Geography Lesson Plans - Europe and EPCOT

Most of 1st quarter will be spent in four regions of Europe followed by quick visits to China, Japan, and Morocco. You may notice that we are taking time to focus on the countries we will see at the World Showcase in EPCOT in September. This list is an ongoing project, so check back for more resources as we move along or suggest resources for us.

Resources for all of the Quarter:

• Sheppard Software's geography games website
• National Geographic's Travel sites for Europe
• Barney and Friends Season 13 (recorded with DVR on PBS Kids) Who knew Barney had international episodes? What a fun find for little Ella.)
• Passport to Europe with Samantha Brown (DVR'd from the Travel Channel) She is a little annoying and shops too much, but that is what the fast forward button is for.
• No Reservations (DVR'd from the Travel Channel) This series is not usually for children, but my kids seem to prefer Anthony Bourdain to Ms. Brown. I screen episodes and fast forward when needed. I hope they air the Brittany, France episode again. Love that one.
• Mama Lisa's Children's Songs from Around the World website
  

Week 1: Northern Europe with a focus on Norway

Read: Norse mythology, trolls, Vikings, and visiting Norway. Library books include:

Norway (wonderful book of photography from the library)
The Troll With No Heart in His Body and Other Tales from Norway
(for The Three Billy Goats Gruff)
Who's That Tripping Over My Bridge?
(Louisiana retelling of The Three Billy Goats Gruff)
Good Babies: A Tale of Trolls, Humans, a Witch, and a Switch
Life and Times in the Viking World
Welcome Back, Sun

Eat: Jarlsberg Leek Soup and School bread (two treats served in EPCOT).

Watch: Pippi Longstockings, The Little Mermaid

Create: Viking rune stones, LEGO history report, Hama bead crafts, faux Delftware

Week 2: Eastern Europe with a focus on Germany
Read: castles, the Brothers Grimm, and visiting Germany. Library books include:

The Fairy Tale Detectives (Sisters Grimm, Book 1)
The Bourbon Street Musicians
The McElderry Book of Grimms' Fairy Tales
Sleeping Bobby
Mrs. Frizzle's Adventures: Medieval Castle
Castles: A First Discovery Book

Eat: mamaliga (grits) from Romania, pretzels, German chocolate cake (explaining why it is NOT German), and sauerbraten

Watch: The Sound of Music (from our DVD collection), Snow White, Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses

Create: Schultüte for our friends starting traditional school, a castle sketch and report, paper cutting (inspired by scherenschnitte but easier), learn to sing Edelweiss

Week 3: Southern Europe with a focus on Italy
Read: opera, Renaissance, Pinocchio. Library books include:

Madeline and the Cats of Rome
Opera Cat
Katie and the Mona Lisa
Antonio's Apprenticeship: Painting a Fresco in Renaissance
Italy Papa Gatto: an Italian Fairy Tale
Count Your Way Through Italy
Goofy and the Gondola

Eat: tiramisu cupcakes, pizza margherita, Greek food from my mom
Watch: The Lizzie McGuire Movie, Pinocchio, La Boheme (via Netflix), Cheetah Girls 2 (Maggie's request, should go with Western Europe)
Create: create a fresco and a gondola, interview Aunt Ellen about Greek food and culture, report on opera

Week 4: Western Europe with a dual focus on France and England

Read: Ferdinand, find a book about tea time and read it along with a book about tea ceremonies in Asia, Tintin
Eat: smitten kitchen Ratatouille's Ratatouille,
Watch: What a Girl Wants, Madeline, Aristocats, Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, Ratatouille
Create: Interview Miss Ashley who just took a trip to France, Stonehenge physics lesson, Madeline inspired art,

Weeks 5 and 6: Overviews of Japan, China, and Morocco

We will cover the countries later, but I want the girls to have a little information on them before we leave for Disney. We'll spend time finishing up any projects from the previous week and doing some reading here.
Read: acrobats, tea ceremonies, pagodas

Ms. Frizzle's Adventures: Imperial China
Suki's Kimono
Wabi Sabi

Watch: Mulan, The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift (just kidding...maybe), Aladdin