Epcot

Today will be the longest post about making Disney educational as I will be covering Epcot which has two parts, Future World, and World Showcase.

Epcot is an acronym.  What does it stand for?  What other acronyms do you know?

First up is Future World

Spaceship Earth
Communications through time.  Pick a topic highlighted in the ride and do a unit study on it when you get home.  Possible topics include the Renaissance, ancient Egypt (make papyrus or write your name in hieroglyphics), Dark Ages, printing press.  Search Pinterest for hands-on activities to go along with these topics.  If you could go back in time, what year or period would you choose and why?  What do you think the future will be like?

Sum of all thrills
Design your own coaster and then ride it in a simulator.  Learn about inertia force, gravity, building, etc.
The Innovations and Imagination pavilions are full of hands-on, educational activities that explore numerous science and technology topics.

Living Seas/The Seas with Nemo and Friends
Study coral reefs.  Where are they found?  What animals live in them?  Study sea turtles, manatees, sting rays, dolphins, clown fish, etc.  Which of these animals are endangered and why?  What determines if a sea turtle will be a boy or girl?  Answer: the temperature of the sand where the eggs were laid.  If your child is interested in art have him/her draw a coral reef.

The Land
Where does food come from?  Follow your favorite food from the farm to your table.  What are greenhouses used for?  Study rain forests, deserts, prairies, and other biomes.  Locate each on a map and find out what animals live in them.

Soarin'
Find California on a map.  What states border CA?  What is the capital and population?  What sights do you see on the ride and where in California are they found?  Study bridges using the Golden Gate bridge as an example.  Build a model bridge (see Pinterest for ideas). 

Mission Space
NASA, space, famous astronauts, Mars, gravity, and weightlessness are all possible topics of study.  Who was the first American in space?   How far away is Mars from Earth?  Why is it known as the red planet?

Universe of Energy
Obviously you can learn about energy.  What are the different types of energy?  What is the Big Bang?  What are fossil fuels?  How can you save energy? 

Test Track
Learn about taking care of cars and car safety.  Maybe someone can show you how to change a tire and check the oil level.  What keeps you safe in a car?  Draw or write about your dream car.  The cars go 65 mph.  Make up math problems related to this speed limit.


Part two is World Showcase.

I plan to briefly study each country before our trip.  Ideas I'm hoping to do for each country:
Locate on map/globe
Make a flag; what do the colors/designs on each flag represent?
Capital city
Cook a meal
Study the culture and clothing
Famous landmarks
Language--learn a few words
Music
Customs
Money

While at Epcot I plan to buy at least one educational souvenir in each country.  I will be back to post what I got in each one after our trip.

Specific country idea:

Mexico
Make a pinata.  What is the significance of pinatas?  Learn hello, goodbye, please, and thank you in Spanish.  Make Mexican hot chocolate, refried beans, tacos, etc.  Study the Mayans and Aztecs.  Watch The Three Caballeros.

United Kingdom
Watch Mary Poppins.  Have afternoon tea w/scones and tea sandwiches.  Have fish and chips.  What countries make up the UK?  Who is the current queen? 

Germany
Make pretzels.  Learn a word or two in German.  What is Oktoberfest?  Who was Saint George?  Try to yodel.

Norway
Study Vikings, the Stave Church (similar buildings are the oldest structures in the world), Akershus fortress, trolls/folklore.  What is a fjord?

China
Build a model of the Great Wall.  Why and when was it built and how long is it?  Study the Gobi desert and Yangtze River, Terracotta warriors (see replicas of them here).  Watch Mulan.  Learn to write your name in Chinese.  Make fortune cookies, egg rolls, dumplings.

American Adventure
Possible topics to study include, Pilgrims, the Mayflower, Ben Franklin, Mark Twain, Boston Tea Party, Revolutionary and Civil wars, etc.  Learn a patriotic song.

Japan
Watch the Japanese candy artist (Miyuti) while your here.  Learn about kimonos.  Eat sushi.  What is a haiku?  Write your own haiku.  What is a pagoda?  Research Buddhism. What are koi?

Morocco
Learn to belly dance.  Try couscous and hummus; eat with your hands.  What is a monarchy?  What other countries in the World Showcase are monarchies?  Answer: UK, Japan, Norway, Canada.  Watch Aladdin.

France
How tall is the Eiffel tower?  Who built it, when, and why?  Build a model of it.  Study famous artists from France.  Who painted the Mona Lisa and what's the name of the museum it's in?  Paint your own masterpiece.  Learn to say please, thank you, hello, and goodbye in French.  Make crepes.  What are Versailles and Notre Dame?

Canada
Learn a few words in French (or review the ones you learned above).  What flower is on the Canadian flag?  Make maple syrup.  Play or watch hockey.  What is the significance of totem poles.

Italy
Study famous artists from Italy and design your own masterpiece.  Who painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling?  Learn a few words in Italian.  Why is Venice made up of canals?  Why does the Leaning Tower of Pisa lean?  What other famous landmarks are in Italy?  Have some gelato.

While touring the World Showcase, sample food (snacks are inexpensive) from each country.  Do the Kidcot (craft) stations along the way, buy a passport ($10 or make your own) and get it signed/stamped by natives of each country.  Talk to them and ask them questions about their countries.

Agent P's World Showcase Adventure
Free.  Great way to see and learn about the World Showcase countries. 

Next time I will be posting some of the books, websites, and other resources I found useful in planning and researching for our Disney trip.