Programming Theme Idea - Countries

I'm really excited about this week's programming for the daycare. We have decided to do a theme based on food and link it with a different country each day of the week. We are lucky enough to have a full-time cook at the child care, so we have altered this week's menu to highlight foods from Ireland, Mexico, Italy, China and Sweden.

We have staff from a variety of backgrounds, so we picked the theme days around their different cultures. It allows the staff to have a real ownership over the programming and will enrich the children's learning experience to be able to share in their teacher's culture. Staff will bring in pictures from their holidays to these countries, stories of their families traditions, souvenirs etc. Children will be using a variety of mediums to create the flags of each country. Paint, marker, crayons, glitter etc. Circle will include the anthems of each country, and the children will learn basic words in that day's country's language. Children are also encouraged to wear the colours that appear on the country of the day's flag.

• Ireland - We will be having Irish Stew with biscuits. We will be discussing clovers and making shamrocks. We will be doing some potato printing which ties our food theme into our craft.
• Mexico - We will be having chili with homemade bread. The kids will be making bread that morning as part of their sensory experience. We will also be making our own butter to go on the bread. We will be learning the Mexican hat dance during circle and we've purchased a pinata as a special treat for outdoor time. The children will also be making maracas during craft time to use during our circle time. Dried beans will be in our sensory bin.
• Italy - We will be having baked sausage penne with garlic bread and salad for lunch. The children will help make biscotti for afternoon snack. We will be making pasta collages for craft.
• China - We will be having a Chinese laundry casserole for lunch with chow mein noodles and fortune cookies. We will be making our own jam today to put on rice cakes for snack. Rice will be in our sensory bin. The children will be making Chinese lanterns for craft.
• Sweden - We will be having Swedish Meatballs for lunch. The children will be making a viking craft during craft time.

This is the first in a series of articles highlighting various programming themes that I am using in my daycare centre. If you have any suggestions for future themes, post them below.