Have you heard of Play Pumps? When kids ride the merry-go-round, fresh water is pumped to the surface. Get your students involved in helping to provide fresh water for kids in Africa.

IDEAS from other teachers

From the LVAEYC Conference:

Family board--each family brings in pictures of their family and special celebrations to post in our room. Bonnie Mease, Owner, Mease Family Day Care
I teach high school students. When we have exchange students (which is yearly), each student is responsible for telling the class about his/her country and then working with the class to prepare a food from his/her country. My child development students (approximately 60) travel to our first grade each year to do a culminating activity after the Japan unit. My students set up 10 stations which the first graders rotate among. This tradition is 30+ years old. Liz Weaver, Child Development Teacher, Annville Cleona School District
At Christmas time, my students and I took a look at common Christmas items in our culture and learned where they came from (i.e. Christmas tree from Germany, cards from England). Also I explained how Santa is called different names (and has different helpers) aroudn the world (i.e. Father Christmas, Le Befana, Pierre Noel, etc.). It helped to encourage the appreciation of other cultures' influence on our lives. Angelo Yoho, Group Supervisor, ECB Luthercare
I work with 6th to 8th graders. We hold an annual multicultural festival. Students pick a country, study, have a display of arts, music, food, dance, and geography. Norma I. Gonzalez, Family Involvement Coordinator, Lebanon School District
My children (at home) and I have oversized, laminated maps. We play "Jump to the State or Country" (using colors if child can't read), then I tell them where they landed (or they do if they can). Sue Hallmark, Assistant Group Supervisor, Luthercare
When friends/acquaintances travel abroad, I ask them to bring me either an item children use or a household item from the country they visit. Kathy Felty

How do you help your students learn about the world?

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