First Annual Geography Fair

I mentioned in a previous post that our homeschooling co-op decided to try a geography fair for the first time this year.   I know it stretched some of us in ways we didn’t really want to go, but everyone is already talking about "next year"– some of the kids have already claimed their countries!  

It was a lot of work, but it was a lot of fun, too.  We had about 70 people total that gathered together to take a short world tour.

Brazil

At this display you would find a piranha scale, a Brazilian tambourine, a lapbook about the Amazon rain forest, stories set in the rain forest, and Brigadeiro (chocolate candy!) to sample.  You’d also get to listen to some Brazilian music. 

Ukraine

Here you would find a real pysanky egg, information about why sunflowers are important to the Ukraine, Ukrainian apple cake, folk tales, information about customs & traditions, a lapbook, and Mackenzie might even teach you rubberbands (a game played by Ukrainian girls — similar to jump rope).  


Iraq

At this display you would find information about why Iraq is so important in history, you would learn about their dietary customs, you could smell some cardamom or grab some cardamom cookies, play a face matching game, and you could even try on a turban (or a hijab).   You’d also find out whose dad is serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom.  

Ireland

Over at the Ireland display, you’d learn a lot about St. Patrick (an entire lapbook full!), you’d get to look through lots of pictures of Ireland, you’d taste a butter tart treat, touch and Irish linen, get to watch a slide show, learn about the origins of Halloween (and carving turnips!), and get to see the flag that Alex sewed.  

Burkino Faso

Here everything is brightly colored with fabulous prints.   The girls showed us how the people of Burkino Faso carry babies on their backs.   There were lots of artifacts to look at and touch as well as a slide show, information on money & food, and a big pot of stew (and peanuts) to eat.  

Holland

This display had two sets of wooden shoes (one for the kids to try on & another filled with straw and carrots for Sinterklaus),  lots of great books set in Holland, a model of the boy who held back the sea, tulip treats, windmill cookies, a lapbook of Holland, a scrapbook of Gabe’s "trip" to Holland, and a Lego model of a windmill.   You’d also play some Dutch Nine Pin. 


Haiti

At Autumn’s display of Haiti, you could shake the maracas, read Haitian proverbs, learn what a tap-tap is, see various beaded jewelry, touch a wood carved map, and look at an authentic Haitian tea set.  

Canada

(a picture of Elijah’s board…in progress)

Okay, we all know this is my son’s display so it’s going to get a few more pictures than the others. 

At Elijah’s display you could match the money, put together color puzzles (French/English), see some shells from Nova Scotia, behold his Lego creations (including the CN tower!), watch Lacrosse and Ice Hockey clips, learn that Canada is the leading maple syrup producer in the world, try some Jones’ Soda, eat some Sour Patch Kids candy & salt water taffy, read through a Guess Who? animal book, learn about Boxing Day, and compare the United States’ culture with Canada’s.  

 

If you’re interested in doing a country fair of your own, I have some sample things I could share–an instructional guide for moms, an invitation, and a country hunt form (we had the kids fill these out the night of the fair).   Just post a comment, and I will try to write up another post with the samples.  🙂