Exploring Water in the World is a simple yet beautifully thought-out 70+ page geography book that includes 16 lessons designed to cover the Year 7 Australian Curriculum Geography outcomes. What I like about this program is that it keeps geography both practical and enjoyable. This is a balance every homeschool parent strives for. My hope in sharing this ‘Exploring Water in the World homeschool geography review’ is that it helps you see how this resource can bring the topic of water to life in your own homeschool.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this resource from My Homeschool for review purposes. All opinions are my own and reflect my honest experience.
Curriculum Alignment & Scope
This Year 7 and 8 homeschool geography program is fully aligned with the Australian Curriculum (v9) and meets the requirements of the Stage 4 NSW Curriculum, as well as the Western Australian and Victorian frameworks. That means parents can feel confident knowing this resource ticks all the curriculum boxes for early high school geography, no matter which state they’re in.
This Australian homeschool geography curriculum includes:
- 16 lessons
- 2 optional exams
- Answer key
- Full-colour photographic images
- Maps and diagrams
- Curriculum alignment details
It’s flexible too. You can complete it over one or two terms, depending on your schedule and how deeply your child wants to explore each concept.
Geography Topics Covered
This water geography unit for homeschoolers takes students on a journey across the world, exploring how water connects and shapes our planet. Topics include:
- Understanding water around the world
- The Hydrological Cycle
- Topographic maps
- How water shapes the land
- Water scarcity and its impacts
- Finding water in the Australian outback
- Healthy water catchments
- Water in Morocco and Vietnam’s water challenges
- Climate graphs
- Water hazards and floods, including the Lismore floods
- Engineering against floods
- When people change the weather
It’s both local and global, encouraging students to think beyond Australia while still grounding learning in real-world examples.
Quality and Presentation
I really appreciate the clean and uncluttered layout of this program. Each page is visually appealing and rich with information, but never overwhelming. The coloured photographs, maps, and diagrams enhance understanding without distracting from the content.
Each lesson is presented as a narrative reading, which immediately drew me in. For example, Lesson 4 opens with:
Imagine standing on a hill at sunrise. Below you, the land rolls out like a patchwork quilt. The valleys are misted with dew and the ridgelines are shadowed blue. From where you stand, you can see how the ground rises and falls and how rivers wind through the lowlands. The landscape tells its own story.
This narrative style transforms what could be a dry topic into a living story. Students are encouraged to make reflective entries in their own notebooks or journals after each lesson, which helps them process what they’ve learned and think more deeply about the material.
Hands-on components are minimal but meaningful, for instance, constructing and analysing a climate graph and maintaining a geography journal. If you prefer a more hands-on approach, you can easily supplement with documentaries, local excursions, or experiments to bring certain lessons to life.
Two optional exams are included. While not essential, they provide an opportunity to demonstrate understanding or collect work samples for homeschool reporting or portfolios.
Teaching Style & Philosophy
The approach reflects a Charlotte Mason-inspired philosophy, which is learning through story, observation, and reflection rather than rote worksheets. Students absorb information through rich narratives and then express their understanding through written narrations or oral discussions.
Strengths & What Works Well
- Open-and-go format. Just add a notebook or journal
- Simple, clean layout with clear explanations
- Engaging use of narrative, images, and maps
- Covers global and Australian perspectives
- Optional exams included
- No busywork or worksheets
Limitations & Things To Consider
- Requires regular written narrations, which may not suit every student (although these can easily be replaced with oral discussions)
- Does not include video links or hands-on project ideas, so you may wish to supplement
- Available only in paperback format through the My Homeschool Amazon storefront
Costs & Formats Available
At $33 AUD (approximately $21.50 USD), this resource offers value for an aligned and thoughtfully written geography program. It’s currently available in paperback only through My Homeschool’s Amazon store.
Who This Is Best For
Exploring Water in the World from My Homeschool will particularly appeal to families using a Charlotte Mason or living books approach, especially those with a child who enjoys reading, reflecting, and writing. Most 13- or 14-year-olds could complete the lessons independently, with parents checking in on journal entries and leading short follow-up discussions.
Tips for Making the Most of It
I recommend allowing one to two terms to complete the program. The 16 lessons lend themselves perfectly to a gentle pace, especially if you add enrichment activities such as documentaries, science experiments, or novels that tie in with the water theme.
Although it’s primarily a geography resource, it also naturally weaves in science, mathematics, and history, giving it a multidisciplinary appeal.
See Inside Exploring Water In The World
Final Thoughts
For such a simple book, I was genuinely impressed by how much depth is packed inside. Exploring Water in the World moves beyond the typical textbook approach, offering meaningful stories and real-world examples that connect students with the role water plays in shaping life on Earth.
It’s engaging, well written, and easy to use, everything a homeschool parent hopes for in a geography program. I hope that this Exploring Water in the World homeschool geography review has been helpful. Be sure to take a look at all the reviews and demos we have available.
To find out more from My Homeschool, see their detailed listing inside the Homeschool Resource Directory.
