If any of the students at Jenkins Elementary School run for office, they'll be a step ahead of Alaska Gov. and once-Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin.
No one can accuse them of thinking Africa is a country instead of a continent.
It's one of the first lessons that comes with the world's largest map of the continent, said P.E. Teacher Kerri Howe.
Sock-footed students at Jenkins are learning about Africa, its geography and its culture courtesy of the interactive map on loan to the school from National Geographic. The school opens its doors to the public Monday to give other students a virtual trip to Africa.
Children can walk on the vinyl map, which is 35 feet long, about the length of a school bus. National Geographic also supplies music, videos, books and activities to make the experience less like map reading and more like a life-size board game. National Geographic calls it a hands-on, feet-on activity.
On Friday, first graders slid across the equator and around the coastline, keeping a sharp eye out for deserts, lakes and rivers.
One or two of them might have initially confused the northwest country of Mauritania for Mexico, but they left knowing it can snow on African mountaintops and the Nile River empties into the Mediterranean Sea.
Jenkins Principal Stephanie Feller said the map is a good opportunity to enhance geography lessons in schools and help kids understand more about a country they're likely to hear about in the news.
Feller said the lessons provided by National Geographic will be available to parents who bring their children to see the map Monday. She and another teacher also will be on hand to tailor activities to the age groups that show up.
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