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Sunday, June 21, 2015
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Road Trip Geography Fun! (a freebie)
As summer vacation gets closer, it almost feels harder to wait for it... so we haven't! We've been out hiking and camping for a few weekends already, which has really gotten us in the mood for our summer road trips ahead.
On yesterday's drive home, we saw cars from so many states out on the roads, we realized we weren't the only ones who couldn't wait for summer vacation to begin our summer travels. It seems everyone is already on the go. Which is why I created this super fun new FREEBIE:
Just click the image to get to my TpT store and download yours FREE before your next road trip.
On yesterday's drive home, we saw cars from so many states out on the roads, we realized we weren't the only ones who couldn't wait for summer vacation to begin our summer travels. It seems everyone is already on the go. Which is why I created this super fun new FREEBIE:
The Road Trip License Plate Tracker
Just click the image to get to my TpT store and download yours FREE before your next road trip.
Happy Travels!
Monday, February 16, 2015
Thank You, Ancient Egyptians... for big heads & pączki?
Would you believe that Carnival (which is the celebration leading up to Ash Wednesday, which is the day before Lent begins, which is the 40-day period before the day before Easter... with Sundays not counted as part of the 40 days... AGH!!!) is yet another tradition that traces its origins to pagan festivals of ancient Egypt? Yep!
I'm sure you can guess the story from there: Greeks and Romans took the customs to their respective empires, and later The Church magically transformed those customs into Christian practices. I imagine the Christian side of the event didn't stick for too many generations, and before long, it seems Carnival was full of pagan revelry again, albeit still timed with the Christian observance of Lent.
As Christianity spread throughout The New World, the pagan-yet-timed-with-Lent celebration of Carnival spread with it. And so today, countries all over Europe, North and South America, the Caribbean, and Australasia have various pre-Lenten festivals which incorporate a local flair. These can range from simple, like a single Mardi Gras treat in a typical Midwestern household, to extravagant, like the famous weeks-long Carnevale of Venice. Sometimes the festival develops an entirely new meaning, as is the case in Trinidad and Tobago, where, since 1838, Carnival has become a celebration of the end of slavery.
Because I love using holidays to learn about the world, I checked in with a few blogger friends to find out how pre-Lent looks where they live. Loved what I learned -and tasted!- along the way!
Olga, a.k.a. The European Mama shared that Poland celebrates Tłusty Czwartek, or Fat Thursday five days before Fat Tuesday (a.k.a. Mardi Gras). A highlight of Tłusty Czwartek? Indulging in pączki, a jelly- or creme-filled donut which has apparently been eaten in Poland since at least the Middle Ages. (If it, too, has ancient Egyptian origins, I haven't discovered them yet.) Pączki is now a much-anticipated seasonal treat in Polish communities around the world! And yes, I had my first one, a creme-filled version, this year. Mmmm!
Giuliana of Washington, Dead Chef, actually grew up amidst the famous Venetian Carnevale. Guiliana reports that festivities begin weeks before Lent. Venice's Carnevale celebration became "official" more than 700 years ago, but it is thought to have been going on for a few hundred years before that!
Today, Venice's Carnevale retains many early elements, such as costumes and masks, and copious numbers of deep fried dough treats. Check out Giuliana's post here to read more, including a recipe for her delicious-looking Frittelle di Carnevale!
Stefania at Scrambled Nest has a great character guide to those famous masks of Italy's Carnevale (here). The masks originated with an improvised style of theater popular in Italy from the 14th through 18th centuries, Commedia dell’arte, and remain a beloved part of Carnevale, more than 300 years later. Stefania also shares a quick guide to various other Carnavali around Italy, including the exciting and colorful Battaglia delle Arance (Battle of the Oranges) in Ivrea, Italy.
Claiming to be older than Italy's Carnevali, although shorter in annual duration, the Carnaval of Nice, France is also a worth-the-trip event! Phoebe of The Lou Messougo Blog has beautiful photos and descriptions of the flowers and the grosses têtes (big heads) that make up Nice's many Carnaval parades. Phoebe offers great tips, such as: be sure to go in costume, or you'll have to pay admission for the flower parades; and: watch the parades early in the week, before floats get covered in increasing amounts of spectator-sprayed silly string.
(If you're near Nice this time of year, you may as well check out nearby Menton's Fête du Citron, too. It's not related to Carnaval, but it is related to a whole lot of sunshine and citrus, so you can't go wrong! Phoebe will tell you all about it here.)
Not up for two-plus weeks of celebrating, but don't want to be limited to just this one Tuesday?
The Piri-Piri Lexicon's Annabelle says parts of Germany celebrate Fastnacht for about a week before Lent. Annabelle explains how scary pagan masks and costumes once frightened away winter and its evil spirits, but have since become characters responsible for distributing sweets and treats at the parade. Be sure to read to the end of Annabelle's post for your fun "ah, that's so German" moment of the day!
Of course, you might prefer a slightly more tame means of ushering in Lent. Why not join our friends of the British Commonwealth, and declare tomorrow to be Pancake Tuesday?! You can embrace the religious aspect of making pancakes to use up your rich ingredients before 40 days of fasting, or relive the pagan custom of consuming pancakes to tap into the power of the sun (which is round and warm, like a pancake, is apparently the reasoning). In either case, an excuse for a day of pancakes sounds yummy, and Eolia of La Cité des Vents has a great recipe for the French version, crêpes, here.
After checking out the world's celebrations, perhaps you'd like to get your students or children into the N'awlins Mardi Gras spirit. Then check out my latest facebook fan FREEBIE! This coloring page and open-ended writing sheet, in the typical N'awlins Mardi Gras style, will work for study in any language!
To access, click the image to get to my facebook page. Be sure to like the page, then look for the "Free downloads!" button in the left sidebar.
And however you celebrate, don't forget to thank an ancient Egyptian!
I'm sure you can guess the story from there: Greeks and Romans took the customs to their respective empires, and later The Church magically transformed those customs into Christian practices. I imagine the Christian side of the event didn't stick for too many generations, and before long, it seems Carnival was full of pagan revelry again, albeit still timed with the Christian observance of Lent.
As Christianity spread throughout The New World, the pagan-yet-timed-with-Lent celebration of Carnival spread with it. And so today, countries all over Europe, North and South America, the Caribbean, and Australasia have various pre-Lenten festivals which incorporate a local flair. These can range from simple, like a single Mardi Gras treat in a typical Midwestern household, to extravagant, like the famous weeks-long Carnevale of Venice. Sometimes the festival develops an entirely new meaning, as is the case in Trinidad and Tobago, where, since 1838, Carnival has become a celebration of the end of slavery.
Because I love using holidays to learn about the world, I checked in with a few blogger friends to find out how pre-Lent looks where they live. Loved what I learned -and tasted!- along the way!
 |
| pączki, POLAND photo: CZmarlin |
Giuliana of Washington, Dead Chef, actually grew up amidst the famous Venetian Carnevale. Guiliana reports that festivities begin weeks before Lent. Venice's Carnevale celebration became "official" more than 700 years ago, but it is thought to have been going on for a few hundred years before that!
 |
| Battaglia delle Arance, ITALY photo: Scrambled Nest |
Stefania at Scrambled Nest has a great character guide to those famous masks of Italy's Carnevale (here). The masks originated with an improvised style of theater popular in Italy from the 14th through 18th centuries, Commedia dell’arte, and remain a beloved part of Carnevale, more than 300 years later. Stefania also shares a quick guide to various other Carnavali around Italy, including the exciting and colorful Battaglia delle Arance (Battle of the Oranges) in Ivrea, Italy.
 |
| grosses têtes, FRANCE photo: Lou Messougo Blog |
(If you're near Nice this time of year, you may as well check out nearby Menton's Fête du Citron, too. It's not related to Carnaval, but it is related to a whole lot of sunshine and citrus, so you can't go wrong! Phoebe will tell you all about it here.)
 |
| wooden masks, GERMANY photo: The Piri-Piri Lexicon |
The Piri-Piri Lexicon's Annabelle says parts of Germany celebrate Fastnacht for about a week before Lent. Annabelle explains how scary pagan masks and costumes once frightened away winter and its evil spirits, but have since become characters responsible for distributing sweets and treats at the parade. Be sure to read to the end of Annabelle's post for your fun "ah, that's so German" moment of the day!
Of course, you might prefer a slightly more tame means of ushering in Lent. Why not join our friends of the British Commonwealth, and declare tomorrow to be Pancake Tuesday?! You can embrace the religious aspect of making pancakes to use up your rich ingredients before 40 days of fasting, or relive the pagan custom of consuming pancakes to tap into the power of the sun (which is round and warm, like a pancake, is apparently the reasoning). In either case, an excuse for a day of pancakes sounds yummy, and Eolia of La Cité des Vents has a great recipe for the French version, crêpes, here.
After checking out the world's celebrations, perhaps you'd like to get your students or children into the N'awlins Mardi Gras spirit. Then check out my latest facebook fan FREEBIE! This coloring page and open-ended writing sheet, in the typical N'awlins Mardi Gras style, will work for study in any language!
To access, click the image to get to my facebook page. Be sure to like the page, then look for the "Free downloads!" button in the left sidebar.
Et maintenant... laissez les bons temps rouler!
And however you celebrate, don't forget to thank an ancient Egyptian!
Tuesday, January 27, 2015
"Todo sobre los Pingüinos" and my New Zealand penguin regret
You know what they say: Youth is wasted on the young. I don't know about you, but in retrospecting my own life, I see a degree of merit in that somewhat pessimistic catchphrase. Case in point: penguins!
During a short part of my teenage years, I lived in New Zealand. Those many years ago, I had no idea that there were just 17 species of penguins in the world, that they all lived in the Southern Hemisphere, and that 3 of those 17 species can be seen in New Zealand. Thus, I had no idea what a big deal it was to actually be seeing penguins. Live. In their natural habitat. Not on a tour. Not in the zoo. Just experiencing them naturally. I took nary a picture (well, maybe one or two), and let their sighting simply be a passing moment on my travels around The South Island.
Agh!!! If only I could go back and relive my youth; I would appreciate so many things more fully than I did at the time. Penguins included!
Well, recently I have been able to revisit my penguin encounter, in a sort of virtual sense, in the creation of my new favorite packet:
"Todo sobre los Pingüinos" is a 6-page, customizable fold-out penguin craftivity booklet, entirely in SPANISH. Customizable means it's perfect for classroom differentiation, or for homeschooling families who have children at different levels completing projects together. And of course, Spanish means it's perfect for Dual Language, Immersion, or Second Language programs, and multilingual homeschoolers.
By the time my daughter completes this packet with her class, she will know better than I did to appreciate the wonder of seeing a penguin in the wild... with the added benefit of an increased Spanish repertoire, too. What more could one wish for?!
During a short part of my teenage years, I lived in New Zealand. Those many years ago, I had no idea that there were just 17 species of penguins in the world, that they all lived in the Southern Hemisphere, and that 3 of those 17 species can be seen in New Zealand. Thus, I had no idea what a big deal it was to actually be seeing penguins. Live. In their natural habitat. Not on a tour. Not in the zoo. Just experiencing them naturally. I took nary a picture (well, maybe one or two), and let their sighting simply be a passing moment on my travels around The South Island.
Agh!!! If only I could go back and relive my youth; I would appreciate so many things more fully than I did at the time. Penguins included!
Well, recently I have been able to revisit my penguin encounter, in a sort of virtual sense, in the creation of my new favorite packet:
"Todo sobre los Pingüinos"
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| (Click image to view this packet in my TpT store.) |
"Todo sobre los Pingüinos" is a 6-page, customizable fold-out penguin craftivity booklet, entirely in SPANISH. Customizable means it's perfect for classroom differentiation, or for homeschooling families who have children at different levels completing projects together. And of course, Spanish means it's perfect for Dual Language, Immersion, or Second Language programs, and multilingual homeschoolers.
By the time my daughter completes this packet with her class, she will know better than I did to appreciate the wonder of seeing a penguin in the wild... with the added benefit of an increased Spanish repertoire, too. What more could one wish for?!
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Happy Birthday, MLK, Jr! ...and a fb fan freebie: mulitlingual coloring pages
Today Martin Luther King, Jr should have been celebrating his 86th birthday. In his honor, I have posted a FREE coloring page in four languages, remembering his famous "I have a dream" speech. Also included is an open-ended writing sheet, which you can use in any language.
To access, head to my facebook page, and look in the left sidebar for the "free downloads" button.
For more great ideas on honoring MLK, Jr with kids, check out Multicultural Kid Blogs' series, here.
To access, head to my facebook page, and look in the left sidebar for the "free downloads" button.
For more great ideas on honoring MLK, Jr with kids, check out Multicultural Kid Blogs' series, here.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Lycklig Pepparkakans Dag!
Christmas season in Sweden offiicially kicks off on Luciadagen (St. Lucia Day) on December 13… but one special day precedes the month of celebrations, setting the stage for the yumminess of the month-long Swedish Christmas: pepparkakans dag!
Pepparkakans dag literally means "peppercake day," but refers to Sweden's obsession with their beloved gingerbread cookies. It is thought that way back in the 14th and 15th centuries, these cookies were made with black pepper, thus the name… but there is every possibility this is a legend that has grown with the obsession. (More "stuff of legends" includes stories of nuns using pepparkakans to cure stomach ailments, and even a king being ordered to consume the cookies to improve his foul mood!)
Pepparkakans dag falls on December 9… today! On this day, Swedish families bake their gingerbread cookies for the season. Of course, many families opt to forgo the rolling pin and purchase their seasonal pepparkakar instead.
Want to make your own pepparkakar? There are plenty of recipes around the e-world… but an especially yummilicious recipe for pepparkakar is included in our Multicultural Kid Blogs' "Celebrate Christmas Around the World" packet.
Whether you're baking pepparkakar today, or making some other holiday favorite, I hope it is a yummy start to the celebrations ahead!
You can find lots more fun and yummy Christmas trivia and info on the MKB Christmas in Different Lands series.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Happy Thanksgiving! and a fb fan freebie: "Any Language" Charades Game
In our family, growing up, the Thanksgiving turkey, however delicious, was always overshadowed by two things. One: the annual drive through horrendous weather up into central Minnesota, and Two: games!
Yes, a big part of every Thanksgiving weekend was dedicated to family game time, with the game du jour (or game d'année, as it were) often being the latest in family gaming... before "gaming" was ever a word, and of course before screens had any part of things. One year, it was Boggle, another Uno. In later years, maybe Scrabble, then Trivial Pursuit, and my favorite, Pictionary!
This year, Mag is suuuuuper into charades. (Fellow language lovers are probably getting excited at all the linguistic implications of this hobby, right?!) We have found that at Mag's age, charades with pictures work well... but have run out of picture cards, right before our big weekend of family game time. Ack!
And thus was born my latest facebook fan freebie, called "'any langauge' charades."
Would you like to play with your family this weekend? Or with your language class next week? To access, simply head to my facebook page - be sure to "like" and "follow" it! - and look for the "free downloads" button in the left sidebar. Then download, print, and play.
Perfect for family game time, and ideal for promoting use of your family's second (or third!) language. Also fun for foreign language classes, to keep students engaged in these final weeks of the semester.
Yes, a big part of every Thanksgiving weekend was dedicated to family game time, with the game du jour (or game d'année, as it were) often being the latest in family gaming... before "gaming" was ever a word, and of course before screens had any part of things. One year, it was Boggle, another Uno. In later years, maybe Scrabble, then Trivial Pursuit, and my favorite, Pictionary!
This year, Mag is suuuuuper into charades. (Fellow language lovers are probably getting excited at all the linguistic implications of this hobby, right?!) We have found that at Mag's age, charades with pictures work well... but have run out of picture cards, right before our big weekend of family game time. Ack!
And thus was born my latest facebook fan freebie, called "'any langauge' charades."
Would you like to play with your family this weekend? Or with your language class next week? To access, simply head to my facebook page - be sure to "like" and "follow" it! - and look for the "free downloads" button in the left sidebar. Then download, print, and play.
Perfect for family game time, and ideal for promoting use of your family's second (or third!) language. Also fun for foreign language classes, to keep students engaged in these final weeks of the semester.
I hope you enjoy! And Happy Thanksgiving!
Monday, November 24, 2014
Celebrate Christmas Around the World! with Multicultural Kid Blogs
I've not made a secret of how much I love globes and maps, and all things "world," I know. But have I ever mentioned my other love (well, besides clip art, food, and travel!)? CHRISTMAS!
Yes, I am one of those adults who just never outgrew the magic of the Christmas season. (I know, we really annoy the bah-humbuggers out there, don't we?!) And so, it has been my utmost pleasure to spend these past few weeks working with two fabulous fellow bloggy-packet creators from Multicultural Kid Blogs (Judith of Little Bilingues and Monica of Mommy Maestra), creating a "Celebrate Christmas Around the World" packet!
Just released today, "Celebrate Christmas Around the World" introduces the Christmas traditions and celebrations of six countries:
For each country, you will find:
♦ a cover page
The cover page features the country's flag and a Christmas greeting in the language of the country.
♦ a page of country facts
This page includes the country's official name and common name, its location circled on a world map, capital city, location, population, official language(s), and an interesting fact.
♦ 2 pages on Christmas celebrations
These two pages share the important and traditional celebrations of the country, and include cute graphics for students to color.
♦ a Christmas activity
The activities range from a word search to a DIY board game!
♦ a special holiday recipe
Make and taste a traditional holiday recipe from each country.
After completing the packet, students will have the opportunity to show what they have learned by answering 12 comprehension questions, 2 for each country.
We truly hope you and your students enjoy this peek into Christmas celebrations around the world! On behalf of all of us at Multicultural Kid Blogs, we wish you a wonderful and multicultural Christmas season!
Yes, I am one of those adults who just never outgrew the magic of the Christmas season. (I know, we really annoy the bah-humbuggers out there, don't we?!) And so, it has been my utmost pleasure to spend these past few weeks working with two fabulous fellow bloggy-packet creators from Multicultural Kid Blogs (Judith of Little Bilingues and Monica of Mommy Maestra), creating a "Celebrate Christmas Around the World" packet!
Just released today, "Celebrate Christmas Around the World" introduces the Christmas traditions and celebrations of six countries:
Brazil, France, Mexico, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Sweden
For each country, you will find:
♦ a cover page
The cover page features the country's flag and a Christmas greeting in the language of the country.
♦ a page of country facts
This page includes the country's official name and common name, its location circled on a world map, capital city, location, population, official language(s), and an interesting fact.
♦ 2 pages on Christmas celebrations
These two pages share the important and traditional celebrations of the country, and include cute graphics for students to color.
♦ a Christmas activity
The activities range from a word search to a DIY board game!
♦ a special holiday recipe
Make and taste a traditional holiday recipe from each country.
After completing the packet, students will have the opportunity to show what they have learned by answering 12 comprehension questions, 2 for each country.
We truly hope you and your students enjoy this peek into Christmas celebrations around the world! On behalf of all of us at Multicultural Kid Blogs, we wish you a wonderful and multicultural Christmas season!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Día de los Muertos: los altares
When Becky of Kid World Citizen recently reminded me that Chicago is home to the National Museum of Mexican Art, I mentally filed that under "check it out someday soon!" So when the NMMA's "Rito y Recuerdo" exhibit topped Aimee's (Raising World Citizens) list of Chicago's "must-do's" for Día de los Muertos, we were ready to go!
Wow!... or "¡Guau!" What an impressive display! More than 60 artists participated in the creation of this exhibit, which includes "altares y ofrendas," installations, and popular art. We maximized the exhibit by joining a guided tour, and learned so much more than the "altares" basics we knew upon arrival.
Here are the highlights, for other Día de los Muertos neophytes like us:
An altar would traditionally be constructed in 3 tiers, each tier making an important representation: the underworld, earth, and heaven. Of course, in all things Día de los Muertos, the underworld is not depicted as a horrible place full of misery, and on Día itself, its residents are always seen celebrating!
Along with photos, personal mementos and trinkets, each of the 4 elements - earth, air, fire, and water - are commonly represented in the items chosen for the ofrenda. Fire and water are easy to spot in the candles and drink offerings. Fruits and grains, and even clay pots, can represent the earth. Air can be a bit of a stretch, at least in the "altares" we saw, where altar shawls and "papel picado" that blow in the wind symbolized air.
I imagine there was plenty more to learn, but 6 year olds don't necessarily enjoy the lengthy nature of guided museum tours, so that is the extent of our "altares de muertos" knowledge acquisition for this year. Never mind, though: we have already decided on a return visit to the NMMA for Día de los Muertos 2015! (And next year, I have a feeling the then-7-year-old will bring enough money to buy a bigger sugar skull!)
Excited to teach your kids or students more about Día de los Muertos? Be sure to check out my Día de los Muertos Bilingual Activity Pack, with a book, mini-books, and activity sheets, all in English and Spanish!
Wow!... or "¡Guau!" What an impressive display! More than 60 artists participated in the creation of this exhibit, which includes "altares y ofrendas," installations, and popular art. We maximized the exhibit by joining a guided tour, and learned so much more than the "altares" basics we knew upon arrival.
Here are the highlights, for other Día de los Muertos neophytes like us:
An altar would traditionally be constructed in 3 tiers, each tier making an important representation: the underworld, earth, and heaven. Of course, in all things Día de los Muertos, the underworld is not depicted as a horrible place full of misery, and on Día itself, its residents are always seen celebrating!
Along with photos, personal mementos and trinkets, each of the 4 elements - earth, air, fire, and water - are commonly represented in the items chosen for the ofrenda. Fire and water are easy to spot in the candles and drink offerings. Fruits and grains, and even clay pots, can represent the earth. Air can be a bit of a stretch, at least in the "altares" we saw, where altar shawls and "papel picado" that blow in the wind symbolized air.
I imagine there was plenty more to learn, but 6 year olds don't necessarily enjoy the lengthy nature of guided museum tours, so that is the extent of our "altares de muertos" knowledge acquisition for this year. Never mind, though: we have already decided on a return visit to the NMMA for Día de los Muertos 2015! (And next year, I have a feeling the then-7-year-old will bring enough money to buy a bigger sugar skull!)
* * * * * *
If you've enjoyed this peak into "altares y ofrendas" and are ready to try your own, MommyMaestra is running an Ofrenda Photo Contest. To make it more fun, one of my favorite books is included in the prize pack!Excited to teach your kids or students more about Día de los Muertos? Be sure to check out my Día de los Muertos Bilingual Activity Pack, with a book, mini-books, and activity sheets, all in English and Spanish!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
3 Tips for Dealing with Fire Safety Week in a Second Language
Fire Safety Week - La Semana de Seguridad Contra Incendios
Anyone who ever was in grade school probably remembers Fire Safety Week. Field trips to the local fire station. Rolling around on the classroom floor to practice "Stop, Drop, and Roll!" Mimeographed Sparky the Fire Dog coloring sheets. (You remember mimeographs, right? Purple ink. Damp paper. A certain intoxicating smell.)
As a child, it is a fun and memorable week at school. Now as adults, we also understand what an important week it is for our children and their safety and well-being. And we realize that to reap the full benefits of this fun week at school, our children most certainly need to understand all of the information coming at them.
So what, then, about children in Dual Language and Language Immersion programs? Can our children absorb all of this critical information if it's coming at them in a non-native language? How can we ensure their comprehension of this potentially life-and-death topic?
First: Talk with your children at home (in your home language) about fire safety.
Don't remember all the basics yourself?Jennifer at The Good Long Road shares 10 tips directly from a fire fighter here.
I must admit, a couple on the list were new to me (or new-again to me). Very interesting, the benefits of keeping doors closed! (#10 on Jennifer's list)
Second: Help your children attain a good grasp on fire-related vocabulary in the language of their schooling.
In this way, their energies won't go toward new-vocabulary-acquisition during Fire Safety events at school; rather, their minds will be ready to absorb the critical safety information.Need some help in this area? Check out my a mini-pack of printables in Spanish, to give our younger elementary students a firm grasp of the vocabulary and concepts they'll encounter throughout Fire Safety Week. (Click image for the full listing in my TpT store.)
Jennifer from Spanish Playground also has links to various free Fire Safety printables in Spanish here, including a great document from The Hartford here.
Finally: Reach out to an area fire station for more activities and resources.
If you feel the language barrier, or any other challenge, has prevented your child from fully grasping the important safety messages of the week, contact your local fire station. (Don't call 9-1-1 for this! Check the phone book or online for a station house number.) Depending on your area, materials may be available in multiple languages. And if you get the right person on the phone, you might even be invited by the station to visit (or at least to pick up the materials, which is still exciting for the kiddos)!And now, to paraphrase an old saying, left-over from my lifeguarding years:
"Okay, Parents, let get out there and save some lives!"
Any other great tips to help multilingual kids maximize the lessons of Fire Safety Week? Share your experience in the comments!
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Apple Foods and Fun... International Style
We're just crazy about apple season in our household! You might have noticed from my APPLE-themed facebook FREEBIE, my Spanish kindergarten APPLE packet, and my FREE Life Cycle of an APPLE Pop-Up Book. I just love this season, and this fruit, so much that I asked a few international blogo-friends to share their apple experiences and ideas.
Glittering Muffins' Valerie remembers childhoods in Quebec where farmers and neighbors would let you just pick apples right off their trees. (Valerie admits that was a few decades ago. It might not fly today!)
Now in Alberta, Valerie keeps the apple-picking tradition alive with her husband and their young son (who has been picking apples since infancy!). Inspired by her mother's Austro-Bavarian "scheiterhaufe" recipe, Valerie and family share their recipe for a delicious looking crock pot apple pie bread pudding. Find it here. Mmmm.
As a Polish woman with a German husband, Olga (aka The European Mama) has not one, but TWO great recipes to share. The first one I'm going to taste-test will be "szarlotka," or Polish apple pie (recipe here). With a crusty bottom, a meringue top, and apples in between, you can't go wrong!
Check out that same post for Olga's German MIL's recipe for a German covered apple pie. I feel myself embracing the German side of my Alsatian heritage at this very moment!
On a less international note (and less calorie-ridden, too... because, yes, there is more to life than food... who knew?!), Jaime has about a buzzillion ideas for apples and kids on Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.
Painting with apples, apple scented dough, apple books, apple crafts, apple treats... you name it, and if it's about kids and apples, she's got it! I'm kind of intrigued by the apple volcanoes, but I'm pretty sure I know which one Mag will want to try first: apple sparkle slime!
If you have great apple ideas and recipes of your own, you know I want to see them!
Now in Alberta, Valerie keeps the apple-picking tradition alive with her husband and their young son (who has been picking apples since infancy!). Inspired by her mother's Austro-Bavarian "scheiterhaufe" recipe, Valerie and family share their recipe for a delicious looking crock pot apple pie bread pudding. Find it here. Mmmm.
Check out that same post for Olga's German MIL's recipe for a German covered apple pie. I feel myself embracing the German side of my Alsatian heritage at this very moment!
On a less international note (and less calorie-ridden, too... because, yes, there is more to life than food... who knew?!), Jaime has about a buzzillion ideas for apples and kids on Frogs and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails.
Painting with apples, apple scented dough, apple books, apple crafts, apple treats... you name it, and if it's about kids and apples, she's got it! I'm kind of intrigued by the apple volcanoes, but I'm pretty sure I know which one Mag will want to try first: apple sparkle slime!
If you have great apple ideas and recipes of your own, you know I want to see them!
Until then, happy picking. And baking. And eating...
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Apple Season is Here! ... a product and a FREEBIE!
For yet another year, the Midwestern summer weather has been a bit strange, having felt like fall for much of the summer... which might be why I feel extra ready for: APPLE SEASON!
This year we missed opening weekend at our favorite local apple orchard. But we did arrive by their 8th day open, so we got all the excitement of the beginning of the season, with a bonus of employees who know how to work the registers! (Last year's note to self: if you head to any seasonal attraction in the first hours of their openness for that season, be prepared for just about everyone working there to have to call for someone else to help them with their job. Be it ringing up your order, knowing how to make the hot chocolate, how much things cost, or where the restrooms are... you name it, they're still training for it!)
Anyway, so yes, we did make it to the orchard and had tons of fun... and tons of apple cider donuts! And thus, upon arriving home, I couldn't help but create a few apple-related products.
This first product is a FREEBIE! And a fun one, at that: a 4-page "Life Cycle of the Apple" pop-up book... in four languages! You can find it here, in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
I've also been rounding out my Spanish Dual Language/Immersion Kindergarten series of products, which just didn't seem complete without an apple packet! With this apple packet, I am one step closer to having a complete kindergarten series. Yay! You can check it out here. (Designed to support Common Core targets!)
This year we missed opening weekend at our favorite local apple orchard. But we did arrive by their 8th day open, so we got all the excitement of the beginning of the season, with a bonus of employees who know how to work the registers! (Last year's note to self: if you head to any seasonal attraction in the first hours of their openness for that season, be prepared for just about everyone working there to have to call for someone else to help them with their job. Be it ringing up your order, knowing how to make the hot chocolate, how much things cost, or where the restrooms are... you name it, they're still training for it!)
Anyway, so yes, we did make it to the orchard and had tons of fun... and tons of apple cider donuts! And thus, upon arriving home, I couldn't help but create a few apple-related products.
This first product is a FREEBIE! And a fun one, at that: a 4-page "Life Cycle of the Apple" pop-up book... in four languages! You can find it here, in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.
I've also been rounding out my Spanish Dual Language/Immersion Kindergarten series of products, which just didn't seem complete without an apple packet! With this apple packet, I am one step closer to having a complete kindergarten series. Yay! You can check it out here. (Designed to support Common Core targets!)
In Kürze (German="coming soon"): more apple fun from around the world!
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
"The Happiness of Pursuit" ... released today!
"Finding the quest that will bring purpose to your life."
Wow! A quest that will bring purpose to my life? Sounds great, doesn't it? The sentence above is the by-line from author and travel guru Chris Guillebeau's latest book, released today: The Happiness of Pursuit.
I received an advance copy of this book, for review purposes, under the sole obligation to provide my honest opinion. I was not required to give a favorable review.
Well, on the one hand, Happiness did not disappoint! In relating a series of interviews with "ordinary people completing extraordinary quests" (like the family of four who spent 33 months biking from Alaska to Argentina!), Guillebeau extrapolates a series of lessons to stimulate all readers to find and follow the dream of their lifetime. Interestingly, the stories themselves are so inspirational that the lessons were almost superfluous. (I mean, really, could dating get any more fun than 50 dates in 50 states?! Twelve years ago, I wouldn't have needed a list of lessons to make that happen; just the idea itself!)
And so there is that side of the book: the side that makes you want to just get out there and do something fun and adventurous. Off the couch. Into the big wide world. Prove something to yourself. Or to others. Or find yourself. Or shock your friends. Or simply break up the routine. Whatever you've been needing, or wanting, or dreaming of. That side of the book makes it a terribly enjoyable read, such that you might even be tempted to complete the book in one sitting (although, at 263 pages, it would, admittedly, be a very long sit).
And then there is the other side of the book: the side that saddens. Yes, Happiness follows along on some very exciting and inspiring quests. But in it, we also are shown the emptiness of the quest. We meet several seemingly misguided souls whose quests evolved out of avoidance of pain, or fear, or even immaturity. Dealing with a terminal diagnosis? Avoid the emotional trauma by distracting yourself with a quest, even to the extent that your children feel ignored. Carrying the teenage need to "fight the man" into adulthood? Don't explore the underlying reason for your pre-teen attitude; simply "show them all" by questing to live in silence, speaking to no one (including family!) for almost two decades. (Be assured that this particular quester himself admits to using his silence to "fight the man." -pg231- I did not arbitrarily designate that as the reason for his silence. Imagine refusing to speak to your loved ones for 17 years, just to assert your independence... not as a 12-year old boy, but as an adult man. Very sad.)
Nonetheless, despite the few stories that emoted a hopeless disengagement from reality, taking into consideration the entirety of The Happiness of Pursuit, I can't help but say I found it an engaging and entertaining read. Happiness has inspired me, not to create a quest to give my life purpose as its by-line suggested, but to make a few fun changes in my every day life. I am grateful for the several questers who have stirred me to explore and develop dreams that have been latent in recent years. And grateful to Guillebeau whose book brought those inspiring stories to me!
Now off to learn photography and improve my Spanish...
Wow! A quest that will bring purpose to my life? Sounds great, doesn't it? The sentence above is the by-line from author and travel guru Chris Guillebeau's latest book, released today: The Happiness of Pursuit.
I received an advance copy of this book, for review purposes, under the sole obligation to provide my honest opinion. I was not required to give a favorable review.
And so there is that side of the book: the side that makes you want to just get out there and do something fun and adventurous. Off the couch. Into the big wide world. Prove something to yourself. Or to others. Or find yourself. Or shock your friends. Or simply break up the routine. Whatever you've been needing, or wanting, or dreaming of. That side of the book makes it a terribly enjoyable read, such that you might even be tempted to complete the book in one sitting (although, at 263 pages, it would, admittedly, be a very long sit).
And then there is the other side of the book: the side that saddens. Yes, Happiness follows along on some very exciting and inspiring quests. But in it, we also are shown the emptiness of the quest. We meet several seemingly misguided souls whose quests evolved out of avoidance of pain, or fear, or even immaturity. Dealing with a terminal diagnosis? Avoid the emotional trauma by distracting yourself with a quest, even to the extent that your children feel ignored. Carrying the teenage need to "fight the man" into adulthood? Don't explore the underlying reason for your pre-teen attitude; simply "show them all" by questing to live in silence, speaking to no one (including family!) for almost two decades. (Be assured that this particular quester himself admits to using his silence to "fight the man." -pg231- I did not arbitrarily designate that as the reason for his silence. Imagine refusing to speak to your loved ones for 17 years, just to assert your independence... not as a 12-year old boy, but as an adult man. Very sad.)
Nonetheless, despite the few stories that emoted a hopeless disengagement from reality, taking into consideration the entirety of The Happiness of Pursuit, I can't help but say I found it an engaging and entertaining read. Happiness has inspired me, not to create a quest to give my life purpose as its by-line suggested, but to make a few fun changes in my every day life. I am grateful for the several questers who have stirred me to explore and develop dreams that have been latent in recent years. And grateful to Guillebeau whose book brought those inspiring stories to me!
Now off to learn photography and improve my Spanish...
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Multilingual Coloring Sheets FREEBIE! ... apple-picking theme
Oh my goodness, has it really been over a month since I posted a freebie? Well, then I guess it's time for a new one!
My latest freebie is a "facebook fan freebie." To access these multilingual apple-picking coloring sheets, head to my facebook page, and look for the "free downloads" button on the left sidebar.
My latest freebie is a "facebook fan freebie." To access these multilingual apple-picking coloring sheets, head to my facebook page, and look for the "free downloads" button on the left sidebar.
Credits: Super cute graphics by Educlips. Frame by Creative Clips.
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
Je vous présente... Lily
Lily is a longtime friend, a sister of sorts, from the beautiful city of Oaxaca, México. Lily and I met in high school in our senior year, when I had just returned Stateside after a foreign exchange year in New Zealand, and Lily herself had just arrived as an exchange student in my family's home in the U.S. It was a magical time in both of our lives, a time that passed all too quickly, and has seemed almost a dream when looking back from the years that followed.
In those many long years since our high school foreign exchange adventures, Lily has amassed experience in Clinical Psychology and psycho-pedagogical studies (still trying to wrap my head around that one!), and most recently, my favorite: Bilingual Research Associate at an American university's Early Childhood Education Institute. A gal who loves travel, languages, and children? A perfect match for Open Wide the World!
I hope in coming months, beyond just proofreading tasks, I hope Lily will feel inspired to share pictures and stories of her beloved Oaxaca, as well as maybe a few of her mother's wonderful, traditional Mexican recipes.
In the meantime, I extend to Lily a heartfelt
¡Bienvenida!
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
the BTS sale on TpT: 28% off my store (and most others, too!)
Yay, my favorite event of the year is here: the Back-to-School sale on Teachers Pay Teachers!
My entire store is discounted 20% today. Plus, use code BTS14 to receive an additional 10% off sale prices!
Many stores on TpT are offering this same deal. Happy shopping!
My entire store is discounted 20% today. Plus, use code BTS14 to receive an additional 10% off sale prices!
Many stores on TpT are offering this same deal. Happy shopping!
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Spanish & French Back-to-School FREEBIE!
It's my favorite time again: FREEBIE time!
Somehow, I love offering freebies as much as I love finding freebies. Here's my latest:
You guessed it: this freebie features graphics from two of my fave clip artists: Educlips and Creative Clips. Thanks, Sarah & Krista!
Somehow, I love offering freebies as much as I love finding freebies. Here's my latest:
Click image to find this freebie in my TpT store.
You guessed it: this freebie features graphics from two of my fave clip artists: Educlips and Creative Clips. Thanks, Sarah & Krista!
Friday, July 4, 2014
Our World Cup Pinnacle
Yesterday was "the" big day for soccer at our house!
The France vs. Germany rival goes back many generations in our family. I am a third generation American of Alsatian descent, which means that my family and ancestors have, at various times, been:
While the adults were absorbed in the game, I was so happy to have our World Soccer Cup Activity Pack for Kids to keep Mag engrossed in the action. She loved the idea of being our score keeper, and in the loooong stretch of scoreless time, the activity pages were equally engaging.
It will be so nice to relax and not worry too much about the outcome of today' games... but come Tuesday: Go Deutschland!
The France vs. Germany rival goes back many generations in our family. I am a third generation American of Alsatian descent, which means that my family and ancestors have, at various times, been:
- politically & geographically French, but culturally German,
- politically & geographically German, and culturally German,
- politically & geographically French, and culturally French
- and even politically Swedish for a short duration, just to keep things interesting.
While the adults were absorbed in the game, I was so happy to have our World Soccer Cup Activity Pack for Kids to keep Mag engrossed in the action. She loved the idea of being our score keeper, and in the loooong stretch of scoreless time, the activity pages were equally engaging.
To preview the activity pack, or to purchase, click here.
It will be so nice to relax and not worry too much about the outcome of today' games... but come Tuesday: Go Deutschland!
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
"Read Around the World" with Multicultural Kid Blogs
This summer, the bloggers of Multicultural Kid Blogs invite you to "Read Around the World!" Throughout the summer, member bloggers (and friends) are sharing favorite multicultural books, covering age ranges for the entire family.
Here's my pick for a new favorite: a bilingual book entitled My Diary from Here to There/Mi diario de aquí hasta allá, by Amanda Irma Pérez.
You can see the author read her book aloud (albeit to a less than attentive audience -- probably the age group) here.
To browse through all the MKB bloggers' book choices, check out our newest Pinterst board, dedicated to this great summer series. Happy Reading!
Here's my pick for a new favorite: a bilingual book entitled My Diary from Here to There/Mi diario de aquí hasta allá, by Amanda Irma Pérez.
You can see the author read her book aloud (albeit to a less than attentive audience -- probably the age group) here.
To browse through all the MKB bloggers' book choices, check out our newest Pinterst board, dedicated to this great summer series. Happy Reading!
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