"Traveling" Around the World

During our homschooling season, we don't take a Christmas or Spring Break like public schools do, but we do take days off from "doing school" to go on educational outings or even just to run errands.  Since public schools were on Spring Break last week, I decided that we would change up our school routine and add some fun outings to our week along with a lighter schoolwork schedule.

I read that Cornerstone University's Psychology students were offering a "KidLab" in which the students could interact and observe kids in real-life play-based learning situations.  The kids would "travel" in groups of 10 to 4 different countries.  In each country, they would learn where that country is in the world and how large it is in comparison with the U.S.  The kids played games that kids in the country play and they had snacks that are popular in that country.  When they left one country to travel to the next, they would get their passports stamped, just like they would in real life.

We went to Israel first (I tagged along to help Megan because the program was geared to kids age 5-12).  Along with the basic geography lesson, the kids learned a little of the Hebrew alphabet.  They broke up into two groups and played the dreidel game for candies and chocolate coins.  RJ and Emily didn't do very well at the game, but had fun anyway.  While they were playing, they enjoyed a popular Israeli snack - pita bread with hummus - yum!

After we departed Israel, we went to the Philippines.  We learned that kids in the Philippines love to play tag - the kids were able to burn off a little energy and play a quick game of tag in the gym.  They then sat down and made a bracelet, and learned what the beads and symbols on the beads meant.  We had some pineapple for a snack and were on our way.  (Sadly, my pictures from the Philippines were too dark or blurry to post.)

We landed in Italy, where we talked about pasta, of course, and colored some coloring pages.  One of the student-leaders read the story "Strega Nona".  The kids played the fun game "Lupo Delle Ore," or as we know it: "What time is it Mr. Wolf".  They practiced their Italian, asking  "Lupo che ore sono?" and moved closer and closer to the wolf (one of the student-leaders) until she yelled "MIDNIGHT" and chased them back to the starting line.  After the game, they enjoyed Italian wedding cookies and departed from Italy.

Our final stop was in South Korea.  The kids practiced writing "hi" in Korean: 안녕and then made paper fans.  The group competed in a tournament of "Di Bi Di Bi Dip," (pronouned with long e sounds) the Korean version of Rock, Paper, Scissors.  It was a lot of fun for the kids because the symbols involve full-body poses, rather than hand signs.  RJ was the grand Di Bi Di Bi Dip champion!  We finished our time in Korea by having Pepero - chocolate covered cookie sticks.

Audrey slept the entire time we were traveling, and woke up just in time to drive home.