Geography Travels: Korea

I originally planned to study only South Korea, but while that country is the main focus, I also touched on North Korea.

Week 1

Monday: Find North and South Korea on a map and globe, capitals, national anthem of South Korea

Tuesday:  Colored the flag of South Korea (Homeschool Creations)

Wednesday: Currency, government, religion, Asia song (from Geography Songs)

Thursday: Geography from A to Z: peninsula, mountains, sea, islands, coastal plains, river basins, rivers, rolling hills, valleys, strait

Labeled a map of South Korea (Enchanted Learning)

Friday: Read from Children Just Like Me and did notebook page (Homeschool Creations); read North and South Korea pages from Not for Parents Travel Book.

Week 2

Monday: Language, Taekwondo, customs

The language video we watched on YouTube has disappeared.  I found this one, and there are several in the series (Korean in Three Minutes):

We watched a cool YouTube video of a Taekwondo dance, but it was removed. There are others, so I do suggest looking it up!

And a Taekwondo demonstration (this one from North Korea):

We browsed through a website of a Korean wedding

Korean Traditional See-saw:

Tuesday: Korean temples and other famous places (Namdaemun Gate)

Our Place—A Photographic Celebration of the World’s Heritage (Korea)

Wednesday: Traditional clothing, music, art, food (like Kimchi)

We looked at traditional clothing at Just Wedeminute

The Hahoe-Dong Mask Museum website has examples of traditional Korean masks, and we looked at another website about the Hahoe Mask Dance Drama.

Korean Onggi (Kimchi pots) is a type of pottery—the website features lots of photos and videos of the pottery being made.

Thursday: Read Guide to South Korea (Highlights Top Secret Adventures) and a folk tale from Around the World in 80 Tales.

Friday: Notebook page (Homeschool Creations)

Other Korea links:

Homeschool Creations did a 2-week unit on Korea (this is the 1st week; follow links to 2nd week).  I got several of my links and ideas here.

Asia Education Foundation-Korea has some resources for download (from Australia)

Rainbow Kids: Korea for Kids—Information, printables, activity ideas

Kids Online-Korea—Read about Korea from kids who live there!

National Geographic for Kids: South Korea—has a video on Jeju Island’s women divers

South Korea-Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette

I am linking this post to “History and Geography” at All Things Beautiful.

Kindergarten Fun

We've just finished our 4th week of school, and Moriah is really enjoying kindergarten! She picked up the workbox system quickly, and she is settling into a routine and loving all the fun stuff scattered throughout the schedule. Here are some things she's done the past few weeks:

1. Fun with pattern blocks...she made the design herself!

2. Science experiment...how many fish counters can you fit into a foil boat before it sinks? We used all 200 counters before it began sinking!

3. Another science experiment where she had to test her sense of smell and try to guess what the scent was. Isaac and Daddy both tried it too!


4. History--We're learning about Joseph and Moses in Egypt, so Moriah made an "Egyptian collar" out of a paper plate.

Charity Shops and Yard Sales

I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a yard sale junkie! I have been addicted to yard sales since I was a child in Oklahoma, when our normal Saturday activity as a family was going to yard sales! I was so disappointed when I realized that yard sales aren't big in England...what was I to do??? Some friends suggested car boot sales, but they're one morning a week (while I'm doing school), and they're really more like American flea markets. My fix? Charity shops! Charity shops in England are just like thrift stores in America, except that there are way more of them! Because people don't really have yard sales, they give all their unwanted items to charity shops, which resell them at yard sale prices. I can't even begin to tell you all the educational bargains I've found at yard sales AND charity shops! I have loads of educational toys, games, puzzles, and kits of all types, and very few of them were purchased new. Yet, nearly all of them are in good condition and contain all their pieces. I love, love, LOVE yard sales and charity shops! Okay, well, anyway, here is my "find" for the day. It's an Ultimate Explorer kit on Ancient Egypt. I paid 1.99 at Oxfam...and it's like new! I just wish Isaac could have had it last year when he studied Ancient History.