Impressionistic Charts Level 9-12

• No Lamination Required.
• Printed on Premium Thick Plastic and Cut.
  
• This material is ready to start using. No other prep work is needed.

Upper elementary students are ready for geography that feels big, connected, and real. This set was created for that moment—when a beautiful chart, a compelling story, and a simple hands-on experiment can launch deeper research, writing, mapping, and discussion.

Quick “teacher answer”

• Level: Upper Elementary (ages 9–12)

• What it is: A complete Geography Impressionistic Chart set for Chapters 4–6 (Atmosphere, Work of Wind, Hydrosphere)

• What’s included: 30 full-size charts (Charts 29–60) plus Working Chart #37

• Format: Printed on premium thick plastic, pre-cut, no lamination required—ready to use immediately

• Card size: 8.5" x 11" (whole cards)

• Teacher support: Presentation notes plus experiments that help students experience the concepts, not just memorize them

Built for daily classroom use

These charts come on thick plastic and are already cut, so you can move from box to lesson without prep. The material is durable for repeated handling—ideal for small-group presentations, follow-up work on shelves, and ongoing reference during student research.

What the set covers (organized by Montessori chapter flow)

Chapter 4 — The Atmosphere and Its Phenomena (Winds & precipitation patterns)

Students build a clear, visual understanding of how winds form and how they shape climate:

• Formation of wind, high/low pressure systems, and regular winds

• Local winds (sea breeze and land breeze)

• Seasonal wind patterns and the distribution of precipitation (including monsoon concepts)

• Working Chart #37 supports student practice and independent skill-building with wind patterns

Chapter 5 — The Work of Wind (and the ocean connection)

This section connects wind to Earth systems that students can observe on real maps:

• Cold and warm marine currents

• Current “nomenclature” (a clear naming/route reference chart)

• Erosive power of wind (weathering and erosion concepts that lead naturally into landform study)

Chapter 6 — The Hydrosphere and Its Phenomena (Water as a shaping force)

Students follow water through the atmosphere, land, and living systems:

• How rain forms (desert conditions, local rain, evaporation, condensation)

• The world’s major rivers and continental river systems

• Water erosion and landforms (alluvial valleys, canyons, erosion pillars)

• Frost and thaw as powerful “quiet” forces that change rock and landscapes

• Glaciers and glacial landforms (valleys, moraines, hanging valleys)

• The water cycle and a memorable “Games of Water” story that students often quote back in writing

• Water and plants: how water availability shapes vegetation across the planet

The stories and “impressions” students remember

Impressionistic charts are meant to capture imagination first, then invite analysis. Several charts in this set use short, vivid storytelling to help students remember complex processes:

• “Frost: Like a Young Boy” and “The Thaw” make freeze/thaw weathering feel concrete and relatable

• “Games of Water” frames the water cycle as movement, return, and transformation—an image students can carry into research and creative writing

• The Cycle of Water chart lays out the process with enough detail to support serious follow-up work while still feeling approachable

Experiments that strengthen understanding (examples)

The included experiments are designed to be practical, classroom-friendly, and directly tied to chart concepts—so students aren’t just hearing explanations; they’re seeing the process unfold.
Examples include:

• A simple investigation to show gases in the atmosphere (and what combustion needs)

• A hands-on model for the Coriolis effect

• A clear demonstration of local breezes using land vs. water heating

• Hydrosphere investigations that connect directly to rain formation and water movement

How teachers typically use this set

A common and effective flow looks like this:

1. Present the chart in a small group (short, calm, compelling)

2. Read or share the story/explanation to create the “impression”

3. Run the matching experiment so students experience the concept

4. Offer follow-up choices: vocabulary, labeling, mapping, research questions, and writing prompts

5. Use Working Chart #37 for practice and independent skill development with wind patterns

This approach supports multiple learning styles—visual, verbal, and hands-on—while giving students a strong foundation for higher-level thinking and real-world connections (climate, landforms, ecosystems, and human settlement patterns).

A note on “Large Charts” vs. this set

If you’ve seen the large-format version of these charts, it’s helpful to know the difference: the large-only package is designed for display/presentation, while this complete Impressionistic Charts Level 9–12 set is the better fit when you want the full teaching support (notes and experiments) alongside the charts.
 

RESOURCES

Look at our Geography Flow Chart for Upper Elementary to see how this work fits in with the traditional Montessori geography curriculum 

Working Chart #37

STANDARDS

View the Standards met through this material.

SUGGESTED CONTAINERS

6 Clear Snap Envelopes - Large