Take a trip around the world without leaving your house!

With many of us staying home, you might be looking for fun educational activities you can do with your children! Why not take a trip around the globe right from your own home!

World Map.

Before you started off on your trip around the world, you can do is print/view a map of the world refer to it and talk about the different places you can visit! You might also want to print a map for your children, so they can color in the places they visit on their trip! (Use the list below to choose a virtual destination!) 

You can start your trip by looking at the world map, have our children show you where they are on the map? Discuss what you need to do before you travel! What will we need to do to prepare?

Answers might be;

  • Get a passport
  • Pack a suitcase
  • Change money
  • Get immunizations
  • Check the weather where we are going
  • Pack a bag

Pack Your Suitcase.

You can make a suitcase out of a folder by placing handles on it! You will just need a cardboard folder. Make a handle shape out of construction paper, your child can cut it out and attach to their folder with glue.

Passports.

You can create a passport book by stapling a few sheets of paper together and decorate the front! You can use any stickers you have at home or create your own stamp. You can also use this link to a free passport template. Every time you visit a new country your children can place a sticker on their ‘passport.’

 

You can have your children Draw in their folders what they would pack.

 

Extension Activities.

For older children, you can discuss the world’s climatic zones and different weather in the world. You can talk about the tropical zone that only has a wet season and a dry season. You can also discuss living in the temperate zone, and how you would experience autumn, winter, spring, summer etc. (More information here Layers of Learning. )

You can use zoo animal figures and sort the different animals by placing them where they belonged on the continent maps!

Catch Your Plane and Get moving! 

Now you can run off some energy outside!  Run outside or do a lap around the house to catch your plane!

Hurry, you made it through the airport but now you have to walk across the tightrope to go through customs!

You made it through customs now run to the swing where you will have to wait for all the passengers to board before taking off!

Be creative and use your imagination!

 

Look at the map again and choose two countries each that they would like to learn more about or visit.  Ask the children open-ended questions like…

Where would you choose to go if you could go anywhere in the world?

How would you get to your destination?

What language do they speak?

 

Popsicle Airplanes – These airplanes are simply to put together and the kids were able to decorate and design them however they wished. To create one of these planes for yourself, you will need:

2 Large Popsicle Sticks
1 Clothespin
1 Medium Popsicle Stick
1 Small Popsicle Stick ( whole or broken in half )
Glue
Markers, Crayons, or Stickers ( to decorate )

First, color and design each part of your plane. Next, attach the two large popsicle sticks to the clothespin. Attach the medium popsicle stick to the other end of the clothespin and the small popsicle to the front of the clothespin.

You can extend activities further by making the country’s flag or traditional cuisine!

Choose a Virtual Destination From Live Webcams Around the World

The Louvre

https://www.louvre.fr/en/visites-en-ligne#tabs

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History 

https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour

Vatican 

http://www.museivaticani.va/content/museivaticani/en/collezioni/musei/tour-virtuali-elenco.html

Metropolitan Museum of Art

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/met-360-project

Chicago, Illinois The Art Institute

https://www.artic.edu/collection

Georgia Aquarium

https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/ocean-voyager/

Atlanta Zoo

https://zooatlanta.org/panda-cam/

Explore.org

https://explore.org/livecams

Georgia Aquarium

https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/beluga-whale-webcam/

Monterey Bay Aquarium

https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

San Diego Zoo

https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams

National Zoo

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams

Experience Polar Bears On The Tundra

 

Enjoy a ride through Canada to watch the polar bears, and learn more about them.

https://www.discoveryeducation.com/learn/tundra-connections/

Explore the Pyramids

You do need to sign up to view, however, it is free and has a wealth of information by National Geographic.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/egypt/pyramids-at-giza/

Tour Buckingham Palace

This site provides a tour of the Palace, information about the Queen and each member of the Royal Family, their residences, events, and more.

https://www.royal.uk/virtual-tours-buckingham-palace

Big Bend

http://bravoygrandefilm.org/home/news/?fbclid=IwAR3_pmwDUpcZv3Le5tFPJ8IOYo9p5rFM7SoF7eN6UDpYOoNOoIoLqVVPMeY

Live Webcams

https://explore.org/livecams

Be sure to visit EarthCam, which lists hundreds of cams, divided by category. You can also find cams on the world map.

Earth Cam

https://www.earthcam.com

The International Space Station

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Tsavo East National Park, Kenya

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Katmai National Park, Alaska

Amsterdam, Netherlands

Niagara Falls, Canada

Menuires, France

Tokyo, Japan

Monterey Bay Aquarium, California

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Times Square, New York City

Mpala Research Center, Kenya

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Sydney, Australia

Hong Kong, China

National Zoo, Washington, D.C.

Loch Ness, Scotland

the Caribbean Sea

Paris, France

Abu Dhabi

Pattaya, Thailand

Antarctica

Isla Nublar, Costa Rica

 

Topics:

Age Groups:

Advanced Pre-K
Preschool
School-Age
Toddler

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