The Power of Current Events
I love incorporating current events into our studies and there is a big one coming up, especially for sports fans. Although I am not a sports fan generally, there is something so special about the international events like the Olympics and the World Cup.
I love to watch the athletes perform. My favorites are the summer events like diving, swimming, and opening and closing ceremonies (soccer is also big at my house), but the winter events are also fun to watch. Evolving sports like curling and snowboarding help make you feel like you are part of history.
One of the things I love as a nerdy girl, is more exposure to all of these countries (and their athletes). That makes a Jamaican bobsled team come to mind. This year life seems to be slowed down enough in our home to really enjoy some of the games (the power of the DVR helps). We will also be using an International Flag Study to keep up with the fun.
Help Kids Make Connections
I developed this study to foster more excitement about the games (a little competition helps at my house). Large international events are a great time to help kids understand that they are a citizen of the world.
I remember watching (and catching my breath along with parents) as Greg Louganis hit his head on the diving board (I just aged myself) and then the tenacity of the human spirit as he came back to win gold. All teaching stopped in the 1994 winter games as the entire school watched hockey. Teachers were willing to share about the hockey rivalry of the 80s and it was a great way to connect. I was in Orlando during the World Cup of 1994 and the joy of the people there to support their home team. The excitement and spirit of the crowd are phenomenal (and can be a little scary).
Flags of the World for Kids
I want my kids to have that experience of celebration, too. This Flag of the World Printable Pack is what we are doing to encourage that connection. We are taking a relaxed approach. At the end, they will have a book of flags.
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This project can be a springboard for our geography studies this year (sneaky learning is sometimes best) so I designed these to be adapted for all ages and abilities. If you have young kids or resistant learners, you may want to just use what is provided. If you have older kids or excited learners (or kids that get excited once they get engaged) the extensions are endless. Don’t miss this post about Multicultural Children’s Book Day.
Flags of the World for Kids Study Extension Ideas:
- Do a quick country stats on the back or next page: population, industry, agriculture, religion, historical facts
- Medal counts: Create a medal count at the bottom of the page. With a graph page at the end.
- Where in the world? Put a world map in the back and find each place on the map or make several copies and put one behind each flag.
- Athlete bio. Have students keep up with their favorite athlete and write a bio and attach to the flag.
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