My 5th grader fondly remembers our virtual travel across the USA several years ago. Because of that, she will be embarking on a virtual European journey this school year. For the purpose of this study, these are the countries she may visit. She will probably not get to all of them, but will do as many as time will allow.
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kosovo, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and United Kingdom.
This study will be completed with the internet, videos, and community activities.
Once a country is chosen she will:
- Watch Globe Trekker and/or Rick Steve’s Europe videos about the country.
- Choose an attraction she would like to “visit.”
- Find a place to stay close to the attraction by searching lodgings online.
- Explore the area using Google street maps and/or YouTube videos.
- Explore the attraction chosen through internet sites and YouTube videos.
- Creative writing exercise – Write down a story of her experience visiting the attraction.
- Explore the local language through YouTube videos and learn how to say hello, good-bye, and thank you in the language.
- Play 10 Days in Europe.
- Chose another attraction in the same country.
- Find a place to say near the attraction.
- Explore the area using Google street maps and/or YouTube videos.
- Explore the attraction through internet sites and YouTube videos.
- Creative writing exercise – Write down a story of her experience visiting the attraction.
- Explore music from the country using YouTube videos.
- Play 10 Days in Europe.
- Go to a restaurant that serves authentic food from the country or choose and make a recipe if no restaurants are in driving distance.
- Explore local festivals, cultural events, or places that celebrate the culture and country. Plan to attend if there is one available.
This should be fun!
This is such a great idea, I can’t want to hear more! Does the numbered list represent daily tasks? If not, how long do you think 1 country will take?
Yes, they are numbered tasks. My daughter typically does about 4 per week.
We aim to study a country each week by watching Geography Now videos. We then can watch a tourist video, cooking video (we love Bizarre Foods by Zimmern) , a fairy tale, music, and /or the language. We sometimes cook food from the country too. We don’t necessarily do all of these things, but it is a great way to make various countries and people real for the kids. We go in alphabetical order, since he is making the videos in alphabetical order. We can add a few of your ideas to our lessons. thanks.