Learning About Albania for Kids

Second up in our parade of nations is Albania (check out the post on Afghanistan for kids if you missed it!). I’ll admit to knowing almost nothing about Albania, so let’s learn together.

Albania Basics

To begin with, Albania is officially the Republic of Albania, and it’s located in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Greece, North Macedonia, Kosovo and Montenegro, and also has the Adriatic Sea on its western border. The capital is Tirana. It was estimated in 2022 that nearly 2.8 million people lived there.

Albanian is the official language, but people there also speak Greek, Aromanian and Macedonian.

Albania has spent much of its history ruled by other nations and empires, and it has been an independent nation since 1912. The nation covers 11,100 square miles (or 28,748 square kilometers) and includes mountains, plains and coastal regions.

Mother Teresa was born in Albania and is the only Albanian to have received a Nobel Prize.

National Symbols

The Albanian flag has a red background with a two-headed eagle silhouette in black. The flag was adopted in 1912. Red symbolizes bravery, strength, valor and bloodshed, while the eagle is a symbol of Albania. (Eagles have been used for heraldic purposes in the region for hundreds of years and the double-headed eagle was used by Albanian nationalists during their fight for independence.)

The eagle is also considered the national animal and symbol of Albania.

“Himni i Flamurit” is the national anthem, which you can listen to below:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcjJoBtGBNI?si=2uuM0P0ojSbdGydK]

Albania Activities for Kids

Chasing the Donkey has some fun facts about Albania that kids might enjoy. Activity Village has Albania printables including a flag to color, worksheets, a map and more (these are available to their members). Kids Konnect also has a great collection of free worksheets and fact sheets related to Albania.

Older kids might like the story of Rozafa Castle, which legend has it would not stay standing until a woman was trapped in the walls. Or read the stories of the legendary Mujo and Halil, or listen to the song “Mujo, Halil and the Fairies.”

Want to try some Albanian food? A popular lamb and rice dish called Tavë Kosi is considered the national dish; Jess Eats & Travels has a simplified version. Fërgesë, which is made of tomatoes, peppers and cheese, is another popular dish. Find a recipe at the Foreign Fork. Or try Byrek, a spinach and feta pie that shows the Greek influence on Albania cuisine (try this recipe from Polkadot Passport).

Books About Albania for Kids

I didn’t find a lot of books out there for learning more about Albania, but you can check out My First Book – Albania by Penelope Palette, or this cute Albania Coloring Book with fun facts.

If you know of books or other resources for kids learning about Albania I’d love to know about them!

Next Plan Idea:

Learning about Afghanistan for Kids

I’m in deep denial about the fact that new year is almost upon us again! It’s been the fastest and the longest year at the same time, and I can look back and see some good things as well as some things I wish had gone differently.

Doing a year in review with your kids — whether in the classroom or at home — is a good way to capture some of their memories and the things they really liked about the year gone by.

There are a lot of different printable year in review worksheets you can use if you want to make this super easy. Here are links to a few (often part of larger posts about NYE celebrations with kids that are worth a read, too):

Teach Beside Me has lots of fun printables fro the end of the year, including a year in review that covers favorite memory, funniest memory and the best book they read, among other topics.
NurtureStore‘s version has space for a self-portrait and prompts like favorite toy, best day out this year and future dream job.
Remember favorites, their “best idea” of the year and have room for setting goals for next year with this one from The Keele Deal.
The year in review from Yes We Made This has room for drawing or writing and includes things like something they learned, a memory they made and a place they visited.

Of course you could pretty easily make your own year in review for the whole family to do that asks questions based on what you most want to remember. (Favorite video game? Best friend? Favorite family memory?)

And if after the year in review you’re ready to look ahead a bit, Mrs. Merry has new year’s resolution printables to inspired kids to look ahead and set goals for things they want to try. You can totally fill this one out as a grownup, too.

[Photo: Mrs. Merry]

Albania Basics

National Symbols

Books About Albania for Kids

Next Plan Idea:

Have you read?

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