Outline Maps… Uncle Josh or Knowledge Quest? 

Most home educators recognize the need for blank outline maps as a supplement to their history and geography lessons.  So the obvious question arises… which maps are the best fit for my family?  There are two main outline map products on the market today – Uncle Josh’s Outline Maps and Knowledge Quest maps.  On various chat boards across the internet, I often see the question posed, “Which maps are better?”  And the answers usually come in the form of “I like Uncle Josh’s better” or “I prefer Knowledge Quest maps.”  I have yet to see or read a thorough comparison of these two products.  And so I am going to tackle this job myself.

My goal for this article is that Geography Matters (publisher of Uncle Josh’s Outline Maps) would be just as comfortable referring to this comparison for their own potential customers asking for the difference between these two products.

First, I will give descriptions of each product, then I will give a side-by-side comparison in the form of a table – somewhat like the Dell chart in their mailers which answers the question, “Which notebook computer is right for me?”

Let’s start with Uncle Josh.  The CD-ROM contains 125 outline maps reproducible for your own family’s use.  Included in the selection of maps are 5 historical maps, 39 maps from around the world, 10 US maps, all 50 states and 21 bonus maps.  Bonus maps include the Canadian provinces and a handful of shaded relief maps.

Uncle Josh maps are clean with superb detail.  Maps are completely blank except for current political boundary divisions, rivers, latitude and longitude lines and a mileage scale.  These are beautiful all-purpose maps.  Suggestions for use are included in the front pages of the book.  Uncle Josh Outline Maps are available as a workbook or on CD-ROM.

Now for a look at Knowledge Quest maps.  There are 201 maps included in the Complete Set of Blackline Maps of World History.  Knowledge Quest maps are historical in scope and are broken down into four time periods – Ancient, Medieval, New World and Modern.  Knowledge Quest, Inc. also has a separate product called Blackline Maps of American History which includes 81 maps – 31 are historical plus the 50 state maps.

Knowledge Quest maps are uncluttered and clearly labeled to reflect the time period depicted.  Maps are partially labeled with city names, boundaries of empires, travel routes, etc. leaving some landmarks blank for the student to fill in.  The Complete Set also includes completely unlabeled companion maps providing an extra challenge for older students.  Lesson plans are including at the beginning of each section.  The Complete Set of Blackline Maps of World History comes assembled in a notebook or on CD-ROM.

Below is a side-by-side comparison of these two products:

I hope this comparison has helped you to decide which product will best fit your family’s needs.  If you have any questions, we’re here to help.  Send an e-mail to [email protected]. 

Warm Regards,

Terri Johnson

Terri Johnson is the creator of Knowledge Quest maps and timelines.  Her mission for the company is to help make the teaching and learning of history and geography enjoyable for both teacher and students.  She has created and published over 15 map and timeline products.  Her Blackline Maps of World History have been widely recommended in the education community and published in The Story of the World history series by Susan Wise Bauer.  Terri and Knowledge Quest recently won the “Excellence in Education” award granted by The Old Schoolhouse magazine for best geography company of 2003 and 2004.  Terri resides in Gresham, Oregon with her husband Todd and their five children whom she teaches at home.