Globes have always been a fixture in classrooms across America, both to teach geography and as decoration. Who doesn’t remember finding various countries on a colorful classroom globe? Today’s most educational globes, however, use modern technology to bring to life geography, language, and culture in ways we never could have dream of in elementary school.
They’re also perfect tools for parents who wish to encourage their children’s curiosity about the world. Children and adults alike find their interactive interfaces fun and engrossing. Oregon Scientific makes some of the best smart globes available. Below is our ranking of five of the best Oregon Scientific Smart Globes on the market.
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What is the best Oregon Scientific Smart Globe ?
Here’s our Picks for the Top 5 Smart Globes from Oregon Scientific:
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Oregon Scientific Smart Globe Adventure AR SG268R. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon.
Taking the first spot on our list is the No products found.. This globe provides a multi-sensory experience for young learners. Children can use the attached pen to touch all over the globe and its base to learn facts about the countries and bodies of water around the world. Its portability makes it perfect for both classroom and home use, or taking to school for show and tell. It operates on 3 AA batteries, which are included.
An extra special feature of this globe is the augmented reality app that is not available with some other models. This app allows children to see animals, dinosaurs, and landmarks, and even take their pictures with them. Other features include a quiz mode and multi-language support.
Users rave about how much geography their children have learned since playing with this toy, including capital cities and official languages. They say it is engaging and entertaining for children as well.
This globe takes our number one spot due to the following useful features: an attached pen that is hard to lose, its lightness, the included batteries, and a cool virtual reality app.
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Oregon Scientific SG338R SmartGlobe Explorer AR . Click the photo to see the price on Amazon.
Next up is the No products found.. The Oregon Scientific SG338R Smart Globe Explorer AR includes many of the same features as the SG338R model, including the augmented reality app and multiple language options. One additional and extremely cool feature of this globe is the ability to open it up to see the earth’s inner core and learn about the planets in outer space. It also comes with a wireless Bluetooth touch pen, which allows children to explore states and different countries using digital touch points on the globe.
Reviewers felt that this globe was educational and engaging, although some found the virtual reality app not as functional as they expected. Users also point out that, unlike some other globes, this one includes all of the states in the United States. Teachers and parents alike can tailor their kids’ learning depending on grade level and age by focusing on different skills or parts of the world. It boasts 20,000+ “fun facts,” appropriate for all ages, from children ages 5-15. Adults also report their enjoyment of learning along with their children.
The advantages of this globe include its expansive fact library, wireless Bluetooth pen, and the ability to learn about the earth’s inner core and outer space in addition to geography.
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Oregon Scientific SmartGlobe Discovery SG268. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon.
The No products found. is a simpler globe with fewer functions than the others on our list. It includes just around 2,000 facts about world geography that can be learned through nineteen fun-filled games. This globe also does not have the same ability to translate into multiple languages. It is an English-only learning tool.
Children can explore the world, and the United States, through a SmartGlobe pen that works both on the globe and the base. Worried about your child losing the pen? The pen on this model is attached, making it a good choice for younger children. At 3.88 pounds, it is lightweight for use at home or in the classroom.
Reviewers say their children of all ages enjoy this globe, from 5-year-olds to high school students, although it is recommended for ages 6 through 12. They say there are plenty of activities, which means it is a toy that your child will not easily outgrow. They also praise its ease of use. The globe can be turned on through pressing a button the pen. Children simply touch places on the globe with the pen, and a clear, loud voice provides them with information.
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Oregon Scientific SG328 Smart Globe Infinity 2.0. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon.
Next on our list, we have the technology-forward No products found.. This globe makes use of some of the latest technology. The wireless Bluetooth pen is equipped with both a speaker and a headphone jack so that your kids can learn on their own without disturbing you. Your kids can also use the pen as a voice recorder and listen to their notes when they return to that location later! As a handy bonus, the globe includes a built-in holder for the pen, so that it doesn’t get lost.
Parents can easily update the globe’s information through a USB cable attached to a personal computer, so they can ensure that the children are receiving the most accurate information. Children also can take advantage of the SmartGlobe app, which is available on the App Store and Google Play. In addition, the globe itself can be replaced by various accessory globes, which cover additional subjects such as constellations. The learning possibilities are endless!
With over 30 educational games for between one and four players, this globe will quickly become a family favorite. Parents love how much time their young, inquisitive children spend learning about world geography from this “toy.”
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Oregon Scientific Inflatable Globe w/AR Technology. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon.
Finally, we round out our list with the No products found.. The SG038R is the most economical globe on our list, at just around $10, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less beneficial to young learners. This inflatable globe comes with a portable stand for use on a desk, at the beach, at the pool, or pretty much anywhere!
Children can learn about countries, continents, and bodies of water through self-exploration, or with the help of a phone or Ipad and the augmented reality app. Parents love that they can travel with it anywhere, and that it can be blown up in just seconds. Although not the fanciest globe on our list, it does have some handy benefits.
About Your Oregon Scientific Smart Globe
As a teacher or even a parent, you sometimes want to have a gift that is more than a toy. You want to give something that is both educational and fun – at the same time. If this sounds familiar and like something you are looking for, then the Oregon Scientific Smart Globe is definitely something to consider for the classroom or even the home.
The Smart Globe comes with a smart pen. With this smart pen, students can use it to discover country names, native languages, national anthems, history, geography, amazing facts, the local currency of different countries, and the population. There are more than 20,000 fun facts for students to discover with these smart globes. They offer the students and teacher endless educational entertainment in the classroom.
Depending on the type of Oregon Scientific Smart Globe you purchase, you will find many other interactive features you can use to educate students while ensuring they have fun learning.
Benefits of a Globe
No matter what kind of globe you purchase for the classroom, whether it is a more traditional globe or more interactive like the smart globes on our list, you will find many advantages.
Globes help to promote visual accuracy. When a student uses a globe regularly, they can form more accurate mental maps. Globes are also a good way to see the entire world at one time as a whole.
Sometimes global maps can distort the shapes and sizes of countries and can give students an inaccurate representation of the distance and direction of countries. A globe can help put things into a better perspective.
Globe FAQ
What can students learn from a globe?
With a globe, students can learn about all the different countries. They can also learn more about the formation of bodies of water across the world, mountain ranges, natural resources, and the effects that climate has on different locations around the world.
What advantages does a globe have over a flat map?
A map that is only two dimensional can geometrically distort the view we have of planet earth. A globe, on the other hand, is a sphere and offers a better representation of the areas around the world in proportion to one another. This is especially helpful for students who are working on a much larger area at a time.
Is a globe or a map more accurate?
A globe is going to be a much more accurate resource to use in the classroom. A globe represents the true shape of planet Earth because it is round in shape and size. Maps offer a much more distorted view because it is flat.
What is the best interactive globe?
When you want a globe that offers more features and is much more interactive for students, then you may want to consider a smart globe that offers 3D augmented reality features.
How do you use an Oregon Scientific Smart Globe?
It all depends on the model of the smart globe you choose to purchase. Each comes with its own features. The globes with 3D augmented reality, for example, often come with a portable and easy to use desktop stand. They also feature over 500 AR interactive content types to choose from and explore. Some also have a dedicated app so you can learn more about different landscapes around the world, animals, landmarks, weather, and even dinosaurs!
Thank you for reading our review!
Technology has come a long way, and so have the globes that are now available to purchase for your children. Gone are the days of dusty, outdated globes kept on shelves and teachers’ desks. They’re now valuable learning tools that can be utilized to keep your children engaged at home as well.
These globes provide an enjoyable learning experience, no matter how old your children (or students!) are. With options from about $10 through $250, there is sure to be one that fits your budget as well.
Here are links to the Oregon Scientific smart globes we feature here as well as some top competitors on Amazon. Also, be sure to see our review of the best overall children’s globes.