Read the World Summer Book Club
Africa Week
Our family is having a wonderful time exploring the world through books. Jamie of www.simplehomeschool.net is hosting a Read the World Summer Book Club, sharing stories selected from her newly released, globally minded treasury of children’s books, “Give Your Child the World.” Sarah Mackenzie of the Read-Aloud Revival is also co-hosting.
In a word – this book and the reading club are FANTASTIC!
Last week, we completed multicultural week and shared 7 activities that helped enhance our family’s participation in the Read the World Summer Book Club. This week we read books focused on the continent of Africa and are sharing 7 simple activities we did in our home to get the most of our book club experience.
Inviting the World Into Our Home
In Give Your Child the World, Jamie encourages families to implement practical strategies for inviting the world into your home. Last week (multicultural week) we focused on approaching home decor with a global touch. This week we concentrated on “What Inspires You? Share It.”
My husband and I are both veterinarians and very passionate about animals, especially wildlife and endangered animals. Balancing human necessity and safety with compassion for wildlife is precarious in Africa. I pulled out several photographs from my time working with wildlife in South Africa to share with my children. This picture below remains one of my favorites……..
Our family has committed to incorporating one of Jamie’s ideas for practical ways to invite the world into our home each week of the book club. It’s already made a huge difference in how we communicate with our kids about the world and its people. Looking at all these pictures with my kids has reminding me of so many wonderful memories and has me excited about exploring the world with them as they grow!
Reading the World: Africa Week
We’ve been tracking the Africa Books we’ve read from Jamie’s book on Instagram using the tags #giveyourchildtheworld and #booksbeforebreakfast
Creating Global Art
One of my favorite people whom I’ve never met is MaryAnn F. Kohl. She has been a major source of inspiration for helping me learn how to use process art as a vehicle for my children to express themselves. I love her.
She co-authored a book with Jean Potter called “Global Art: Activities, Projects, and Inventions From Around the World.” One of the projects described in this book is a decorative necklace modeled after the beautiful metal collar necklaces historically worn by Central African women.
First we looked at several pictures of these necklaces.
Then we gathered our supplies: paper plates, paint, scissors, and little sticker gems.
I chose this project because the only thing I can imagine my daughter enjoying more than the freedom to do what she wants with some paint is the freedom to add some shiny jewels to her masterpiece 🙂
The kids painted their paper plates.
After the plates dried, we cut out the center of the plates and placed a slit in the ribbing so they could wear their necklaces.
Ladybug noted that some of her red paint ran through the center of the plate and looked like a boot – like Italy she said. (Thank you Read the World Book Club!)
Then, we added little gem stones.
This craft project, like most art projects with toddlers and preschoolers was not without its trials and tribulations, but fun and learning was had by all!
Bringing the World To Our Table
Global Table Adventure recommended during Multicultural week is awesome!
We found this simple recipe for Mealie Bread from Africa, Swaziland.
Grandma as always was an awesome instructor in the kitchen. Ladybug had a fabulous time…..and tasted all the ingredients including the baking powder.
It was soooooo good and gone minutes after it finished baking! So easy (even with little helpers) and highly recommended 🙂
Exploring the Globe
Inspired by Children of Africa, one of the videos Jamie shared on Simple Home School, we discussed how many children in Africa don’t have large collections of LEGOS, fancy dolls, or outdoor play equipment. The kids and I picked up all the outdoor toys (we had to anyway to mow the lawn) and then I tasked them with finding a way to play with what remained. So, they built a boat to sail to Africa. The screwdrivers were necessary to make the final touches and my daughter made sure to grab a chair – “just in case.”
Singing Around the World
We had a great time dancing to African Playground by
Here’s a quick sample we found on YouTube:
The kids also love singing “Yebo”
and “Toom-Bah-Ee-Lero,” a simple, but oh so fun call and response song from Africa.
Bonus points if you can do the “brrrrrr” at the end 🙂
They also enjoyed watching “Siyahamba” from the Mwamba Children’s Choir.
Joining the World in Prayer
As many or most of you know, some parts of Africa experience harsh periods of severe drought. This is especially true of Ethiopa where both water and food can quickly become difficult to attain. BUT, Ethopia is not solely defined by groups of people without resources, the country also has a rich and vibrant culture. A lesson brought home beautifully by selections from Jamie’s book including “E is for Ethiopia,” “The Best Beekeeper of Lalibela,” and “Fire on the Mountain.”
This week I chose to encourage the children in this simple prayer.
“Dear Lord, please watch over those that may not have enough food or water.”
Keeping the prayer simple and short, makes it easy to repeat and complete each day of the week.
As the kids get older and we read more of the books from Jamie’s book about Africa, including Ethiopia, my hope is that they will recognize the true diversity and culture that makes up these amazing countries and realize that although it is important to pray for those in need it also important to recognize and appreciate all the amazing things these countries have to offer as well and thank God for that too!
We are having an amazing time learning more about the world through the Read the World Summer Book Club!
Want to join us? You can find all the details about the club on Simple Homeschool!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook, add the tag #giveyourchildtheworld, and share in the fun!
Happy Adventures!
The image below is perfect for saving on Pinterest!
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