Review: Where Kids Go to School Around the World

As we gear up for another school year to start, your kids might be interested in how other kids learn. Whether you have a child who is getting ready to go to school for the first time, you’re adding back to school books to your classroom library or you’re a homeschooler who wants to talk about how other kids do school, Where Kids Go to School Around the World by Stepanka Sekaninova, Helena Harastova and Michaela Bergmannova is a fun read.

The book looks at different types of schools in different places around the world, from an online school that serves kids in remote Australia to a British boarding school, a school for monks in training in India and a school on a boat in Bangladesh to name a few.

In all, 15 schools are highlighted, including a school in a hospital, a Montessori school, a school in a refugee camp and a sports school. Not all of them have locations mentioned but they give kids an idea of how others kids go about their school day.

Each school is illustrated with a scene on a two-page spread surrounded by facts about going to school and activities they do through the day from the point of view of a student. For example the page about a school in Japan talks about how kids help clean the classroom, what they eat for lunch and how they prepare for earthquakes, among other things.

The page about Finland notes they don’t start schooling until age 7, the school day doesn’t start until 9:30 and the kids don’t take tests. Your kids may have some opinions on which would be their favorite place to learn after reading this book!

Where Kids Go to School Around the World gives you a chance to compare and contrast different learning environments, and could lead to having kids talk about or draw what their ideal classroom would look like. You can talk about how some kids aren’t able to go to school because their families can’t afford it, there isn’t one locally or they just aren’t allowed to.

About the book: 36 pages, hardcover, published 2023 by Albatross Media. Suggested retail price $15.99.

Last month I shared a collection of beach crafts that used items from the beach like seashells and sand. This month’s collection is all about beach animals and things you might see at the beach that don’t require beachy materials to make. In fact you’ve probably got what you need to make most of these beach crafts in your house already.

How about paper plates? With a paper plate you can make this cute watercolor seashell from The Educator’s Spin on It, or an adorable seagull like this one from Glued to My Crafts.

Add some white beans and you can make paper plate sand dollars like Crafts by Amanda. Or use a paper plate as a frame for a sweet beach scene like this crab and turtle one from Artsy Craftsy Mom, which includes a downloadable template and instructions to make it super easy.

Or grab a paper plate and some bubble wrap to make a jellyfish like this one from Happy Toddler Playtime. If you have paper bowls instead of plates, you can also make a jellyfish from one of those, like Natural Beach Living did.

Use your stash of craft sticks and googly eyes to make crabs, fish, sharks and more with this craft idea from The Keeper of the Cheerios.

I love this little crab made with a cardboard tube from Hunny I’m Home. With this same idea I’ll bet you could make lots of different creatures.

Grab some construction paper to make the loopy tentacles on this watercolor jellyfish from Craftsy Hacks. Or make a stained glass jellyfish like this one from Life Anchored.

Make easy puffy paint to make these fun fluffy starfish from I Heart Crafty Things, or use cupcake liners to make cute little crabs (also from I Heart Crafty Things).

Turn an old pool noodle into some super cute fish with this tutorial from Happy Toddler Playtime.

And if you’ve got some leftover yarn lying around, make pompoms and turn them into turtles like these from Craftsy Hacks. (And check out my post on different ways to make pompoms if you need a refresher!)

Have you read?

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