps tracks of your scores!

GeoNet 

For grades 4 to adult, an intriguing game that requires more of you than simply knowing places on a map. Learn about culture, population and interdependence,  physical and human characteristics, human-environmental actions and MUCH more--for every region in the world!! Five stars

The Geography Challenge 

From the Geographyzone.com 

• Join the geography challenge to represent your country in the world’s largest online geography contest. It is not necessary to be a member to do so.
• Become a member for FREE and receive these additional benefits!
  • Track your personal stats in the Geography Zone's Leaderboards
  • Create private geography contests for your classroom, school or family
  • Get informed about the latest information about the site
  And to actually GO traveling into God's GLORIOUS world, click the video below to experience a mind-boggling sandstorm in Iraq! Geographers traveling with  ACG2: Explore the  Holy Land  will have read of such a phenomena as they explored the country of Iraq...  The power of our God...
  

AL ASAD, Iraq (April 26, 2005) -- A dust storm similar to special effects on the big screen bellowed across the western desert of Iraq on April 26. The storm was spawned near the border of Syria and Jordan. Forward Operating Base Korean Village experienced tornadoes around 2 p.m. The storm moved in a northeasterly direction until it reached Al Asad (about 180 km (110 miles) west of Baghdad) around 6:45. Weather forecasters here described the storm as a downburst. "A downburst is a strong downdraft resulting in an outward burst of damaging winds at ground level," said Gunnery Sgt. John B. Badeaux, weather forecaster for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing (Forward). "Downburst winds can produce damage similar to a strong tornado," he added. The ensuing storm increased energy as the winds pushed over the desert, which created a wall of dirt. According to weather officials a dust storm this strong is extremely rare for this region of Iraq. Badeaux said these types of conditions make forecasting difficult in a desert environment. "There are absolutely no indicators that allow forecasters to confidently predict the timing and intensity of a storm like this." According to forecasters, thunderstorms were observed on satellite 30 to 40 miles from Al Asad. However, no thunderstorms or tornadoes were recorded on the air base. As the storm moved closer the sky changed to a shade of orange until total darkness blanketed the ground. The storm passed over in about 45 minutes, leaving a heavy sheet of dust in its wake. Forecaster say the wall of dust may have reached 4,000 to 5,000 feet.

The sandstorm approached at around 60 mph (95 km/h)engulfed people, buildings and equipment.

Feel free to leave a link in the comment box if you have a link to your own Restoring Wonder post that will inspire us all to spark curiosity and wonder in learning... And join us next Friday for another video and inspiration that will Restore Wonder!

(Restoring Wonder is a weekly Friday feature at ACG. Check out A Sweet Life for more Restoring Wonder inspiration).