We visited Baden-Württemberg, the state in the south of Germany bordering France and Switzerland. This part of the country is known for its charm and beauty. Here you see Lake Konstanz, or Lake Constance in English. Germany is famous for its breads and cake. Here you see plum cake with… Continue reading
Ellina had a summer job in Nepal, so we took the opportunity to visit. Nepal is a very interesting country, and it’s worth studying. Bring this country into your classroom for an exciting lesson at any time of the year. Nepal is mostly a rural country, but it has some… Continue reading
Here is a simulation game for learning about trade. It was designed with the Osage and their trade partners in mind, but you can adapt the cards to suit your local populations — or the Vikings and the Ostragoths, for that matter. Copy the trade cards below onto cardstock several times, enlarging… Continue reading
When it’s time to study marsupials, a teacher’s mind turns lightly to thoughts of Australia. Don’t forget the North American marsupial, the possum! Our possum lesson plans include a little science, Native American folklore, and picture books. If you haven’t talked about marsupials before, explain that marsupials keep their babies… Continue reading
Strego Nona, or Grandma Witch, is an original story by Tomie de Paola that has the feeling of a folktale. In the story, Strega Nona is a witch who helps the people of her town with things like getting rid of headaches and warts, and she makes love potions “for… Continue reading
The story of Aladdin comes from The Arabian Nights or The 1,001 Nights, a collection of traditional stories from the Middle East. In the story, a young boy is approached by a man who claims to be his uncle. Actually a powerful magician, the supposed uncle leads Aladdin to a… Continue reading
The Couch Potato is a picture book by Jory John and Pete Oswald. It’s about a potato. Not a small potato, a sweet potato, or a mashed potato, but a couch potato. “I spend all my free time sitting in this exact spot,” the potato admits. “If the most important… Continue reading
Taino Tales: The Secret of the Hummingbird contains just one Taino Tale. In the story, a Taino girl falls invoke with a Carib boy. The Taino and Carib, both Caribbean indigenous peoples, were traditional rivals. Here’s background information on the two groups: What Became of the Taino? Taíno: Indigenous… Continue reading
Bring Hispanic Heritage Month to your cowboy classroom by learning about the connection between cowboys and the Hispanic Heritage of the United States. In the picture above, the Territories of New Mexico, Arizona, and Oklahoma are waiting for Columbia, the spirit of the United States, to sew their stars… Continue reading
“This is Matilda, and this is Matilda’s dad,” begins this fun book by Lizzy Stewart. Matilda and her dad set out to look for treasure one day. It’s an adventure, for sure. Matilda gets frustrated by her dad’s fun-loving but disorganized approach to the treasure hunt…even though he points out… Continue reading
