Following current events inspires a natural interest in geography. After reading a story about the latest events in the Balkans, kids will want to know where Bosnia really is. And how close are Haiti and Cuba to the United States anyway?

You can easily keep track of world events by using a simple globe or map. For added effect, attach colored Post-it notes to your map to geographically track environmental (green), political (blue) or social (yellow) news.

This map can also serve as a backdrop for a family news show. Kids love to pretend they're news anchors, pointing out locations and recapping news for the "television audience" at the dinner table. Different family members can serve as correspondents for entertainment news, the Pentagon and the environment, for example, and can deliver their own segments on the show.

For a little extra goofiness, you can transform a cardboard box into a television set that correspondents can wear on their heads while delivering reports. First, cut a hole the size and shape of a television screen in the front of the box, then paint the inside-back of the box black, and glue cloth strips on the bottom so it will fit over the reporter's shoulders and hold the set in place.