I volunteer at my daughter's school to help with their geography program. Basically, the kids learn from 5 to 25 countries each months and the older kids learn the capitals as well. The kindergartners and first graders learn a minimum of 5 each month, but can learn more if they choose.
What is fascinating to me about this process is how the kids learn to recognize and remember countries.
Some of my favorite are--
Kids remember Germany because the country looks as if it is yelling at the Czech Republic (and the dot for the capital of Berlin looks like an eye of the yelling man).
Kindergartners learned to find Iran on a map by the teacher noticing that the shape of the country looks like a slug, she said, "It shouldn't be Iran, but I slime!"
Croatia is the mouth eating Bosnia & Herzegovina.
Ethiopia plus neighboring country Djibouti, looks like the head of a chick, plus the capital of Addis Ababa makes the perfect baby chick eye.
Finland is the third finger (Norway & Sweden being the first two).
Bulgaria is the romantic kissing fish kissing the Black Sea.
The Black Sea is the foot that stepped on Turkey.
Belgium is the hat that France wears.
Of course, we all know the boot of Italy kicks Sicily.
But did you know that Pakistan is the dinosaur that fights with India's dinosaur.
Kenya is Africa's star.
Chile is the long chili pepper of South America.
Mongolia is China's brain.
Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, & Vietnam are the jellyfish above Cambodia's shell.
You know, this just may be notes for a new poem for me...
