In our efforts to provide products that will service you and your family, we are considering carrying a general atlas that will suffice for all year-plans. We have previewed several different types of products and would like your feedback.

NOTE: Almost all historical atlases have a section, even if just a few pages, that is contrary to the beliefs of creationists.

Please feel free to make additional comments after taking the survey. Thanks so much for your help!

Question:
Which answer most closely describes your current practice when directing your children to complete outline maps?

Choices:
I never ask my children to search for map labels in an atlas.
I let my children use the answer keys in MapAids to find the locations for their map labels.
I typically let my children use Internet links as reference for their map labels.
My children use history books that contain maps to complete their geography work.
They most frequently use an atlas that I own to locate map labels.
I direct my children to use a combination of Internet links, history resources, and an atlas when completing outline maps.

Question:
If you have used an atlas in the past, what type did you use?

Choices:
I have never used/don't own an atlas.
We used an historical atlas that is keyed to the time frame we were studying and could be used for all grade levels.
We used an historical atlas that is keyed to the time frame we were studying but was designed for a narrow span of grade levels (younger child or older child versions).
We used an historical atlas that covers all of known world history for all grade levels.
We used an historical atlas that covers all of known world history for a narrow span of grade levels (younger child or older child versions).
We used a general atlas (rather than an historical one) for all grade levels.
We used a general atlas (rather than an historical one) for a narrow span of grade levels.

Question:
If you chose NOT to use an atlas, why did you make that decision?

Choices:
I did use an atlas, as indicated above.
I bought MapAids, and I let my student use the teacher key to find his answers.
I don’t want to take up space with another book on my shelves.
I don’t want to spend the money on another book for my home library.
I use reference tools from the library.
Most of the books we use for History have enough maps to complete the assignment.
My children use the Internet and learn valuable research skills while completing their map work.

Question:
If Lampstand Press sold an atlas, which type would you most likely buy?

Choices:
I would not buy any kind of atlas.
I would prefer the one-time purchase of a durable, long-lasting atlas that all of my children could use, regardless of the year-plan used, and regardless of their grade level. (These sell for around $75-85 and are laid out similar to Holman's Bible Atlas
I would prefer to buy several historical atlases that are geared toward particular learning levels, but that each span all of history and therefore can be used for any year-plan. (Atlases of this nature sell for around $15-$20 each.)
I would prefer to buy several historical atlases that each encompass a particular time frame but can be used for all of my children, regardless of their grade level. (Atlases of this nature sell for around $15-$20 each.)
I would prefer to buy one general atlas for all ages that shows landforms but does not cover any specific time frame and will fill in historical data with other resources when necessary. (Atlases of this nature sell for $20-$30)

 

I think this is a most needed resource! Thank you for addressing it.

I voted that we use a general atlas in Q#2. Actually, we own and use several atlases; general and historical. I've never found the historical atlas much use, frankly.

Also, I voted that we would buy the general atlas around $20 - 30. The price is right, but if you get what you pay for, I would pay $75 for an atlas that contained all the information that it should. We can rarely find all the landforms or places that we are looking for when completing our geography assignments.

We've gone through several kinds of atlases trying to find something that works for us. We ended up with a little of everything -- and use all of it at some time or another. We heavily use the general world atlas and a general US atlas for landforms and such. Sadly, the ones that contain everything imaginable in them are nearly impossible for my LG and UG children to use independently. I've opted to have something they can easily use themselves and then to ask me for ideas on where to find the items that weren't in the atlas. We try to use historical atlases (I love looking through them myself!). Unfortunately, the same problem applies. Again, I've opted for something more age-appropriate and then using the internet or other sources to fill in the rest. I only let them see the MapAids answer map if we've looked in several places and can't find an answer. I firmly believe that learning how to find information is more important than simply transferring information from one place to another.

I'd strongly prefer to have a well-done, comprehensive atlas that did not require a magnifying glass to use. I'd gladly pay $75-80 for a really good one that'll take me all the way through our homeschooling adventure.

By the way, THANK YOU for thinking of these things!!!! It's such a pleasure to deal with a company that doesn't wait for complaints but is always looking for ways to better serve their customers.

Blessings,
Monica

We also have several different ones we use. We have a huge, expensive Nat'l Geographic Family Atlas that has all the nations and landforms etc etc. We love it. We also own a Bible Atlas, as the general one doesn't usually have specific Bible locations. We have some elementary atlases that we use as introductions to maps and learning things in a bigger print--they are also more transportable than our big one. We also use the library....

Can you tell that my dad LOVES maps and passed that on to me?

In terms of TOG offerings, I think a good elementary atlas, a good Bible atlas, and some sort of good "grown up" atlas-whether that would be several smaller, specific ones, or one giant one- would provide what we need for school.

I had hoped that you would be offering an atlas through the Bookshelf! I am just starting out with TOG this fall, and I don't have a clue what would be appropriate for the kids' geography studies. I figure you have a lot better idea about what works best with your curriculum and what works best with each learning stage. I'm eager to see what you come up with.

While I'm on the subject, will you be considering student dictionaries for the Bookshelf? I'd like that, too.

Peace--
Julie in AZ

I definitely think you should offer an atlas through the Bookshelf. We have a number of atlases and use them all:

• Oxford World Atlas of the Past (all levels)
• National Geographic World Atlas for Young Explorers (LG-UG)
• National Geographic United States Atlas for Young Explorers (LG-UG)
• National Geographic Family Reference Atlas (D-R)
• Holman Bible Atlas (D-R)

We do not use the historical atlas very much. We use the general atlases all the time, and we used the Holman Bible Atlas throughout year 1.

I would recommend a general atlas for LG-UG, a general atlas for D-R, and the Holman Bible Atlas.

HTH!

We have an atlas that we are so unhappy with, The Rand Mcnally Premeir World Atlas. It devotes way too much space to the United States by way of states therefore our larger states get short shrift on the details and you can't find anything in Asia and Africa. I was watching a Nova about flowering plants and learned about the origins of many of my favorite flowers. It is a valley in China. I couldn't find it in the map. That is just one of the latest examples. We have a eight more years of homeschooling to go and have one rh and one d but we will be using our good Atlas for our lifetime since both Dh and I love to learn.

THANK YOU... The subject of a good family atlas has been one that I have revisited over and over. My children are all lower grammar and I have an older Bible atlas from Bible college, but as we are beginning year 2 I am earnestly looking for a good historical atlas. At the same time, I am willing to invest in a worthwhile atlas that is relevent to current issues. Is National Geographic the way to go? What historical atlases do you recommend? I'm only waiting for convincing opinion one way or the other to influence us toward a good reference book to add to our developing library. I'm not overly concerned about getting a reference that is specific to my grammar aged kids, by the way, as I send them right to the collegiate Webster's dictionary when they need to look up a word and they do fine. Oh, to have some good, useful maps in the house! PLEASE advise.....

Melissa (Wife to Dominic, Mother to Josiah (worshipping before The Throne), Leah (7), Dominic (5), Elena (3), Johanna (1) and one-on-the-way)

I love that you are considering selling an atlas that would be specific to TOG. I would definitely buy the all-comprehensive one, and maybe even one geared toward LG and UG. Right now for TOG, I just print out the Teacher's key and we look at the area studied for the week because I don't have any "older" kids yet. We use the Moody Atlas of Bible lands, but that is very time specific. We also subscribe to God's World News which comes with a big wall map each year. We can look at the map for current events...Thanks, Guinever

I'm glad you're considering this. I was frustrated last year by having to search for maps online, and since my oldest is LG, I didn't find the maps in Map Aids to have enough context. I ended up referring most to a world-map placemat that we use at meal times! "Yes, Dear, that's Egypt right beneath the blob of jelly."

It would be great if sold an atlas that is good for all levels and I'm sure I'd buy it.

The internet links are great resources for maps and only very rarely have I had to resort to the the Map Aids Teacher's Map (I love Map Aids, by the way.) So far this year (Year 3) the internet has supplied all my son has needed. But I would still buy an atlas so he could take it with him, etc, etc.