travel – Page 4 – travelteachlove

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

November 17, 2016 No Comments

There is one thing that always marvels me whenever I travel abroad, and that is the efficient public transportation systems of other countries. Bus, trains, trams, boats, it doesn’t matter how you need to get around, I find that countries around the world have lots of public options for people. When I think about how the public transportation stacks up to that in the US, all I can think is how we pale in comparison. Back to even my earliest travel days when I use to just travel with my family, we always used public transportation. In general, my experience […]

Social Studies, Travel

What’s In A Map?

November 8, 2016 1 Comment

One of the social studies topics we cover in second grade are types of maps and how we use them. Obviously this is a perfect opportunity to share with students maps I have picked up over the years during my travels. I have to admit that everywhere I have been I have collected maps, brochures and other literature just waiting for the right opportunity to use them one day. That day has finally arrived! By using real maps of places around the world, it will be an authentic way of showing students different styles of maps to students. I […]

Classroom Connection, Science, Social Studies, Travel

States of Matter Around the World

October 25, 2016 No Comments

Science is universal. Take the states of matter for example. No matter where you go in the world matter will still be matter. We are currently studying states of matter and of course I have been thinking, “How can I take this study international?” Well I think I have found a way. Students are gearing up to start a big science project that integrates science and technology. Using information they have learned so far about the three states of matter we focus on, solid, liquid and gas; students will go on a scavenger hunt outside around the school to take pictures […]

Travel

Market Squares

October 15, 2016 1 Comment

One of the things I loved most about my time in Europe this past summer was spending time in markets. Abuzz with activity, sounds and smells, open market squares were the perfect place to soak up culture and do a little shopping at the same time. When I returned home to the states all I could think was how much I missed the open markets I had visited. Why can’t we make a go of permanent open air markets here? I mean if Helsinki, Finland can have one year round then towns in New England certainly could make it […]

Classroom Connection, Food, Travel

Fall Foods Near and Far

September 27, 2016 1 Comment

Fall has finally arrived! Besides the onset of cooler weather, wearing cozy sweaters and acclimating oneself to back to school routines, there is my favorite fall tradition of going apple picking. What made this fall even better was hearing from my family in Finland. They may not have gone apple picking, but they were gathering food as only the Finns can do. Back in the States, it doesn’t matter where I go, all that matters is that each fall I find a weekend to go and fill a bag with more apples than I could ever possibly consume on my own. […]

Travel

The Hills Are Alive

September 14, 2016 1 Comment

One of my favorite experiences this summer was going on The Sound of Music tour in Salzburg. Not only did I get to spend the morning listening to the music of my childhood, but the scenery was breathtaking! There are several tours to choose from but our family opted for the morning half day tour. We spent the morning touring different places used for filming the movie both in Salzburg and outside the city. Some of the sights we had seen the day before when we walked around the old town area and we didn’t even realize it! There was […]

STEAM

Windmill STEAM Take 2

September 7, 2016 No Comments

After visiting Spain last spring, I was hoping to have my students complete a STEAM project connected to the windmills of La Mancha. Unfortunately, with the craziness of testing time, then the end of the year, the project never got off the ground. While we did many other great Spain activities and talked about the windmills made famous by the book Don Quixote, I couldn’t stop thinking about the STEAM project that wasn’t. Over the summer while in Amsterdam my obsession with a windmill STEAM project returned. My sister and I took a day trip outside the city to Zaanse […]

Travel

Teacher in Moomin World

August 19, 2016 No Comments

With the start of school right around the corner I thought it would be fitting to write a post about the most child friendly place I visited in Finland, Muumimaailma! Moomin World as we would call it in English, is a magical place, but before I get carried away let me give a little background on what the heck Moomin actually is. Moomintroll is a white, hippo looking character created by Tove Jansson in the 1940s. Moomintroll and along with his family and friends grew in popularity over the years and can now be found all over the world. The […]

Food, Travel

Helsinki Favorites

August 8, 2016 1 Comment

Helsinki may just be my favorite city I have traveled to. Not too big, clean, easy to navigate and lots to see and do, what isn’t there to love? I loved spending some time there on my own before being joined first by my sister and later by my mum. It gave me a chance to discover some of my favorite places in the city and then share them with my family. Here is a break down of my favorite must see places and must do activities if you visit Helsinki. Sit on the steps of the Helsinki Cathedral. This […]

Travel

Finnish Design

July 28, 2016 1 Comment

I have been home almost a week now after traveling for about a month. It has been a while since I blogged as I decided to take time off at the end of my trip, and then when returning home life caught up with me. I finally have some time to sit down and relive my favorite things from my travels. What a wonderful perk of blogging, it is the perfect way to extend a trip! Something I have been dying to blog about is Finnish design. Needless to say, I am obsessed. Marimekko, Iittala, Finlayson and countless other independent and […]