Let's Learn About: Korea

       I'm currently enrolled in an online history class. Right now I'm studying the ancient Tang Dynasty of the 6th century AD, and there's a few paragraphs devoted to early Korea. Today, if you tune into any news station, you'll see reports about the ongoing Winter Olympic games in Korea. This sets the stage perfectly for a homeschool unit study on Korea! First stop, the local library.

       I actually searched their catalog online first and found some real gems that way. I put them on hold so we could pick them up on our next visit. (This makes a trip to the library with 7 children much more productive!)

       The above illustration is from The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo and Ruth Heller. It's a feast for the eyes, filled with bold colors and intricate details. In it you'll find examples of traditional clothing and foods, as well as animals and mythical characters. The story introduces some Korean vocabulary, too.

       First Snow is the debut picture book of author/illustrator Bomi Park. The black and white illustrations reflect the quiet stillness of a new snowfall, only occasionally punctuated with a red scarf or mittens. With simple and sparse text, the story coneys the innocence and magic of the experience for a young child. Obviously not a historically educational piece, but very enjoyable!

       And what's the sense in learning about a new culture if you don't get to try new food! I was surprised at how much my kids liked this book about a little cat who can't stand the traditional, spicy fermented vegetables, kimchi. She gets some help from Grandma, and eventually learns to appreciate it. We loved the illustrations - so sunny and appealing with delightful details throughout.

       I didn't attempt kimchi, but I found a recipe for bulgogi, Korean barbeque, that was simple enough. We added rice on the side with some store-bought egg rolls and home-made sweet and sour sauce for a winner of a dinner! Everyone ate it up without a word of complaint. That, my friends, is what I call a success. And a very rare one at that!

 A full list of the resources I used can be found here. You can read the last time I posted about the Winter Olympic games here.

Have you got any tips on learning more about Korea? I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

고마워요 "Gomawoyo!"
Thanks, friends!