Bringing the World To Your Living Room

Some people have really good imaginations, but the rest of us find it helpful to be looking at something. Being surrounded by a culture is also very useful for learning! Ofcourse, you can't really set the right atmosphere if you haven't done any research, so get out some of those books and find out about this country. One of our favorite "atmosphere" projects is to make a large copy of the country's flag to hang on the wall by taping nine sheets of construction paper together. For instance, when we studied Mexico, we made a flag with three sheets of green, three of white (with the emblem copied onto the middle one and colored), and three red. This might not work for all countries, but it is great for the others. Other items which add to the atmosphere would be plants or flowers that country is known for (such as tulips when studying the Netherlands), examples of popular art styles, dolls dressed in folk costumes, paper models of buildings or animals from that country, and ofcourse any craft projects you make for this country. You could even make a paper window frame and fill it with pictures of scenery, so you could "look outside" and see the view. Music is another wonderful way to add atmosphere. Listen to recordings, or make some native instruments and play your own. Be creative (and ask the kids for help- they're good at this sort of thing.)

Not only do costumes add to the atmosphere, but they are also another good excuse to do some research. So, get out those books and find out about the people from this country. Most kids love to dress up, and when they dress up they often start acting out the part. This is a great way to help them internalize the infomation you have been reading. Ofcourse, it also presents a great photo op. (You ARE taking pictures of all this, aren't you? Looking through the photo album is great review! And photos are an excellent way to impress those doubters who didn't think your kids would learn anything in homeschool.) Costumes don't have to be elaborate. Sometimes you don't need anything more than paper, scissors, and some markers to make a great costume. You can make Egyptian collars and bracelets from cardstock, Mexican ponchos from paper bags and sombreros from papier mache, and Dutch shoes and hats from construction paper. Don't forget to discuss why the people you are studying might have chosen the clothes they wear.

If you've been following along, you've already done some crafts. If not, STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE MESS AND HAVE SOME FUN! Yes, there will be a mess, but it will clean up. Meanwhile, your kids may forget everything you teach them, but they will remember that you are the absolute coolest mom. They will remember the fun you had together and how they were more important than a spotless house. OK, so they might not actually think of all that, but I gurantee they'll remember if you make the house more important. Besides, this isn't just for them. You're supposed to be having fun here too. The arts and crafts of a country provide a glimpse of what is important to the people of that country. And imitation of those arts and crafts is a great way to learn about them. And, really, papier mache is very theraputic.

I've often wondered where to store all the "artifacts" we create during our studies of different countries. I think I've finally found a solution in a simple Montesorri inspired idea from LaPaz Home Learning.

Continent Boxes are sort of like treasure boxes- one for each continent- which contain maps, books, and artifacts from the countries on that continent. You can buy or create things specifically for your continent boxes, or you can do a "scavenger hunt" around the house to see what objects you can come up with.

The boxes can be plain shoe boxes or plastic totes, or you can decorate them with a map from each continent or a collage of pictures, flags, etc. from that continent.

HERE are some things to include in your boxes.

Alright, these aren't technically part of your living room, but a trip to an ethnic store or festival is still cheaper than a visit to the actual country. The best part is that someone else is doing most of the work for you. You just have to think of where you will go. Visit a pet store to look at tropical birds when you study South America. Or take a trip to the zoo and look for animals from the country you are studying. Most kids love animals and this also presents an opportunity to discuss habitats and such. I know of one woman who would research what breeds of dogs came from each country and arrange a visit to a breeder. Another would visit dance schools to view dances that came from various countries. Again, be creative.

Nelis' Dutch Village Theme Park
A place to learn about the Netherlands in Holland, Michigan.

Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia
This outdoor, living-history museum currently features six permanent, outdoor exhibits comprised of original farm buildings from Ireland, England, Germany, and Virginia. The Museum's exhibits serve as the settings for interpretative and educational programs designed to increase public knowledge of the diverse Old World origins of early immigrants to America, of how these immigrants lived in their homelands, how they came to America, and how the way-of-life they created together on the American frontier has shaped the success of the United States.

Kentucky Down Under
Have you ever met a kangaroo? Ever played a didgeridoo? Ever fed a rainbow (lorikeet)? You could travel 9,500 miles to Australia to do these things, or just visit Kentucky Down Under. Nestled away in south-central Kentucky sits a little piece of Australia. At Kentucky Down Under you'll discover a hands-on family fun adventure!

You've already read a lot of books which were full of great information. But don't forget to read a few just for fun. Don't just read about your new country, but read the books that the natives would read. Folk and fairy tales tell a lot about people, and they are easy to remember. Novels set in different countries or biographies of famous people are also good learning tools. Read lots and lots, but skip those books that seem to drag. Tour guides don't have to be boring!

Travel For Kids
Places to visit, Books to read

OK, I admit it, it's all about the food. You can't visit a country without sampling their food, right? Which brings me to my favorite type of books: cookbooks! You can learn so much from a cookbook. But if you can't find the one you are looking for, the internet is also full of recipe sites. Ideally this should be eaten while in costume. But since we usually have our feast at the end of a study, the costumes are usually wrecked by now. So don't sweat it if your Egyptian feast is eaten in jeans and t-shirts. My kids aren't perfect either. (Not perfect. But really, really cute). Just enjoy the meal, and try to remember to take this seriously. Ahem! This is research after all.