European Geography & Cultures Lesson Plan 7 ~ The Low Countries

This post is part of the European Geography and Cultures Series. Please the Introductory Post for a list of countries covered with links to all of the blog posts of this series.

This is a Geography Lesson Plan for The Low Countries: The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.

You can download this lesson plan (including checklists) as a PDF file. Click on the thumbnail below and open the PDF file in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the image above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

Introduction to The Low Countries

Read

Galloping the Globe page 99 (optional)
Look What Came From the Netherlands (The images in the PDF file provided below and my sample cards are based on this book.)

Map Folders and Stamp Albums (Follow General Instructions.)

Pass out Folders and Stamp Albums.
Pass out postage stamps from The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, and stamp hinges.

Physical Geography of Germany

Where on Earth?

Find the continent of Europe and The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg on a globe. Have students color these countries on the map on their folder.
Find Europe and these countries in the Atlas: start on page 76 of Where on Earth? Atlas, then find the countries on page 78. Move on to page 80 to view the landscape, and to page 94 to see it by night.

Land, Climate, Population and Wildlife

The Netherlands have a temperate maritime climate influenced by the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean, with cool summers and moderate winters.
To see pictures of some of the animals living in the Netherlands visit http://www.discoverwildlife.com/travel/wildlife-travel-what-animals-can-i-see-netherlands.
Read page 52 – 53 of the DK Children’s World Atlas about The British Isles. Find out about agricultural products, major landforms, and water

Card File (Follow General Card File Instructions.)

Listen to Around the World Stories from The Netherlands while working (subscription required).
Flag and Map Country Cover Card PDF File (see below)
Country Information Card PDF File (see below)
Category Cards – plain index cards or pre-printed PDF File (you may want to provide samples for students to copy)
Images PDF File for Category Cards (see below)

PDF Files to Download for Card File

Click on the thumbnails below and open the PDF files in Adobe Reader to read and print. If you open in a browser window, the text may be garbled. You may share this online and use the images above without permission, but please have all links point to this blog post, not to the PDF file. Thanks!

People

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities. Listen to related music and/or stories while doing projects if possible.

1. Artists

* Rembrandt * Vincent Van Gogh * Jan Vermeer

Look at art from one or more of these artists on the iPad or in a book from the library.
Read Where in the World? Around the Globe in 13 Works of Art, page 23.
Watch Rembrandt for Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR5sC5fu8-8
Watch Vincent Van Gogh for Children: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv8TANh8djI
Paint a picture inspired by one of these artists.

2. Authors & Poets

* J. Slauerhoff * Constantijn Huygens * Margaretha Shemin

Read or listen to The Little Riders by Margaretha Shemin (check your local library)
Read another Dutch story (list on page 100 of Galloping the Globe).

3. Composers

* Henrïette Bosmans, 1895 – 1952 (there are several other composers from this region, but she has a fascinating story)

Read article online: http://www.forbiddenmusicregained.org/search/composer/id/100018
Listen to her music. (Physical CDs and Streaming both available.)

4. Prominent People

* Prince William of Orange * Desiderius Erasmus * Baruch de Spinoza
* King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima * Anne Frank

Learn about the King and Queen of the Netherlands: https://www.aroundtheworldstories.com/stories/kings-day-part-1/.
Read an age-appropriate story about Anne Frank. (Also in the Germany Lesson Plan.)

5. Scientists

* Anton van Leeuwenhoek (father of microbiology) * Bernard D. H. Tellegen * C. H. D. Buys Ballot

Read or listen to a story about a scientist from the Netherlands.
Do a related experiment.

Places & Food

Choose the activities that interest you the most. Add to your Card File as you learn new things and complete activities.

1. Landmarks & Attractions

* Kinderdijk Windmills * Canals of Amsterdam * Rijksmuseum * Keukenhof Gardens
* Madurodam Theme Park * Anne Frank House

Visit Madurodam online: https://www.madurodam.nl/en/the-park/all-attractions.
Make a miniature village: https://www.parents.com/fun/arts-crafts/kid/craft-village/
Draw Canal Houses: https://artprojectsforkids.org/draw-amsterdam-buildings-2/
Take a virtual tour of the Anne Frank Museum: http://www.annefrank.org.

2. Festivals and Events

* New Year’s Day Dive * Opening of Keukenhof Gardens * Flower Parade * King’s Day
* The Hague Festival

Watch a Dutch Flower Parade on YouTube
Watch a King’s Day Parade on YouTube
Plant tulips (inside in a pot or outside, depending on season)

3. Food

Read page 55 – 57 of Eat Your Way Around the World Cookbook.
Make Cucumber Salad, Olliebollen, Pea Soup.

Find more ideas on my Netherlands Pinterest Board!

Checklists

Checklist for Basic Materials:

- - - Globe
    - Galloping the Globe
    - DK Where On Earth? Atlas
    - DK Children’s World Atlas
    - Where in the World? Around the Globe in 13 Works of Art
    - Look What Came From the Netherlands (or similar book)
    - Map Folders, Stamp Albums, Stamps & Hinges
    - Card File materials including printed PDF files (see general instructions)
    - Music and/or Story CDs
    - Stories from the Netherlands by https://www.aroundtheworldstories.com
    - iPad or Computer with internet connection for research (optional)

Checklist for Projects:

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Checklist for International Food Dishes:

- - - - Eat Your Way Around the World Cookbook or Recipes
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Please comment below with your questions and suggestions – I will respond as soon as I can! Thank you for visiting Cotton Ridge Homeschool!

Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post. I am an affiliate of Amazon, and will receive a small commission if a link on this page is used to make a purchase.