My daughter has been a Lady Scout for a few years, and one in all their annual actions is World Considering Day, a time once they study and share about completely different international locations the place there are Lady Scouts or Lady Guides.
The primary 12 months she did it, when she was in first grade, they discovered about The Bahamas as a result of one of many ladies’ grandfathers visited there rather a lot and had written a e-book about it. I feel all she remembers is there’s a pig seaside, however it’s nonetheless enjoyable to consider!
The Bahamas Fundamentals
The Bahamas, or formally the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island nation north of Cuba and northwest of Hispaniola (the island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic), southwest of Florida and east of the Florida Keys that makes up nearly the entire Lucayan Archipelago.
It’s made up of greater than 3,000 islands, cays and islets, and the capital, Nassau, is on the island of New Windfall. The Royal Bahamas Protection Pressure says their territory is made up of 180,000 sq. miles, or 470,000 sq. kilometers of ocean area.
The islands have been initially inhabited by Arawak and Lucayans, most of whom have been enslaved or died of illnesses after Columbus arrived within the space. It grew to become a British Crown Colony in 1718 and gained independence in 1973. The title Bahamas comes from a Lucayan phrase that means “giant higher center island,” their title for Grand Bahama.
It’s one in all solely two nations on the planet the place The is definitely a part of the title (the opposite being The Gambia).
The Bahamas Nationwide Symbols
The flag of The Bahamas encompasses a black triangle on the left-hand facet and stripes of aquamarine with a gold stripe within the center. Gold symbolizes the solar, whereas the aquamarine represents the ocean. The black triangle evokes the sturdy, decided and enterprising nature of the Bahamian individuals.
The nation’s coat of arms is spectacular, that includes a marlin and a flamingo on both facet of a crest that exhibits the Santa Maria and a rising solar. There’s a conch shell and different particulars, in addition to the nation’s motto “Ahead, Upward, Onward, Collectively.”
The Bahamas Embassy notes the blue marlin and flamingo are each necessary nationwide symbols, in addition to Lignum Vitae, the tree of life, which is the nationwide tree; and yellow elder, the nationwide flower.
The nationwide anthem is “March On, Bahamaland.”
The Bahamas Actions for Youngsters
Since I introduced it up originally, you’ll wish to spend a while speaking concerning the swimming pigs at Pig Seashore. Between 20 and 25 largely tame pigs stay on the seaside.
The Bahamas is the final recognized dwelling of Junkanoo, a celebration that takes place between Boxing Day (Dec. 6) and New Yr’s Day. The celebration will be traced to West Africa and entails elaborate home made costumes on a theme, parades and events. The Museum of Junkanoo preserves costumes and tales concerning the even by way of the years.
Adventures in a Messy Life has a bit unit research for The Bahamas, together with movies, notebooking pages and a recipe for benne wafers, sesame seed cookies generally eaten within the islands.
KidsKonnect additionally has some good quick info and printable worksheets. Lesson Planet has some info and lesson plans largely for older children, together with a unit on Junkanoo.
You can too seize printable truth sheets from Starlight Treasures, or a unit research from This Youngsters Life (contains Google Slides) or Past Creativeness Play (all three are from Academics Pay Academics).
Conch is taken into account the nationwide dish of The Bahamas, although that could be troublesome to cook dinner at dwelling. Pineapple and crabs are additionally in style there. Bahamian Peas and Rice could be a extra accessible recipe to attempt, like this one from Jehan Can Prepare dinner.
Or try some books about The Bahamas: For the Love of Junkanoo, My First E-book: Bahamas, and Layah’s Island Hopping Adventures all seem like enjoyable choices.
