Continents and Sidewalk Chalk

Although our Classical Conversations classes and curriculum will not begin until August 27, we decided to get a jump on the geography section.  I want Crazy Horse to have a basic understanding of maps, globes, and continents before we officially begin with CC.  

After locating the different continents on a globe and counting them, we grabbed some sidewalk chalk and took our learning outdoors!  Together we blobbed the 7 continents in correct relation to each other.  The boys were amazing and did very well remembering where each continent was located.

We then began in North America and took a tour of all continents...jumping to the correct continent I named aloud.  We bunny hopped around the world, swam around the world, and finally they flew around the world.  The movie, Planes, gave us inspiration and they pretended to be their favorite character...flying around until I said "Freeze."  Once they were frozen, they told me what continent they had landed on.  

There are so many ideas on how this "outdoor map" can be played again and again...each time offering a new skill.

*Have children blob the continents themselves

*Blob certain continents and children figure out which ones are not included

*Blob shapes and have children fill in the names of the continents

And of course, this will be perfect when we begin with oceans!

It's hard to beat fresh air, fun, and learning!

Jenny

Penguins!

We have been a penguin-crazy family for a while now.

Back in 2010:  Old Crow dressed as a penguin for Halloween and Crazy Horse was an eagle.

That same year we visited the penguin exhibit at the zoo and they HAD to have a penguin "pet."  They still sleep with these penguins.

In 2011, we visited the GA Aquarium and viewed the penguins from an underwater tunnel.  We were all fascinated.

So I wasn't surprised when we recently began to talk about penguins a lot.

After watching the movie, Happy Feet, the kids became fascinated by penguins all over again. 

It is amazing how much factual information they can learn from a fictional cartoon.  They began talking about where penguins live, how they "sing," how the daddy takes care of the egg, and lots more.  It's all they could talk about.  So I began to gather books and activities to help them learn even more.

These are the books (both fiction and non-fiction) that I checked out from the library and added to our book basket:

The Emperor's Egg by Martin Jenkins

The Little Penguin  by A.J. Wood

Penguins by Penelope Arlon

Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester

Tacky and the Emperor by Helen Lester

National Geographic Kids: Penguins! by Anne Schreiber

Little Penguin: The Emperor of the Antarctica by Jonathan London 

I found these great Montessori style penguin cards and printed out the 17 different species of penguins.  We could match the picture with the information about each type of penguin.      

Old Crow picked 4 penguins from the list.   He measured their height and marked them on the wall.  Then they each took turns to see which penguin was their same size.  They thought this was too funny!

Old Crow also did a mapping activity.  He colored the places on the map where penguins can be found.  He learned from our books (and it was reinforced with this activity) that penguins only live south of the Equator. Penguins do not live in the Arctic.

We also pulled out a past issue of Big Backyard and read about the Little Blue Penguin.  He's the smallest of all penguins.  I can't say enough good things about this magazine.  Sidenote:  Big Backyard has now been renamed Ranger Rick Jr.

Old Crow also practiced carrying the egg around on his feet.  He realized this was hard work!  He had to be extra careful not to let it touch the "ice."  :)

For an extra activity, we put together this globe puzzle.  Old Crow loved that penguins were pictured on Antarctica.

There are so many other fun activities.  Check out my Polar Animals Pinterest Board.  

That's all the time we had for penguins.  The boys now want a penguin as a pet.  I keep trying to tell them that it isn't such a good idea. ;)

We did, however, get a new pet.  Tadpoles!  Stay tuned to read about our journey with tadpoles.  They have now sprouted their back and front legs.  Amazing!  

Jenny

Merry Christmas from Germany

Whewwwww!  Today was packed with tons of fun as we visited Germany...our last stop on our Christmas Around the World tour.  I am one tired Mama! ;)

Just to give you a heads up to how the day ended...

but, hey, all is fair in the name of learning.

The morning began with the reading of Cobweb Christmas, a German legend.  It tells of miraculous spiders who spin their sparkling webs on Christmas trees...the creation of tinsel.  This story also reveals another German tradition.  Children will leave their shoes beside the door in hopes that Kris Kringle will fill them with gifts and treats.  

Since tinsel was created in Germany around 1610, we wanted to celebrate this tradition.  Old Crow and I opened up a bag of tinsel and sprinkled it on our 25 Names for Jesus Christmas tree. 

Germans are also fond of gingerbread.  They enjoy making gingerbread houses and gingerbread men.  Using a milk carton, graham crackers, icing, mini marshmallows, and M&Ms, Old Crow put together his own gingerbread house.  We bought a gingerbread house kit that he could decorate, but he wanted to put together his own house.

Then we took a break and snuggled on the couch together while I read, The Legend of the Christmas Rose.  The Christmas Rose is Germany's equivalent to Mexico's Poinsettia.  It's a pink flower that blooms in Germany around Christmas even in the snow.

We took a turn at practicing some German.  We watched this tutorial on how to say "Merry Christmas" in German.

Along with tinsel, Germany also created the tradition of the Christmas tree.  For snack time, the boys made an edible Christmas tree.  We used ice cream cones, icing (leftover from gingerbread house activity), and M&Ms.  Using food coloring, they turned the icing green and slathered it onto their cone.  Finally, they added chocolate ornaments.

After snack time, we turned to those wondrous spiders again...this time with the book, Christmas Cobwebs.  In this story, the spiders don't just spin webs to look like tinsel.  They spin ornaments...special ornaments to replace the ones a family lost after a fire.

Old Crow and Crazy Horse created their own webs with glue and glitter.  I drew the ball ornament for Crazy Horse to glitter, and Old Crow created the angel.

Then, Old Crow completed his Germany notebooking page.  

To end our trip around the world, I gave Old Crow a blank world map.  In order, he numbered each country we visited and then colored those countries.  As he reached each country to color, I had him recall the things we learned about that specific country.  We also pulled out his previous notebooking pages and crafts that were held in his suitcase.  It was a great way to end the tour.

Now he is off on another trip...this one in the RV with the grandparents.  Can't wait to hear all about it.  Now I guess I better head to the kitchen and get that sink cleaned. ;)

Frohe Weihnachten,

Jenny

Christmas in China

Our Christmas Around the World tour continued today.  We traveled north from Australia to the continent of Asia and entered China.  Last year, we studied China when we read The Story About Ping.  So Old Crow was familiar with this location, but we also learned some new things.

The following was taken from Wikipedia:

In the People's Republic of China, December 25 is not a legal holiday. However, it is still designated as a public holiday in China's special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau, both former colonies of Western powers with (nominal) Christian cultural heritage.

In the mainland, the small percentage of Chinese citizens who consider themselves Christians unofficially, and usually privately, observe Christmas.  Many other individuals celebrate Christmas-like festivities even though they do not consider themselves Christians. Many customs, including sending cards, exchanging gifts, and hanging stockings are very similar to Western celebrations.  Commercial Christmas decorations, signs, and other symbolic items have become increasingly prevalent during the month of December in large urban centers of mainland China, reflecting a cultural interest in this Western phenomenon, and, sometimes, retail marketing campaigns as well.

In Hong Kong, where Christmas is a public holiday and a major retail period, many buildings facing Victoria Harbour will be decked out in Christmas lights. Christmas trees are found in major malls and other public buildings, and in some homes as well, despite the small living area. Catholics in Hong Kong can attend Christmas Mass.

Old Crow colored a picture of a Chinese child dancing and playing an instrument.  At Christmas, the children often sing Christmas songs and dance.  He learned that Christian children also decorate trees with colorful ornaments, flowers, and lanterns.  They also hang stockings in hopes that "Christmas Old Man" will fill them with gifts.

We took our turn at making Chinese paper lanterns.  

We folded construction paper length wise and cut strips on the folded end...stopping about 1 inch from the top of the paper.

Once we had made the cuts he opened it up and decorated it with crayons.  

Then we curled it into a cylinder and glued/taped the ends together.  Hole punch 2 holes in the top and add yarn or string.

He wanted to make his cylinder different...the green one is the proper example. ;)

Here are more detailed lantern directions.

Then Old Crow completed his notebooking page for China and filed it away in his suitcase.

We had a rather short day in China, but tomorrow we head to Germany for a day packed with activities, books, fun, and food!!  

Sheng Dan Kuai Le,

Jenny

Heading Down Under: Christmas in Australia

Today our travels took us down under as we entered the fascinating world of Australia.  From beginning to end, our day was filled with appointments, urgent phone calls, performances, dress rehearsals, etc.  So we just had to make the most of our day and use what time we had.  We weren't able to get to everything I had planned, but those will be great activities for next year. ;)

  Using the globe, Old Crow and I reviewed the 7 continents and we noted that Australia wasn't just a country but a continent as well.  I stamped his passport and we began our day by reading Wombat Divine  by Mem Fox...Wombat and other Australian animals audition for parts in the Nativity play.  It's a sweet Christmas story that centers around the wombat.  

After reading this story, we had such a fun time learning all about the wombat.  We used the internet to look at pictures and youtube videos of this cuddly looking creature.  Then Old Crow remembered that one of his Big Backyard Magazines had an article about little blue penguins...an animal also indigenous to Australia.  So he went off to fetch that magazine so we could read about them also.  Well when we opened the front cover, there was the wombat.  Funny how those things work out. ;)

So after getting a good laugh at this, we read about the little blue penguin and also watched videos of them.  And now Old Crow wants one as a pet. :)

Well back to Christmas in Australia...

*It is summer in Australia and very hot.  So people often spend Christmas

at the beach or swimming pools.

*Common Christmas foods are turkey, ham, and of course pudding.

*Carols by Candlelight began in 1937 and occurs every Christmas Eve.  Last night we were able to take part in our church's own Carols by Candlelight.

It was such a blessing to hear the Christmas story in song!

*One popular Australian Christmas song is Six White Boomers...it's the idea that when Santa reaches Australia he changes into cooler clothes, gives his reindeer a rest, and uses kangaroos instead.

We watched the video of Six White Boomers.  

Then I found a kangaroo puppet activity to go along with this song.  He took it a step further and created much more.  He amazes me!

We ended our day with the completion of his Australia notebooking page.  

Here are a couple of other ideas I wish we would have had time for (hopefully we can hit these next year.)

1.  Christmas Crackers (also known as Bon Bons) are a Christmas tradition.  They are pulled in the manor of wishbones and when pulled opened there is a popping noise and little treats.  You can buy them already made from places like Amazon or kids can create their own.  Here are directions.

2.  Bake Lamingtons...a popular Christmas dessert in Australia.

Here is Martha Stewarts's recipe.

3.  Get my hands on the books An Aussie Day Before Christmas and

An Aussie Night Before Christmas.

Merry Christmas! 

...said with Australian accent   ;)

Jenny

P.S.  Next stop on the Christmas train is China.