My daughter has been a Lady Scout for a few years, and one in every of their annual actions is World Pondering Day, a time after they find out about and share about totally different nations the place there are Lady Scouts or Lady Guides.
The primary yr 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 quite a bit and had written a guide about it. I believe 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 all the 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 which means “giant higher center island,” their title for Grand Bahama.
It’s one in every of solely two nations on the earth the place The is definitely a part of the title (the opposite being The Gambia).
The Bahamas Nationwide Symbols
The flag of The Bahamas contains a black triangle on the left-hand aspect 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 folks.
The nation’s coat of arms is spectacular, that includes a marlin and a flamingo on both aspect of a crest that reveals 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 vital 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 Children
Since I introduced it up at the start, you’ll wish to spend a while speaking in regards to the swimming pigs at Pig Seaside. Between 20 and 25 largely tame pigs reside on the seaside.
The Bahamas is the final recognized dwelling of Junkanoo, a celebration that takes place between Boxing Day (Dec. 6) and New 12 months’s Day. The celebration could be traced to West Africa and includes elaborate home made costumes on a theme, parades and events. The Museum of Junkanoo preserves costumes and tales in regards to the even by means of the years.
Adventures in a Messy Life has a bit unit examine 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 information and printable worksheets. Lesson Planet has some data and lesson plans largely for older children, together with a unit on Junkanoo.
You too can seize printable truth sheets from Starlight Treasures, or a unit examine from This Children 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 prepare dinner at dwelling. Pineapple and crabs are additionally widespread there. Bahamian Peas and Rice could be a extra accessible recipe to strive, like this one from Jehan Can Cook dinner.
Or try some books about The Bahamas: For the Love of Junkanoo, My First Ebook: Bahamas, and Layah’s Island Hopping Adventures all seem like enjoyable choices.