Things we have learnt this week: Andorra is the 6th smallest country in Europe, a snail lives longer than a month so they can be used in a school project, a Great Wall of China model can be made out of Weet-Bix, shortbread cookies from Maritius taste delicious and mint tea is commonly drunk in Morocco.
This was just some of the information on display at Cobar’s Homeschoolers Geography Fair on Friday at the Cobar Youth & Community Centre.
The group of Homeschoolers took their parents, friends and other members of the community on a trip around the world with their oral and visual presentations about various countries.
Children as young as two and four years right up to teenagers took part.
Students were allowed to chose a country to study and the reasons for which country they chose varied from a genuine interest to find out about a little known country or just so they could cook their chosen country’s traditional food (such as Danish pastries and pretzels).
They presented information about their chosen country’s landscapes, population, language, culture, traditional dress, currency, capital cities, foods, religion, animals, flora and fauna.
Some of the students’ presentations were presented as facts while others chose to give their presentations from a tourist’s point of view and spoke about things to do and why you should visit their country of study.
A Seven Wonders of the World display was created by the students with a variety of materials used including cardboard and Weet-Bix.
Home School mum, Sarah Theakston, said the Geography Fair gave their children the opportunity to learn different ways to research and presenting an oral presentation gave them confidence in public speaking.
Another Home School mum, Ness Cavalot, said the Geography Fair, which was open to the public, gave local families a chance to see how Homeschooling works and was an opportunity for them to talk to parents who have homeschooled their children.
As part of the Fair, Japanese backpackers working in the Cobar Shire spoke about their culture, Simonne Mackay, who has recently travelled to India, shared her experiences and a South African mum also gave an insight into her culture.
The event was well received and may possibly become an annual event.
