So Many Religions!

As Ms. Hoffman has been traveling around the world, she has been able to learn about lots of different religions. She has learned some bad things, like people fighting about who has a better religion. In Europe, she has seen lots of different places where people pray as well. Some people pray in churches. Some people pray in synagogues. Some people pray in mosques. Some people pray in their homes. What is your religion? Where do you pray? Talk with your classmates and learn about other religious beliefs!

Here are some of the places in Europe where people pray.

Synagogue in Prague

Catholic Church in Prague

Catholic Church in Zagreb, Croatia

Old Serbian Orthodox Church in Kotor, Montenegro

New Serbian Orthodox Church in Kotor, Montenegro

Catholic Church in Mostor, Bosnia Herzegovina

Mosque in Mostor, Bosnia Herzegovina

Serbian Orthodox in Sarajevo, Bosnia Herzegovina

Byzantine Greek Orthodox Church in Mystras, Greece

Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey

Answers: Have you heard of the Marathon?

Last week, Ms. Hoffman asked you if you had ever heard of a marathon? She also wondered if you could figure out why it was 26.2 miles?

Did you find the answer?

Ms. Hoffman found the answer here in Greece! It turns out that in 490 B.C. the Persians attacked Greece in a place called Marathon. It is just north of Athens. It is said that the Greeks won after a difficult and harrowing battle. They sent a runner back to Athens (26.2 miles!!) to share the news!

Read more about the battle here using some historical sources!

Just for fun: Here is a picture of Mr. Jean with Miltiades' helmet!

Have you heard of the Marathon?

Have any of you heard about the big race called the marathon? Perhaps some of you have talked to people who have run this race. To finish the marathon, people run for 26.2 miles! That is a really long way!

Have you ever wondered why they picked 26.2 miles?? It seems like a strange number to me!

Can you figure it out?