Around the World Camp: Russia

Next stop, Russia!

Of course we start the day with the basics.  Where is it, what do they speak, etc., etc.?  We spend a little time on some of the more famous landmarks (like the St. Petersburg Palaces, Hermitage Museum, Red Square), people (Joseph Stalin, the missing Princess Anastasia legend), and cultural aspects (like Matryoshka dolls).  For our cultural "deep dive" we talked about Russian foods, which was not ideal given our craft project, but kids always like learning about food so that's what I went with.

For our project, we looked at one of my most favorite aspects of Russian culture, Faberge Eggs!

Around the World Camp: Mexico

Hola!  Next stop, Mexico!

Today was a really fun day for us because it was the all important, smash-hit cooking day!  We're making quesadillas!

After covering the basics, learning about the Mayans and hearing mariachi music, we talked about popular Mexican dishes.  We had a matching picture to term page about popular Mexican foods like tacos, enchiladas, tamales, etc.

Around the World Camp: India

Next stop for our camp was India.  I had a lot of ideas for this one, but time was a concern.  These early camps I used a few too many supplementary videos so our project time was cut short.  Also, these early camps needed projects that were easily accomplished so students wouldn't drop out early.

Around the World Camp: Italy

First stop on our Around the World Camp is Italy.

For Italy, we talked about the basics...geography, language, demonyms, flag, famous places, people, things, etc.  For our cultural "deep dive" we discussed pasta shapes and translated then from Italian to English (farfalle = butterfly, orecchiette = little ears, etc.)

Around the World Camp(s)

More or less, my summer and winter camp schedule has settled into a pattern.  The first camp I had after my surgery was scheduled to be 3 weeks long, so as I like to came a camp "theme," I decided to have a travel themed camp.  So after planning and prepping for almost a month, students were not signing up for a three week camp, so my school made the last minute decision to cut camp to 2 weeks.

That meant I had to cut a week's worth of lessons from the schedule.  A blessing and a curse.  Blessing because 2 weeks is about all I can handle with all the stress of preparing, teaching, shopping, etc. for camp.  Curse because I already had a rough outline for 3 weeks.  Hakuna matata, though, I'll just bounce the extra week's plan into the next camp.

2019 So Far

2019 is off to a rough start.

Actually, 2018 ended a little roughly, too.

I haven't written anything in a long time, but, like always, I logged in thinking I will change that.  No promises, of course.  However, I will take a moment for a least a little update.  (Not that anyone reads these.)

Anthony Bourdain, RIP

Anthony Bourdain died yesterday.  I would have posted then, but I needed time to digest the news, so to speak.

Anthony Bourdain (1956-2018)

I don't want to use this post to talk about socio-political issues surrounding mental health or any of the "greater" issues...all that can wait for another post.  Instead, I want to reflect on what Bourdain's work has meant to me.