Thanks to parents for supporting our study of the continent of Europe. We reinforced the fact that there are many countries on a continent with different people speaking different languages and having unique cultural traditions that are often influenced by their environments. That said, we appreciate and respect the differences and uniqueness they bring to the world.

Italy

Anne (Simone’s mom) and Katie (Bryton and Summit’s mom) gave a wonderful presentation about Italy, sharing their experiences living there. We began by locating Italy on the map, noticing its distinctive boot shape.

During the presentation, we learned some Italian words, including Ciao for “hello” or “goodbye,” andiamo for “let’s go,” and mangiamo for “let’s eat.” We explored famous landmarks such as the Colosseum, known for its rich history, Florence’s Ponte Vecchio (Bridge of Gold) with its unique architecture, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The children were especially fascinated by Venice, the city with it’s winding canals and boat transportation instead of roads.

When discussing Italian cuisine, we named well-known foods like pizza, bruschetta, and pasta. The children engaged in a sensory exploration of different pasta shapes, including farfalle (bow-tie), rigatoni (tube-shaped), and orecchiette (ear-shaped). To conclude, we enjoyed tasting cooked pasta alongside refreshing blood oranges while listening to Italian music, making it a delightful and immersive experience.

Anne shared her love for Rome and the vibrant mask festival in Venice. Katie, who adores Florence, recounted a touching story about hiking in the Alps with her friends to stay overnight in a mountain cabin. It was the evening of September 11 and they felt a deep sadness reflecting on the tragic events in America. Not being the only ones in the cabin – they heard the sound of beautiful singing in the evening.  In a heartfelt moment of connection, a group of Italians invited the Americans to sing too; they ended up singing the American national anthem in the Alps—a memorable experience.

Switzerland

Ellen, Melia’s mom, and Melia recently returned from visiting their family in Switzerland, which inspired us to explore the country together.

We learned that Switzerland is famous for its beautiful mountains, where cows roam the grassy hills wearing bells to help farmers find them. In the fall and spring, there is a special tradition where cows are decorated with flowers and paraded through villages as they move to and from the mountains.

Switzerland is also home to stunning flowers, including the famous Edelweiss. When learning about Swiss food, we discovered popular dishes like cheese, chocolate, potatoes, and sausages. The country’s location, bordering several others, means that people speak different languages, each with its own dialect. We practiced saying “good morning” in different regional languages.

People in Switzerland enjoy hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter. There are even playgrounds in the mountains!

To wrap up our Swiss exploration, we read Heidi and tasted delicious Swiss cheese and chocolate.

France: Monet’s Art Exploration + Baguette Taste with Butter, jam, and cheese

We explored Monet’s soft, watery, and impressionistic art style, focusing on his famous painting The Japanese Bridge over a pond of water lilies. Using oil pastels and watercolors, we created our own interpretations, experimenting with blending colors and capturing the delicate play of light in our artwork.

Thanks to Daniela for bringing in a wooden bridge, which helped to extend our creativity from 2D to 3D. We built our own versions of the bridge over the pond, using loose parts, fresh flowers, and water lily pads made from felt. This hands-on experience allowed us to imagine and construct scenes reminiscent of Monet’s enchanting garden.

To further immerse ourselves in French culture, we learned simple French words like Bonjour and Merci, listened to French music, and enjoyed tasting fresh baguettes with jam, butter, and cheese.

Sound of the Week: “P”–Pasta, Pizza

We were able to combine and reinforce our study of Europe with the Sound of the Week “p” by making pasta with Coco, Oscar’s mom, and pizza with Noushin.

We made fresh pasta from scratch, carefully adding eggs, salt, olive oil, and water to the flour. After mixing the ingredients into dough, we used a pasta maker to roll and flatten it into long noodles. We let them rest on our drying rack for a while before cooking. Once cooked, we enjoyed the pasta with olive oil—it was simple and delicious!

We prepare a variety of ingredients for our pizza, and finishing it with fresh mozzarella and basil on top makes it even more delicious.

Birthday Celebration

We celebrated Ayah’s 4th and Soloman’s 3rd birthday circle this month.

Inside and Outside Time