Africa I

With the world cup being on and you know how much my boy loves his footie, I thought it would be the perfect time to introduce Africa. Here are a few things we have done so far...

I cut out pieces of coloured card so that when they are layered they make the flag of South Africa, he got

out his flag book to compare the flags.

 working on the Africa puzzle map

 Now, a while ago I organised a couple of continent swaps and we got some great goodies back, (thanks you) this is one of the activities, there is an African village scene and then cut out of different people doing different jobs, it turned out to be a great conversation starter. He would ask me what the people were doing and why, one conversation went like this:
E-K: what is she doing?
Me: pounding grain to make flour
E-K: what about this woman?
Me: what do you think?
E-K: maybe making bread.
Me: yes, looks like it
E-K and him?
Me: putting the bread in the oven
E-K: why don't they use a bread machine like ours, it is much easier.
Me: good question, do you know how the bread machine works?
E-K: yes, you press the buttons
Me: so what makes it get hot to bake the bread
E-K: the buttons (looking at me as if I am daft)
Me: do you know what kind of energy the bread machine uses?
E-K: (big sigh, blimey my mom is slow) you put the flour and other things inside the machine and then press the BUTTONS and the BUTTONS make it hot and cook the bread and then it beeps when it is ready.
The conversation went on for quite a while and we talked about electricity and water supplies, all rather amusing.

He has also been using the 3 part flag cards, kids always seem to love maps, I know I did when I was a kid, maybe it the bright colours and simple designs that draws them to flags.