NATO
'How well do you know geographic terms? Have a go at the crossword and see. Click on the numbered square, type in the answer and click the red button to see if it’s correct.'

Suzanne Elvidge has trawled the 'net to discover how you can test your geography and geology with online games

Small but important print: All games are free downloads or free to view online, and need the minimum of equipment. Some games require your browser to have a 'plug in' for Shockwave, Flash or Java.

To play a game, simply click on its name. If you are a parent, we advise you to try the game and the site it's on first before letting your kids play them, to make sure you're happy.

Don't forget, you can also find great games for kids at Christian Aid's Global Gang website. When downloading games from the Internet, don't forget to keep your anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date.

Off on holiday? Well, as well as learning the language it helps to know where you are. These eleven (I lost count) geography games will take you round the world in a flash, and there’s an extra geology one too. So a bumper summer special!

NATO map game
Create yourself an avatar, choose a ‘drawer’ of countries, and drag the country name and flag on to the correct place on the map. You’ll get clues if you get it wrong, and asked for the capital city if you get it right. You could even play this one in French if you wanted to practice your language skills as well.

The States of India Online Quiz
Click go and then match the names to states in India – very hard (well, I thought it was). Click on a world region to try a different quiz.

The Continent Name Game
Click spin to start and help Barnaby Bear name all seven continents. More geography games on the Barnaby Bear website.

Ordnance Survey crossword
How well do you know geographic terms? Have a go at the crossword and see. Click on the numbered square, type in the answer and click the red button to see if it’s correct. If you get stuck, the red button at the bottom left will fill in all the answers. The MapZone site has more games, and you can find an OS map of where you are at Get-a-map.

Web Geography
Identify the country from its shape and web country code (top level domain or TLD – e.g. .co.uk, or .it), and drop it on to the map. The hint button will give you the name of the country.

Locations
Put cities, mountains and rivers on a UK map. Done it? Try some others.

Australian Geographic Regions
Use the tutorial to learn about the geography of Australia and then identify regions by clicking on them. If you get it wrong twice you get a hint. There are more games on geography.

Geography Quiz
Test your knowledge of geography with some geography questions.

US States jigsaw
Drag and drop US states to their correct places.

Disaster Watch
Geography isn’t just about maps; it’s also about the climate. Disaster Watch is a Christian Aid Global Gang game. Find the clues and predict the disaster, get prepared

Plan-It Green
Turn Greenville into the greenest city possible by building and upgrading. Great fun, and my favourite this month. Test yourself on the National Geographic GeoBee as well.

Grade or No Grade – tectonics
As an extra – a bit of geology. Tectonics is the study of the structure of the earth. Try to get the highest possible grade, and the examiners will offer you a deal at the end of each round. Try some other games too.

Suzanne Elvidge is a freelance writer and Surefish Ethical Living Editor

Links

• Other games

• surefish.co.uk culture section index