Think Global!

At school the kiddies are talking about continents and I wanted to reinforce the learning at home. Luckily, Briana just turned 5 so we have balloons all over the house. What great symmetry!  So today we set out to make paper mâché globes.

Paper mâché globe

Paper mâché is one of those fun things that every kid somehow knows how to do but most adults have forgotten how to do. So just in case you have forgotten, here’s how we set about making our base:

Step 1: Tear paper into long strips. We used blue construction paper instead of newspaper and it worked fine. This way we didn’t have to go back and paint the water.

Step 2: Mix one part flour and 1 part water in a bowl.  Keep mixing until it is smooth.

Step 3: Grab some balloons that are already blown up in our case.

Step 4: Dip the paper into the flour/water mixture and completely soak the paper. Here’s where it gets messy, so the pictures stop for a while.

Step 5: Remove the excess by running your fingers down the strip of paper.

Step 6: Lay the paper on the balloon and smooth it out.

Pretty straightforward and a lot of fun. Then we let the balloons dry.

Cut-out Continents

While they dry, we work on our continents. I hand the kiddies a sheet of paper with the continents printed on them. (The images are from a quick Google Image search - http://www-tc.pbskids.org/arthur/parentsteachers/lesson/world/pdf/Balloon_Globe.pdf

)

I tell the kids to point to North America. They both surprisingly know exactly which continent is North America. They also know all of the other continents and where they are in relation to each other through a song.

“North America. South America. Europe. Asia and Africa. Don’t forget Australia. Don’t forget Antarctica.”

I tell them to color in North America only and then cut it out. As they work, I tell them that North America is made up of the United States, Canada, and Central America that connects us to South America. On the East Coast there is the Atlantic Ocean that takes us to Europe and Africa. On the West Coast there is the Pacific Ocean, which takes us to Australia and Asia.  Almost everyone in North America speaks either English or Spanish as their primary language except parts of Canada that speak French.

Then we move on to South America and while they work I tell them that in South America, almost everyone speaks either Portuguese (the most common language) or Spanish (the official language of most countries). I add that there are lots of other, local languages spoken in various places.  On the east coast, they have the Atlantic taking them to Africa and on the west coast they have the Pacific Ocean. They also have the Southern Ocean below them, which takes them to Antarctica. The Equator, or the middle of the planet, goes right through the top of South America. South America has 13 countries- Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and French Guiana. Then I teach them a song I learned in high school Spanish with all of the countries in geographic order with their capitals. Apparently I have a very random assortment of knowledge considering that there’s no way I could tell you all of the capitals of the states in the US (I know! You’re not supposed to admit that sort of thing! J) but South America and Africa (from AP World History) I have down.

We talk about my friend who lives in South America (Brazil) who the kids haven’t met yet. I explain that I haven’t talked to that friend in a while and Briana asks, “Does that mean she’s your ex?” What! Apparently she’s been told that an ex is an old friend that you don’t see anymore.

We move on to Europe, with the Arctic Ocean to its North, the Atlantic to its West. Asia is attached to its East and Africa is below. We talk about the European places we know – Italy, Spain, France, and Greece – and who we know therein. I tell them that lots of countries therein speak lots of different languages and we say a few vocabulary words that the kids know in Spanish and French, and we count to 10 in both, and from somewhere in my head I even remember the only Greek sentence I know (“Thelo nero”, or “I want water”) which I even remember how to conjugate – all the more surprising because I was nice and buzzed when I learned that. I also remember some Norwegian and add the sounds to my kids’ repertoires. By the way, there is no sentence in any language more useful than “Hva heter det?” or “What is that called?” It’s all you need to know to travel…that and a little bit of charades and you can order food, find landmarks, bathrooms, and your hotel so you’re set! I learned that one in high school! This is why I can’t remember a thing I need to do all day! I also add that Russia takes up almost half of Europe (~40% but I use almost half for the kids because 40% wouldn’t mean much. Hmm…maybe percentages next week). I also tell them that Vatican City is the smallest state and is where the Pope lives.

Then we talk about Asia and our friends there. We add that below Asia is the Indian Ocean, which goes down to the Southern Ocean and on to Antarctica. We talk about our friends living in Asia. I let them hear a few sentences in Japanese, a language that I haven’t spoken in quite some time and have never spoken all that well. Thanks to StrollerFit though, I have retained lots of vocabulary (people were always curious and sometimes we’d count for the kids in different languages and someone would always beat me to Spanish and French so I’d do Japanese.).  The kids surprise me by saying they know how to speak in Japanese as well, “Arigato Gozaimasu means Thank you very much!” They also know Chinese, “Yeye is Grandpa!” I also tell the kids that Asia has the most land and the most people of all of the continents.

We talk about Africa and the oceans surrounding it, which by now the kids have a good handle on. Then I tell them that the Earth was started in Africa, which leads to a long religious sidetrack. I bring them back to finishing their work and add that there are over 1,000 languages spoken in Africa, making Africa the most multilingual continent in the world. Sadly, Mommy doesn’t know a single one! The Equator also goes through the middle of Africa. Abby knows about Africa. “It’s the Lion King. They live there.”

Then we do Antarctica. It would have made more sense to do Australia first, I know, but Abigail loves Antarctica for some reason and is getting impatient about getting there. We talk about how it is sooo cold there. And apparently they know it as the place where polar bears live. Ok. No people live in Antarctica and can only visit if they have on very puffy coats.

Last, but not least, we do Australia. The kiddies are getting bored with the geography at this point so we recite the oceans and then I tell the kids my one fact about Australia – the country of Australia  (not to be confused with the continent, which also includes some islands) has the greatest number of reptiles of any country in the World. They ask about language and I have to look it up to be sure. Australia has no official language although English is its de facto national language.

Putting it all together

When we finish talking, coloring, and cutting, our globes are not completely dry. I had planned to glue the continents on after dinner, giving our globes more time to dry, but the kiddies insist that we do it now. I make up some more of the flour and water mixture and we paper mâché our continents to our globe. Now when the kiddies get up tomorrow, the globes will be complete and ready to be played with.

Ok, so don’t forget…like I did…to put something on your floors before you start! I’m kind-of dreading this clean-up. Oh well.

The kids are so proud to show their globes and newfound knowledge off to Daddy when he gets home from work. There’s nothing like pride in a world of your own making.

<3 Pedigreed Housewife