Greek Week: Activities

One of the best ways to learn about a foreign country is to go there for a few weeks. You can't really experience a culture until you are immersed in it.

Many of us, however, are not so lucky. We have to rely on comparative sociology: we compare our own lifestyle to that of others. Obviously, it lacks depth but it provides a simple means to familiarize oneself with the "foreign."

Since our boys are so young and don't really have a concrete concept of infrastructures like government, politics, or economics, we asked them questions like:
What is the currency of Greece? 
What does the flag look like? 
What does the music sound like? 
How do people in Greece dance? 
What does the country look like? 
Where is the country located on the globe?
What is the climate like?
How do people get around?

We showed them where Greece was on a world map. We encouraged them to make flags of the country (Arthur insisted making his out of Legos). I brought out some of my old Drachmas and we watched a few YouTube movies of Greece. The boys were fascinated by the ferries and the beautiful beaches. They loved the mopeds and hearing about my trip to the Paros Quarry.

If your children are a little older, ask questions like:
What kind of a government does Greece have?
What is Greece's role in the E.U.?
What are Greece's major exports? Major imports?
What is the geography like? 
How does the climate vary by region?
Are there any well-known celebrities with Greek origins?
What religions are observed in Greece?
What major ethnic groups live in Greece?

If you are lucky enough to know someone from Greece, have your children interview them. Even young kids can come up with the questions!