Country Studies...and other fun

We have really been interested in countries at our house this winter.  Our first pick was Egypt.  Clara became interested in Cleopatra when we were reading about influential women in history.  Simon is always reading about big cats, so we, therefore, are always reading about Africa.  This turned into a unit for us.  We checked out lots of books from the library on Ancient Egypt and learned all about what life was like forAncient Egyptians (their dress, make-up, etc.)  We have learned about the Nile River, and we even painted our faces to look like Ancient Egyptians one day.  We became fascinated with the pyramids and read more about Cleopatra.  We soon found ourselves moving into Africa as a whole and borrowing books from friends.  The kids became obsessed with a Geo Puzzle of Africa (I was always afraid we would lose Tunisia!) and we made a topographical map of Africa that you can see in the background of this pic of Simon.  We cut out pictures of animals from old magazines and pasted them in the appropriate regions.  The kids really know about the desert, rainforest and grassland areas of Africa now and will talk about them as we are reading about where certain big cats live. 

We are still reading African folk tales occasionally (The Girl Who Spun Gold by Virginia Hamilton and others) but mostly, we have decided to move on to China (We meaning Clara).

China has been a lot of fun, and our study has been timely.  We were invited to a Chinese New Year-themed Birthday Party and then attended the Chinese New Year Celebration at UW-Platteville.

The Handkerchief Dance

working on calligraphy

the costumes

the dragon

There was also knot-tying, drum-making, singing, learning Chinese words and songs (Gong Xi), and traditional food.  This event was amazing! 

We have studied the Chinese Horoscope, and it is a favorite activity to discuss the meaning behind our years.  Simon, being born in the Year of the Rooster, is supposed to be a flashy dresser (our favorite).  We have also made red envelopes, the traditional Chinese New Year gift to children, checked out beautiful books on Chinese folktales from the library, and written in Chinese Calligraphy.  There are more events this winter and spring that the Confucious Institute is hosting.  I'm sure we will attend some of them, as they are always so well done.

Moving on to England...We are always sort of studying England because I am always reading a book about English history.  The kids are always interested in what I am reading, and so they have learned quite a bit simply by that route.  One evening, Clara came up with this masterpiece at the dinner table.

For those who may not know, this is Queen Elizabeth I.  The picture does not do it justice.  I knew right away who she had created by the high collar, typical of the time period.  Aluminum Foil Art History!

When we aren't studying countries (we have moved on recently to Mozart...found a great book at the library entitled "Young Mozart" that the kids are enthralled with and have begun listening to Mozart as well), we are trying to figure out how to live with a rooster who is now attacking us (me especially), knitting, designing codes, building massive living room forts, and playing on our incredibly tall mounds of snow.