Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Europe. Show all posts

Monday, August 12, 2013

Finland


We just learned about the country of Denmark

Finland is a country in Northern Europe, right between to Sweden and Russia on the other side.

finland
(from: wikipedia - finland)

Linus Torvalds is a famous computer genius from Finland
linus torvalds
(from: wikipedia - culture of finland)

Finland people love to sit in really hot small houses called saunas sauna
(from: wikipedia - culture of finland)

Suomenlinna is a castle fortress in the sea that is built across six islands suomenlinna
(from: wikipedia - suomenlinna)

Monday, August 5, 2013

Denmark


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

We've learned about Norway and Sweden, the two other Scandinavian countries.

The third and last Scandinavian country is Denmark.
It is not on the peninsula, but is actually connected to Germany.

Denmark is the oldest kingdom in Europe, and the people there are called Danes or Danish.

denmark
(from: wikipedia - denmark)

Famous author Hans Christian Andersen was from Denmark.
He was the original writer for famous stories like Thumbelina and The Little Mermaid
hans christian andersen
(from: wikipedia - hans christian anderson)
Danish scientist Niels Bohr helped us understand how the atom works.
niels bohr
(from: wikipedia - niels bohr)

The famous Kronborg Castle is in Denmark
kronborg castle
(from: wikipedia - kronborg castle)

Monday, July 29, 2013

Sweden


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about Norway,
and how Norway, Denmark and Sweden are all Scandinavian countries.
Sweden is also part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

sweden
(from: wikipedia - sweden)

Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel invented dynamite, and started the Nobel peace prizes.
alfred nobel
(from: wikipedia - alfred nobel)

Every year Sweden builds a hotel made of ice, big enough for 100 people.
ice hotel
(from: wikipedia - tourism in sweden)

The type of meal where you have a table full of food to choose from
is very often called a smorgasbord, which comes from the Swedish word Smörgåsbord.
smorgasbord
(from: wikipedia - smörgåsbord

Monday, July 22, 2013

Norway


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about Greece.

Next up is Norway.

Norway is part of what is called the Scandinavian countries,
along with Denmark and Sweden
It makes up part of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

norway
(from: wikipedia - norway)

Vikings played a very strong part in Norwegian history,
sailing their large ships in the seas and attacking the villages.
viking ship

The icy northern coast of Norway has over 50,000 small islands!

norway islands

Norway also has fjords, (sounds like fee-or-ds)
which are long thin areas of water with high cliffs on either side.
norway fjords
(from: wikipedia - fjord)

Monday, July 15, 2013

Greece


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about Poland.

Next up is Greece.

Greece is home to some great foods like moussaka, pastitsio and a cheese called saganaki that they light on fire and say OPAH!
greece
(from: wikipedia - greece)

Many famous big thinkers called philosophers were from Greece, one was named Socrates
socrates

There are many famous buildings in Greece, like the Parthenon
parthenon

And Greece is where the Olympic Games were first invented.
olympics

Monday, July 8, 2013

Poland


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about Italy.

Next up is Poland.
In Poland to say good morning you would say dzień dobry! (sounds like jane doh-bray)

This country's famous food is wonderful tasty things like pierogis, kielbasa and paczis.
poland
(from: wikipedia - poland)

Frédéric Chopin was a great pianist and music composer
chopin
(from: wikipedia - frédéric chopin)

Malbork Castle is the largest castle in the world
malbork castle
(from: wikipedia - malbork castle)

The Dunajec River Gorge is one of many beautiful natural sites
dunajec river gorge
(from: wikipedia - dunajec river gorge)


Monday, July 1, 2013

Italy


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about Scotland.

Next up is Italy.
In Italy to say hello you would say bonjourno!

This country is very famous for their food, like spaghetti and tortellini,
and for their famous cities of Rome, Milan, Florence and Venice
where there have been many famous artists and musicians.
italy
(from: wikipedia - italy)

The coloseum is a very old place where people called gladiators used to fight
each other with swords and shields while people watched and cheered them on.
coloseum

There is a city in Italy called Venice where they don't have cars driving on streets,
they have boats on the water instead!
venice
(from: wikipedia - venice)

One of the most famous paintings in the world is the Mona Lisa,
it was painted by the famous Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci.
mona lisa
(from: wikipedia - leonardo da vinci)


Monday, June 24, 2013

Scotland


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learneda bout Ireland.

Next up is Scotland.
Scotland is on the North part of the same island where England is.

scotland
(from: wikipedia - scotland)

In Scotland there were many families, also called clans and each clan had their symbols (called crests) and colors (tartans).

wallace crest wallace tartan
(from: wikipedia - clan wallace)

Scottish mean wear something called a kilt, which is like a skirt but worn by men!
kilt
(from: wikipedia - kilt)

They play a special instrument called a bagpipe,
which is a big full of air and a bunch of horns attached to it.
bagpipe
(from: wikipedia - bagpipe)


Monday, June 17, 2013

Ireland


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

Last time we learned about England.

Next up is Ireland.

Ireland is an island right next to England,
and even though it it one island, it is split into two countries:
The Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland.

ireland

(from: wikipedia - ireland)

Ireland is known for some of it's wonderful castles like Killkenny castle
killkenny castle

Many people believe that a stone called the Blarney Stone gives anyone who kisses it
great skill in talking with people, so many people travel to kiss the blarney stone.
blarney stone

One symbol for good luck of the Irish people is the Shamrock.
clover

Monday, June 10, 2013

England


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

We've already learned about France, Spain and Germany.

Next up is England.
england
(from: wikipedia - england)

One of the oldest buildings ever found is in England, called Stonehenge built over 4,000 years ago!
stonehenge
(from: wikipedia - stonehenge)

England has a royal family with a Queen, princes and princesses!
The home of the royal family is Westminster Palace
westminster
(from: wikipedia - palace of westminster)

And a very famous scientist Isaac Newton was from England too!
isaac newton
(from: wikipedia - isaac newton)

Monday, June 3, 2013

Germany


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

We've already learned about France and Spain.

Next up is Germany.

In Germany they speak German, and to say hello you would say guten Tag
The people there call their country Deutschland.

germany
(from: wikipedia - germany)

Many famous people came from Germany, like Martin Luther who helped start the Lutheran religion
martin luther
(from: wikipedia - martin luther)

Ludwig Van Beethoven, one of the most famous musicians ever
beethoven
(from: wikipedia - ludwig van beethoven)

And the famous scientist Albert Einstein
einstein
(from: wikipedia - albert einstein)

Monday, May 27, 2013

Spain


Let's keep learning about the countries in Europe!

We've already learned about France.

Next up is Spain.

In Spain they speak Spanish, and to say hello you would say Hola!.
The people there call their country España (like Ess-pahn-yah)
spain
(from: wikipedia - spain)


Spain is home to a special type of dancing called Flemenco
flemenco
(from: wikipedia - flamenco)

And there is an old tradition of a running race where people are chased by wild bulls!
It's called the running of the bulls
running of the bulls
(from: wikipedia - running of the bulls)

Monday, May 20, 2013

France


We just learned about the South American Islands.

Let's learn about the countries in Europe!

First up is France.

In France they speak French, and to say hello you would say Bonjour!.
More people go on vacation to France than any other place in the world.
france
(from: wikipedia - france)

The most famous city in France is Paris.

There you will find things like the eiffel tower:
eiffel tower
and the Louvre museum:
louvre