So, I'm pretty new to this blogging thing. I'm learning as I go. I'd love comments and feedback from anyone who happens to stop in, and please share my blog with others!
I was browsing the Compassion.com website the other day (a dangerous thing once you are a sponsor--it is so hard to pass up those beautiful children who need sponsorship!). I came across a wealth of free resources that I think a lot of moms would love to get their hands on, but are probably unaware of.
First, if you are a homeschooling mom, teacher, Sunday School teacher, children's minister, or any parent who wants to share cultures and lives of children in other countries, the Christian Homeschool resources are really wonderful.
One lesson focuses on Burkina Faso, which just happens to be where two of our sponsored kids live. The curriculum materials include information about Burkina Faso, activities to help children understand how their lives differ from children living in Burkina Faso from the perspective of relative wealth, and crafts to make a homemade soccer ball from recycled materials (plastic bags!) and a beaded bracelet from recycled magazines. Burkina Faso celebrates the arts, and many of its residents are craftsmen, so arts and crafts are a good way to celebrate and remember the culture of that country.
Another lesson focuses on Brazil, and on taking care of our rain forests and other creatures in God's world. Children learn to identify food products in their own homes that originated in the rainforest, and make a rain forest in a bottle. In lesson plan two, kids unscramble the names of countries and capitals to improve geography skills.
Other regions explored include Peru, Mexico, and India, and focuses extend from Biblical concepts of stewardship, evangelism, and caring for others to science (how mudslides occur and how they can be prevented, for example), measurements, map reading skills, and other important concepts.
You can access the materials and download the lesson pdfs at
http://www.compassion.com/christian-home-school/homeschool-lesson-plans.htm
Another freebie for parents and kids is the really cool "For Kids" section of Compassion.com. This page offers an online educational journey called "Quest for Compassion" to four countries where Compassion's ministry works on behalf of children. Kids can also access "Explorer Magazine" for children, which can be read online or printed in hard copy. This magazine features stories of children around the world and activities that help children learn about poverty and culture. Also included are recipes and crafts from the featured countries.
You can access "For Kids" and all of its content at
http://www.compassion.com/povert/kids-corner.htm
Finally, if you have a heart for helping the poor--particularly through Compassion International, there are a variety of free resources available to you online, including posters detailing poverty-related statistics; computer wallpaper; web gadgets (banners, widgets, etc); and videos.
You can access free downloads at
http://www.compassion.com/get-involved/free-downloads.htm
With so many free resources, it's well worth your time to visit the Compassion.com site and see what they have available. And while you're there, why not sponsor a child?
