A hidden treat in a tiny mountain town.
I had to take several pictures as this was too large to get it all in one or two pictures. So, if you look at the variety of pictures embedded in the larger one, you'll see they are all different parts of the playground.
Here is a cute idea from the M & M's website:
Memory Book
Create a new tradition by making a memory book together with your kids. Then update it once a year as a mini time capsule keepsake.
Prep time: 30 min.
Difficulty: Challenging
What you'll need:
* Felt
* Construction paper
* Yarn, string, thread or cord
* Needle
* Scissors
* Glue
* Crayons, markers or colored pencils
What to do:
1.
Cut felt or paper to the desired size (these will be the pages of the memory book) and bind by sewing with yarn, string or cord.
2.
Glue-in pieces of construction paper or felt to create pockets for keepsakes and souvenirs.
3.
Each year, a new "chapter" is created, items and information are added to the book, and parents and kids can look back on their past year's experiences.
Makes 1 memory book.
We did these when the boys were younger and they are very cute.
http://brightideas.com/summer/family/f_191_1.jsp
On the eastern side of the remote, high-mountain San Luis Valley, between the Blanca Massif and Crestone Needle, are the Great Sand Dunes, the tallest sand dunes in North America. The dunes cover approximately 39 square miles and rise to almost 750' above the valley floor.
This is what we did over the weekend. We had fun touring a Gator Farm (Thanks for setting this up Vanessa - more will follow on that), playing at the Great Sand Dunes, Staying in Aunt Sue's cabin in the mountains, touring Alamosa, meeting Donna the first night and having lunch with Aunt Sue on the second day, driving around looking at future camp areas, and reading about all the history and information on the Alamosa, Fort Garland, Mosca and Hooper areas. There is so much to share but for now, I wanted to put together the pictures of the boys before I put together the lesson plan which will follow soon.
Here are a few pictures of the Sand Dunes.
(Clicking on the Countries will take you to a lesson plan for that country;
clicking on the words in blue will take you to a website with that craft and pictures)
I will provide info here on International Towne and then I will post the crafts and activities for each country in a separate post.
International Towne helps middle school “world citizens” become well prepared for the financial realities of the global marketplace.
Students learn about world trade by running an "international marketplace" comprised of 12 countries. Countries represented in the camp are Argentina, Australia, China, the Czech Republic, Germany, Ghana, India, Japan, Mexico, Morocco, Switzerland and Zimbabwe.
Using offices as "countries," International Towne are located on the second floor of the Young Americans Bank Building in Cherry Creek, 311 Steele St., Denver, Colorado.
Along with activities, games and international cuisine, the students learn about issues such as the scarcity of resources and why nations trade. They also learn what it is like to be a banker in Switzerland, freight forwarder in Germany, or an artisan in India, by working as producers in various foreign countries.
"The program will immerse kids in the global economy and put it at a level they can understand,"
As in real life, the students will pay tariffs and get their passports stamped as they travel from country to country. Organizers hope the camp will help broaden students' awareness of cultures and customs of other countries, enriching their knowledge of economics and geography and offering exposure to global career opportunities.
* In the first training session,
~ Children turn in a completed job application
~ They have an interview with an adult volunteer.
~ Children nominate and vote on Towne laws,
~ Play several group games out of the curriculum,
~ enjoy an International Taste Test,
~ Learn about the history of flags and their symbolic meanings.
* In the second training,
~ Children receive their job assignments and job training for their day in Towne.
~ They create a regional banner with their personal flags.
~ The country Presidents will conduct a Country Meeting where, as a group, they will
write TV, radio, and newspaper ads, and prepare a country presentation.
Curriculum:
* Young American has created a curriculum to guide your student at home in learning about International Towne.
Each child participating will receive a student workbook and passport, which is included in the cost of registration. These will be filled out while reviewing the curriculum.
The boys had a fun day at International Towne. They shared a lot with me on our drive home and I learned a lot as well. Alex was a Jeweler of Israel; he made custom necklaces and bracelets to sell. Brenden was an Artisan of Ghana, he helped tourists make masks and he also sold souvenirs. They made paper skeletons that symbolize happiness in Mexico. To receive their “cultural credit,” (more about this will follow below) they could choose from making a Calaveras Puppet or creating a Papel Picado Day of the Dead decoration.
Here is a little info on each country and what they offered:
AMERILAT REGION - Brazil, Costa Rica, Mexico
Currency: AmeriLat note
Brazil
Global fact: Brazil has won the World Cup Soccer title more than any other country in the world.
International Towne function: Game Attendants admit fans to participate in an interactive "World Cup" soccer game and sell souvenirs.
Costa Rica
Global fact: Costa Rica's economy is heavily reliant on its production of bananas, coffee and sugar.
International Towne function: Greenhouse Attendants care for a tropical greenhouse, teach a Rainforest Cultural Activity and sell nature crafts and souvenirs.
Mexico
Global fact: Festivals have been an important part of Mexican village life for centuries, many of which celebrate the village's patron saint and blend Indian and Christian traditions.
International Towne function: Artisans teach about Dia de los Muertos and sell refreshments
PACASIA REGION - Australia, Singapore, China, India, Japan
Currency: PacAsia Note
Australia
Global fact: Australia is home to the 1,243 mile Great Barrier Reef and the Aboriginal people.
International Towne function: Artisans teach an Aboriginal Dot Art Cultural Activity and sell souvenirs
Singapore
Global fact: In addition to being the world's busiest seaport, banking and the stock exchange generate over 25% of this city-state's income.
International Towne function: As the International Bank, Currency Exchange employees provide banking and currency exchange services for citizens and countries.
China
Global fact: China is one of the world's oldest cultures.
International Towne function: Museum Guides take visitors on an International Museum tour to study artifacts from each of the 16 International Towne countries. China also teaches an Abacus Cultural Activity and sells green tea and souvenirs.
India
Global fact: Bombay produces more films than anywhere in the world.
International Towne function: Projectionists show travelogues and foreign films from each of the 16 International Towne countries.
Japan
Global fact: Electronic components and computers comprise more than 50% of the electronic goods produced in Japan.
International Towne function: As the International Television Station, Photojournalists, Reporters and Ad Agents produce a world newscast, teach an Origami Cultural Activity and sell commercials and souvenirs.
MIDAFRI REGION - Egypt, Ghana, Israel
Currency: MidAfri note
Egypt
Global fact: Millions of people visit Egypt each year to view the pyramids, one of the 7 wonders of the world.
International Towne function: As the International Towne passport service, Passport Agents process passport and travel photos and sell cultural souvenirs representative of Egypt's old and rich culture.
Ghana
Global fact: Ghana is known as the Gold Coast for its reserves of gold that were mined by the Ashanti people. The Ashanti culture as well as other ethnic groups has developed a rich tradition of masks.
International Towne function: Artisans teach an African Mask-Making Cultural Activity and sell souvenirs.
Israel
Global fact: 25% of Israel's export earnings are derived from the production of diamonds. Israel is also the world's largest exporter of flowers.
International Towne function: Israel offers a "bazaar cart" with a variety of custom-made jewelry and flower seeds.
EURUSSIA REGION - Finland, Germany, Greece, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Currency: EuRussia note
Finland
Global fact: Finland is one of the top producers of softwood pine and spruce.
International Towne function: Carpenters handcraft wood products and sell souvenirs.
Germany
Global fact: Germany produces some of the world's finest cars and electrical equipment.
International Towne function: As the International Radio Station, Disc Jockeys/Ad Agents deliver music and news programming, take song requests and sell advertisements and souvenirs.
Greece
Global fact: Greece operates the largest merchant fleet in the world.
International Towne function: As the International Freight Forwarding Service, Freight Forwarders deliver goods and supplies to the other 15 International Towne countries, courier important documents and sell souvenirs.
Ukraine
Global fact: Fertile plains known as steppes cover almost 75% of Ukraine and much of this land is used to grow cereals.
International Towne function: Ukraine conducts an International Taste Test Cultural Activity with a variety of breads and spreads.
United Kingdom
Global fact: The UK is one of the world's leading sources for international news.
International Towne function: As the publisher of the International Newspaper, Reporters and Typists/Ad Agents report on world news, and sell ads and souvenirs.
Mexico
Calaveras Puppets
Materials:
* poster board
* skeleton pattern
* scissors
* glue
* wooden balloon sticks
* paper fasteners
* markers
* various materials for clothes, hats, and props (sequins, colored paper, felt, feathers, flowers, etc.)
Procedures:
1. Cut out pattern of skeleton and trace the pattern on poster board
2. Cut out traced pattern of skeleton on poster board
3. Attach arms and legs to body of skeleton with paper fasteners where circles appear on pattern
4. Decorate the calavera with clothes, hats, and props using various materials. Skeletons can take on characters of everyday life such as skate boarders, musicians, children, or a bride or groom.
5. Attach a wooden stick to the back of the puppet.
6. Enjoy the calaveras puppet!
Here is a mini-unit lesson plan on "El Dia de los Muertos" (Day of the Dead)
Here is a link to a 24 page pdf file Education Packet
Packet Contents:
# Bibliography
# 4 coloring pages
# Word search game
# Mix and match puzzle
# Papel picado lesson plan, including an easy-to-use template for younger children.
# Calavera mask project
# Skeleton puppet project
Here are flash cards to print and glue to index cards:
Examples of Teacher made masks
Ghana
To receive “cultural credits,” decorate your own Ceremonial Mask.
Egypt
To receive “cultural credits,” decipher the work of an ancient scribe, which is a Hieroglyphic printable.
Go here to send an Hieroglyphic ecard
Egyptian Name Translator
Egyptian Calculator
Here are some fun Egyptian games for the kids
2 more fun kids pages for Egyptian theme
Great Scott
Guardians
Ukraine
To receive “culture credits,” they had to taste samples of spreads. The boys did not like these, there was hummus on crackers and “some kind of weird jellies”
Finland
To receive “culture credits,” sketch an outline of how you think a structure might appear in a different climate.
China
To receive “culture credits,” Complete an Abacus Exercise.
How to use an Abacus
The China Museum Tour included a worksheet asking the young adult to correctly figure out the country from which each item was from, and then write the name of the country in the blank space provided.
The items:
~ Kath Putti Puppet
~ Wooden Chocolate Stirrer
~ Matroishkas
~ Calligraphy Set
~ Yanomamo Comb
~ Geisha Doll
~ Hanukka Candle Holder
~ Mueso Board
~ Boomerang
The Chinese Dragon Curriculum Unit
Australia
To receive your “culture credits,” select a kangaroo, koala, platypus, or lizard and create your own aboriginal dot art project using colored markers that represent earth tones.
India
To receive your “culture credits” you will practice meditation, by coloring a mandala. As you color the mandal there are a series of questions to ask yourself on a worksheet.
"A mandala is a source of meditation that the Tibetans use to show your soul and trying to get to the center or to show the universe and everything that is in it."
The Buddha's Art of Healing
I highly recommend you look at the pages of the children’s mandala’s and their stories to go with each one.
Mandala lesson plan
Himalayan Art story telling for kids
Japan
To receive your “cultural credits,” follow the directions for creating an Origami Wallet.
YouTube video showing how to make an origami wallet
Explain to your children what origami is:
Origami (from oru meaning "folding", and kami meaning "paper") is the ancient Japanese art of paper folding. The goal of this art is to create a representation of an object using geometric folds and crease patterns preferably without the use of gluing or cutting the paper medium. "Origami" nowadays refers to all types of paper folding, even those of non-Asian origin
My children wanted to know why this was a thing in Japan so I looked at and found t
he history with links to go with any questions.
The origin of the art began as Chinese Paper Folding. The Japanese origin began in the 6th century when Buddhist monks from China carried paper to Japan. The first Japanese origami is dated from this period. Origami had already become a significant aspect of Japanese ceremony by the Heian period of Japanese history. Samurai warriors would exchange gifts adorned with noshi, a sort of good luck token made of folded strips of paper. Origami butterflies were used during the celebration of Shinto weddings to represent the bride and groom.
Costa Rica
To receive your “cultural credits,” complete the tables to find out how much rainforest disappears each year. (You can use a calculator. These measurements are approximate and rounded.)
Based on your calculations, approximately how much rainforest vanishes each year? __________________________________________
I would be happy to take a picture of the tables if you want to use them as guides to make your own.
Student Worksheet on the Rainforest
Life in the Rainforest by scholastic
Pictures and information of Rainforest animals, climate and plants
Animals of the Rainforest
Lesson Plans of the Rainforest
Brazil
To receive your “cultural credits,” decorate your own Carnaval headdress using the materials provided. Use your imagination and have fun.
We watch the History channel and these were shared on one of my yahoo groups so I'm going to share them here and come back later to organize them. They would go well with the History Channels programs.
Ancient Rome
http://www.historylink102.com/Rome/index.htm
Ancient Rome for Kids
http://rome.mrdonn.org/index.html
Ancient Rome Timeline
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/rome_timeline.shtml
Classics Department: Daily Roman Life
http://www.uvm.edu/~classics/webresources/life/
Encyclopedia Mythica
http://www.pantheon.org/areas/
Leisure and Entertainment
http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/leisure.html
List of Roman Historical Figures
http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/academics/MS/8th/romanhis/romlist.htm
Marriage in Ancient Rome
http://victorian.fortunecity.com/lion/373/roman/romarriage.html
Slavery In Ancient Rome
http://www.richeast.org/htwm/Greeks/Romans/slavery/slavery2.html
The Roman Empire
http://www.roman-empire.net/
Lesson Plans
A Day at the Roman Forum: Public Life in Rome
http://www.eduplace.com/ss/hmss/6/unit/act6.2.html
Can you save the Roman Republic?
http://ancienthistory.mrdonn.org/RomanReforms.html
Dictator for a Day
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonplans/programs/tlc-
ancientrome/index.html
Download and print ancient Rome lessons.
http://www.mrdowlingcom/702print.html
Let's Journey Back in Time to Ancient Rome!
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webquests/ro
me/
Rome
http://www.educ.uvic.ca/faculty/mroth/438/ROME/rome.htm
Roman Numerals
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-
bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Mathematics/Number_Theory/NUM0001
.html
Crafts
Create a Fresco
http://www.easyfunschool.com/article1006.html
How To Create a Lady of Ancient Rome Costume
http://www.ehow.com/how_18768_create-lady-ancient.html
Mosaic Project
http://www.historyforkids.org/crafts/projects/mosaic.htm
Racing Roman Gladiators Craft
http://www.crayola.com/crafts/detail/racing-roman-gladiators-craft/
Roman Arch Project
http://www.historyforkids.org/crafts/rome/arch.htm
Roman Warrior Shield For Kids
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72550774.tip.html
Cooking
Ancient Roman Dishes
http://www.mit.edu/people/wchuang/cooking/recipes/Roman/
Eight ancient Roman recipes from Around the Roman Table
http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/233472.html
Real Roman Recipes
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/roman/recipes.html
Multimedia
NOVA | Lost Roman Treasure
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/zeugma/
Pictures of History: Ancient Rome
http://www.jhauser.us/pictures/history/Romans/Rome/index.html
Roman House
http://www.vroma.org/~bmcmanus/house.html
Rome: Map of the Empire
http://intranetdalton.org/groups/Rome/RMap.html
Online Activities
Ancient Rome Quiz
http://www.triv.net/html/Users/user71.htm
D.I.Y. Speech Making
http://www.snaithprimary.eril.net/npoem.htm
Flashcards about Ancient Rome
http://www.studystack.com/flashcard-3291
Gladiator Dressed to Kill Game
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_gms_gladiator.shtml
Quia - Ancient Rome Review
http://www.quia.com/jg/140056.html
Quia - Roman money
http://www.quia.com/ws/358333.html
Roman History Quizzes and Roman History Trivia
http://www.funtrivia.com/quizzes/history/ancient_history/roman_history
.html
Roman Mosaic
http://wwwwarrinerprimaries.com/Resources/mosaic.htm
Roman Numerals
http://www.novaroma.org/via_romana/numbers.html
Twelve Caesars Quiz - Do you know your Emperors?
http://wwwfalcophiles.co.uk/games/quiz_emperors.html
Walk Through Time
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/walk/games_index.shtml
Virtual Tours
A Day at the Baths
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/lostempires/roman/day.html
BBC - History - Housesteads Fort
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/launch_vt_housesteads.shtm
l
Caistor Roman Town
http://www.sys.uea.ac.uk/Research/researchareas/JWMP/CaistorRomanTown/
caistormap.html
Roman Open Air Museum Hechingen-Stein - Tour
http://www.villa-rustica.de/tour/indexe.html
Tour a Roman Town
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/nettsch/time/rtour.html
Printouts
Ancient Rome Coloring Pages
http://www.coloring.ws/romehtm
Ancient Rome Map Activity
http://www.teachnet-lab.org/miami/2004/linero/rome%201%20map%
20activity.htm
Ancient Rome word search puzzle
http://www.wordsearchfun.com/60500_Ancient_Rome_wordsearchhtml
Ancient Rome Worksheets
http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/soc_studies/rome/
BBC - Romans - Activities
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/romans/activities/index.shtml
When we moved to Pueblo West from Littleton, Colorado I made several trips to Canon City trying to decide where I want to set up permanent residence. There is a beautiful home called the Gibson Mansion in Canon City (not for sale) that I would drive by every time I was in Canon City as I just wanted to stare at it. I took family and friends sometimes telling them all that I would love to see the inside of this home. My birthday this past month was on a Friday, the weather in Pueblo West was supposed to be nasty so I had said, "I'll celebrate on Saturday by going somewhere and doing something." Well, on my birthday, Friday, the Pueblo Chieftain newspaper had an article showing this mansion and how a local organization was having a fund raiser to raise money for disabled children. The fund raiser would be a tour of this mansion! It was going to be on Saturday, the day after my birthday! My husband said this wasn't his thing so I invited my mom. My father-in-law let me borrow his beautiful BMW which is very old and kept in great shape. So, mom and I went to tour the mansion and had a wonderful time. The Gibson mansion is so beautiful. The wood was hand carved, there are a variety of hidden stairways taking you to different parts of the house, the ballroom was on the 3rd floor, they had people dancing and dressed from that era. Mom commented on how you couldn't feel the floor move while they were dancing. The whole house was wooden flooring. There was one bathroom that was an original with beautiful tile on the walls and floor; it was pointed out that this house had one of the first modern bathrooms. The windows were done in lead with beautiful glass paint. There was a fireplace in one parlor with the original tiles and the design was carried out in the room on the walls and hand carved in to a stairway. You'll see that in the pictures. I'm sure there is more for me to say but I'll go ahead and share the pictures for now. I have also included a link on the title so you can go to the website where the photos are stored and see them in a larger format. If you do this, please click on the slide show on that page as that does justice to these photos.
We spent the past weekend in Denver
celebrating Brenden's 12th birthday.
We had a good time swimming, walking
the malls, making friends,
celebrating.......
The Lego Store at Colorado Mills Mall
had a designer putting together an 8ft
tall Yoda with the help of any and all
kids even the dads jumped in on building.
They had a very nice set up. The mall is
really big so the aisles are big; the Lego
store set up tables out front of the store with tubs of legos
and drawings as guides for what the kids were to build.
They then took their creations to the designer who was adding
them to the Yoda which would end up being 8 ft tall. My
husband commented on how smart it was of them to enlist
the help of everyone in putting together blocks of pieces
to add to the larger model. The last pic is of my 12 year
old holding the miniature model of what they were all building.
We took a break and played glow in the dark putt-putt, had
lunch and went back to build more. Here are more pics of the
Lego store:
slideshow of Lego Yoda
http://s89.photobucket.com/albums/k206/kathy80123/Brenden%20birthday/
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