Global Kids Card Deck
Global Kids Card Deck – 50+ Games, Crafts, Recipes & More from Around the World
Written by Sabet Tavangar
Illustrated by Sophie Fatus
Barefoot Books
Global Kids is the latest in Barefoot Books series of card deck activity cards. Over 70 countries are mentioned in the deck of over 50 cards. The deck is divided into five categories.
Create – “Make unique arts and crafts from cultures near and far.”
Play – “Learn lively games in the universal language of play.”
Eat – “Taste a world of food with recipes and other delicious activities.”
Celebrate – “Mark special days with fun traditions from around the globe.”
Help Out – “Serve our planet and other people through kindness.”
. The front of each card has a title and subject/activity. If the card deals with a specific country the name of the country is listed, otherwise the card is categorized “Global”. Each card has an icon in the upper right corner to depict which of the five categories above the card is from. The card has illustrations representative of a country or culture and has a brief paragraph talking about the subject found at the top of the card. On the back of the card is an activity, arts and crafts, a game, a recipe, etc. If the card is about a specific country, the country’s flag will be found on the right top corner on the back of the card.
Below are examples of cards from each of the five categories mentioned above.
Create Card – Beads with Meaning Masasai-Inspired Beadwork (Kenya). The front of the card talks about the Maasai people who live in Kenya and are noted for the beadwork. The back of the card explains a beadwork craft to be made. The meanings of the different colors of the beads are listed and the flag of Kenya is in the right-hand top corner on the back of the card.
Play – Dance Party Thumka (India). The front of the card talks about dance as a global language. In India dances with bright costumes are an important part of India’s Bollywood movies. Thumka is an Indian dance move. On the back of the card are pictures and descriptions on how to do the Thumka dance move. The Indian flag is also depicted.
Eat – Spark Your Senses Spice Tasting (Global). Spices from different countries have been traded for centuries and used to flavor foods. The activity on the back involves using all five senses to explore different spices such as oregano, cinnamon, thyme, rosemary and bay leaves. Listen to the sound the spice makes in the jar. Take the lid off and smell the spice. Look at each spice on a plain plate. Rub the spices between your fingers to see how they feel. Finally, put the spice on rice, eggs or popcorn to experience the taste.
Celebrate – Sunshine and Blooms. Flower Crown (Tahiti). Flowers are used for special occasions in many cultures. In Tahiti and the Polynesian Islands, flower crowns are made from the many tropical flowers that grow in the warm environment. These crowns are worn to celebrate weddings, to welcome a special person or “…just because it is a lovely day!” On the back instructions for creating a floral crown are given. In addition, the Victory Crown from Greece and the Midsummer Crown from Sweden are described.
Help Out – Not-So-Fantastic Plastic. Plastics Penalty Pot (Rwanda). The issue with plastic waste is discussed. Rwanda was the first country in the world to ban single-use plastic bags. If the rules aren’t followed, a fine must be paid. On the back of the card there are instructions on how to make a penalty jar. Then instructions are given on how you can use your plastic rules penalty jar with your family.
Below are Barefoot Books’ own descriptions of their Global Kids card deck.
What is a Global Kid?
“Being a global kid is like being a friend to the whole human race. When we explore together the beauty, fun and wonder that our wide world has to offer, it makes us feel happy, connected and curious to learn more – just like a good friendship does. The activities in this deck help us discover new things, feed our imaginations and open our hearts.”
Our Great Big World
“The world is full of different traditions and ways of doing them – so much more than can fit into this deck. Trying one activity doesn’t give you the whole picture of a country or culture, because every culture is made up of many different traditions, ideas and ways of life. Remember that the traditions you try in these activities are just as important to someone as your own traditions and culture are to you. When we try the activities in this deck, it helps deepen our respect for the cultures they come from.”
I had the privilege of hearing the author of Global Kids Card Deck tell the story of how this deck went from an idea to a product. Whenever you are trying to portray cultures to children there are many considerations. Barefoot Books took extraordinary steps to make sure that the way each culture was portrayed was accurate, sensitive and accessible. From the words and images used, to the actual activity on the card, each was thoroughly vetted by consulting with many people and experts from each culture. Whenever materials were needed to do the activity on the card, every effort was made to make sure these materials were easily obtainable for most children in the world.
These cards are a wonderful, informative and fun introduction to many cultures around the world. They help children understand how they can be good global citizens. Through arts and crafts, recipes, games, and celebrations children learn about the richness of the diversity of cultures on our planet. This card deck can be used at home, at school and by youth organizations to help children learn about the wonderful world they live in. I highly recommend this incredible Global Kids card deck! Recommended for ages 5 and up but can be adapted for younger children.
I reviewed my personal set of Global Kids card deck.
Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2020 (1/31/20) is in its 7th year! This non-profit children’s literacy initiative was founded by Valarie Budayr and Mia Wenjen; two diverse book-loving moms who saw a need to shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books and authors on the market while also working to get those book into the hands of young readers and educators.
Seven years in, MCBD’s mission is to raise awareness of the ongoing need to include kids’ books that celebrate diversity in homes and school bookshelves continues.
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