Where We Live: A Home Geography

"Where We Live" by Emilie Van Beil Jacobs is a home geography textbook written in the early 20th century. The book is designed to teach children about their immediate environment, focusing on familiar concepts of geography that gradually expand to a broader understanding of the world. It emphasizes the importance of engaging with the local surroundings to build a foundation for more complex geographical ideas. The content of "Where We Live" is structured into parts that guide young learners through their geographic study, beginning with their school, neighborhood, and the various types of people and industries that inhabit their town. It encourages observational learning, asking students to describe and engage with their surroundings—inclusive of streets, buildings, and natural features. The second part encompasses broader topics such as the Earth as a whole, the seasons, geographical zones, and countries of North America. With a focus on experiential learning, the book introduces maps, transport, and industry while highlighting the interdependence between local resources and the global community.