Around the World Unit Final Day!

Yesterday was our last day in our Around the World Unit! We had a lot of fun but S was especially sad that it was the last day. He had to make sure we'd still learn more at home even if we weren't doing anymore in co-op! Who could say no to that?!

The main focus this week was Asia and Australia. Specifically, we covered Japan, India, Korea, and Australia. In our whole group activity the kids learned how to count to 10 in Japanese, as well as how to say hello and to name the members of their families.

In Japan the kids got put together the flag puzzle while learning some fun facts about the country. They saw where Japan was on a map and learned basic cultural info. They learned about kokeshi and daruma dolls, made some origami animals and samurai hats, read some manga, and watched part of an anime too. It was Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki, just in case anyone was curious. I also brought some sushi sandwiches, pocky and some white rabbit candies for the kids to eat. The white rabbit candies are actually Chinese, but I grew up on them and they are tasty so I wanted to share with the kids!

In India the kids learned about the culture, watched some video clips, listened to some music, and got their faces painted. The girls looked very beautiful with their faces painted while wearing a sari. S chose a less than authentic face painting; He wanted to be a blue tiger! The kids also did a bit of yoga and had some yummy food. It was really cute to see them doing stretches! They also had the option to color some pictures of an Indian boy and girl.

 

In Korea they learned the culture and looked at a map to see where it is located. They also learned about and colored the flags for both North and South Korea. Korea also provided some music and video clips. They learned how to do some fan dancing too, which I am told was adorable but Z wouldn't perform for me! The kids had the option to color and make a paper doll as well. I think the snack was Hotteok (you can see it in the pictures), which is a very delicious pancake filled with a sweet syrup. In this case I think it was brown sugar and cinnamon or something equally good!

In Australia the kids got to do some more map work. There were also fun animal fact cards for them to do with a Tag reader pen, and several books full of great illustrations and facts about different places in Australia. The kids got to taste another yummy snack, played a didgeridoo, and used stencils to paint a kangaroo picture. It was all very fun stuff, especially playing the didgeridoo! They also made koala masks, which were very cute! Both boys loved pretending to be Koalas once they got home.

Overall, this was a great unit and all of the kids had a lot of fun learning about all of the different countries that we covered. I think the only downside to this unit is that now S thinks I know how to speak in way more languages than I actually can! For the last few weeks he has asked me how to say whatever he can think of in any of the languages he has been introduced to during the unit. We may have to plan for some Rosetta Stone style family time! I'll just add that to my ever-growing to-do list.

Next week is going to be super busy, including our end of the year party! I also have to find time to take pictures of all the kids and get down to business finishing up the yearbook for this co-op year. I just hope it turns out as well as, if not better than, the one I created last year! Wish me luck!