Thursday, January 11, 2024

Scandinavian Countries


Children are curious and discovering that there are people and places around the world that are similar as well as different from them is a great way to feed their curiosity. Many students have family members who live in different parts around the world. Giving students cultural awareness is important to help them learn empathy and understanding for others. Learning about countries around the world also teaches children acceptance of traditions and beliefs that are different from their own culture.
I have recently added Scotland, Sweden and Norway to my list of places to explore. You can combine the Fact Booklets with my How to Draw resources to enhance the learning. Scotland is part of Great Britain and with its lochs, forests and mountains.  It is a place with fascinating wildlife. Also, Scotland is a land of myths and legends, and students love hearing stories about the elusive Loch Ness Monster. Learning how to draw the monster will add extra spark to a written story. 



Sweden and Norway are part of a region known as Scandinavia. Students love learning about toys that children play with in other parts of the world. In the  booklet about Sweden students will learn about a traditional wooden toy - the Dala horse. Learning about the land of the midnight sun is also fascinating. During the summer months the sun never sets in the northern parts of Sweden and Norway.



Vikings are another fascinating topic and your students will love learning to draw Viking ships. Vikings is the name given to seafaring people originally from Scandinavia and you can extend a project about Norway with learning more about these people who were  warriors, and barbarians, but also farmers,  traders, and ship builders.


In today’s increasingly interconnected world and globalized world, fostering global awareness is important and beneficial to students. Start 2024 exploring new and exciting places together with your students. 

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Monday, January 1, 2024

Ring those bells for 2024! 



A brand new year. I love this time of the year. Time to reflect and make plans to create new memories in the classroom. A great way to plan activities is to use special/national days as a guide for topics. January is filled with interesting days that can help you create a classroom that is inclusive and respectful. 

I think we all know that January is Martin Luther King Day. His birthday is celebrated this year on the 16 January. 

Yet, how many of you know when National Draw a Dinosaur Day is? Select special/national days celebrations based on your students’ interests and representation. If you have some dinosaur enthusiasts in your classroom they will love to celebrate these fascinating animals on the 30 January. Use a How to Draw Dinosaur resource to celebrate this special day. 


At the beginning of the new year National Bird is celebrated - 5 January. The aim behind this special day is to raise awareness and celebrate the beauty of birds. A bird fact booklet is perfect to ignite an interest in these animals. The booklet contains a wide variety of birds,  from hummingbirds to ostriches. On the 20 January you can use the penguin fact booklet to mark Penguin Day. These  aquatic flightless birds are always a popular topic. 

The day after MLK day is Ben Franklin Day - 17 January. This remarkable man was an inventor, scientist, as well as an American statesman! Plenty of things to explore and learn using a fact book. 

Another special day is Squirrel Appreciation Day. Check out my best selling Squirrel's New Year's Resolution. This storybook companion is perfect for 21 January celebrations. 

Starting January with asking your students to share their winter traditions, while you explore birds, dinosaurs, squirrels and famous people sets the tone for an exciting 2024!