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So...we're off and running with Y1 dialectic geography and all the kids did super well with the "paper globe" we're making, which required lots of patience and super good cutting skills. We were very pressed for time...not a surprise because I seem to always overplan for the time I have in class ...but there were so many great projects that I had a difficult time narrowing them down. This is where I need to send a huge shoutout to Brook for standing in the gap and helping the students with cutting and gluing the paper globes. We wouldn't have been able to complete the portion we completed without her help. I also am thankful to Lee Ann and Margaret for loaning their "real" globes to the class for however long we need them.

As we begin to prepare for co-op 2 next week (and beyond), the students will continue to need a pair of scissors that fit their hand, so they are able to do a lot of cutting without their hands cramping. Secondly, we will need to have 2-3 extra atlases for the students to share to help them fill in the details on their maps of Africa. If you have one you'd like to loan the class, I can keep it until the end of the year so you don't have to bring it to co-op each time. If you don't mind bringing the atlas each time, that's fine too...I'd just like to know that I can count on having them as a resource each class. If I don't hear from anyone, I'll need to send a request to the entire co-op, so a positive or negative response would be very helpful. Finally, I will be bringing in snacks for the students to eat from the region that we're studying as part of our look at cultures of Africa and the Middle East. Please let me know if your student has any food allergies, so I can make adjustments as necessary. Next week, our food recipe uses dates, honey, and nuts.

I'm really looking forward to this year's class, spending time with all of your students and getting to know them all better. Thanks so much for the opportunity to teach your child this year...I'm hoping it's a great year of learning!!

Blessings,
Phyllis

Hello Ladies!! I'm stunned how quickly these first 7 co-ops have flown by...seems like we just started a few weeks ago. I've thoroughly enjoyed teaching this class and working with your students this year. I sent home the globe project, which took WAY longer than anticipated. I would like your student to finish their globe by putting ribbon around the equator and along the Prime Meridian. They may need a wider ribbon for the equator than I had to give, so several students planned to ask you for something suitable.

As part of our class, we've enjoyed some tastings of northern and eastern Africa. These are all super easy recipes!! I've had some requests for recipes, so here they are (especially from Isaiah ):

Date balls: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvqKmOm5ygI

Olive tapenade: https://www.thespruceeats.com/moroccan- ... pe-2394935

Kenyan stew (vegetarian): https://www.govisitkenya.com/kenya-kunde-recipe.html

Kenyan cookies: https://www.internationalcuisine.com/ke ... i-ya-nazi/
*note: I used crushed peanuts and regular sweetened coconut and they were really sweet...if I made them again, I'd use less sugar or an unsweetened coconut

Finally, we don't always have time to watch the more interesting documentaries on the people and wildlife of the north and east Africa, so if there's interest and time in your school day, I'd love for the kids to go deeper with the cultures and regions we've worked on for our large map of Africa. The next area will be south Africa.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Phyllis