> An interesting contest about geography is what I call the "blank map" (by the way, it was one of my favourite school contests when I was 7). Draw a map of your country that shows only the borders and natural items (mountains, lakes, rivers), then:
> - point out the exact position of the Capital city and write its name (+3 points correct answer, -3 points wrong answer).
> - write the name the neighbouring States in their correct position along the border line (+2 correct, -2 wrong).
> - point out any other major city in the same way.
> (+2 correct, -1 wrong)
> - write the name of each lake, river, etc.
> (+1 correct, 0 wrong)
> - point out the highest mountains, their name and their height.
> (+1 correct, 0 wrong)
> - compare your work with the real map and sum your points (missed items count as wrong ones).


I hated those in middle school. My teacher would give them out all the time, but the maps were tiny compressed black and white things where you couldn't make anything out. I'd just guess, I'd write, say, mount everest in really big letters in the general area of where I though it was. I actually did ok on them, but they were too stressful.