Photograph by National Geographic Studio
What's the best way for students to prepare for the Bee? Here are some tips from the National Geographic Bee Official Study Guide:
• Getting Geographic Activities: Teachers can use these activities in the classroom to prepare students for the bee!
• Investigating the School Neighborhood
• Exploring Landscapes Beneath the Oceans
• Reading Highway Maps
• Creating a State Postcard
• Constructing/Interpreting Climate Graphs
• Geography in the News
• Investigating Big Cats at Risk
• Comparing Density and Distribution
• Constructing 3-Dimensional Maps
• Understanding Time Zones
• Constructing and Interpreting Population Pyramids
• Tracing Migration Routes
• Locating Highest U.S. Elevations
• Interpreting “Earth at Night” Images
• Mapping Global Urbanization
• Tracking Violent Storms
• Exploring Diffusion in Your Community
• Get the Necessary Tools: A good, up-to-date world map, atlas, and geography reference book are your best study tools, along with blank outline maps with which to practice locating places.
• Learn Map Terminology: Understanding what you're looking at and correctly reading labels and coordinates on a map are essential.
• Understand the Interconnectedness of Geography: Subdivisions of geography, such as physical features, climate, and culture, are all influenced by each other. Once you understand this, it will be easier to categorize and remember information about countries and regions.
• Follow Current Events: News items regarding political upheavals, international agreements, and discoveries are fair game for Bee questions, so make sure you are an informed citizen of the world. See our National Geographic News site for recent stories.
• Analyze the Questions: Visit our Sample Questions page to see the types of questions asked in the Bee and to learn how you can look for clues within the questions to help you figure out the right answers.
• Keep Geography Fun: There are many games you can play to help study for the Bee. Check out the GeoBee Challenge, with ten new questions each day, and GeoSpy, to test your map skills.
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Google Earth Presents
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What Can You Do With Geography?
A look behind the scenes into why geography matters, as students around the country prepare for the 2012 National Geographic Bee.
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For Teachers and Parents
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How Schools Register
Principals of schools in the U.S. with any of the grades four through eight are eligible to register their schools to receive contest materials for a school-level Bee.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering how to register for the Bee or how to prepare? Our "Frequently Asked Questions" have the answers!
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Study Corner
What's the best way for students to prepare for the Bee? Here are some tips from the National Geographic Bee.
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Sample Questions
Answer sample questions from the National Geographic Bee, and get ideas on how to look for clues within the questions that can help you figure out the right answers.
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Student Activities
Teachers can use these activities in the classroom to prepare students for the bee!
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Geo-Scavenger Hunt
Simply memorizing terms and place locations can be tedious and even boring. One solution is to make the task fun with an atlas-based scavenger game.
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Exploring Diffusion
The movement of people, goods, or ideas from one place to another is a process known as diffusion, which plays an important role in shaping the characteristics of where we live.
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Tracking Violent Storms
Springtime brings the possibility of extreme weather, including violent thunderstorms and tornadoes.