You Shall Not Pass! Or, You Will... But How?

Ms. Hoffman visited the country Cambodia during her travels. She got to ride on a train, which was a lot of fun!

The trains are very small in this part of the country and they used to be used to carry goods to market. Many farmers had these small trains and they would take their goods in to the town to sell them and then back to their farm at the end of the day.

There is one problem though. There is only one track! What happens when two trains are going the opposite way?

Clean Water and Traveling Around the World

Last week, Ms. Hoffman asked you to learn a little bit more about clean drinking water around the world. This week she will tell you a little bit more about how she finds clean water no matter where she goes.

In many countries, the water that comes out of the sink is not always clean for drinking. Sometimes it has germs and bacteria in it that can make people sick. Here is an article to help you learn more. 



Ms. Hoffman definitely does not want to get sick while she is traveling so she had to find clean water. Some people think that the only answer is to buy bottled water. But plastic bottles can be very bad for the environment. Read about why here.

So, what should Ms. Hoffman do??? Do some research about how to find or make clean drinking water. Write some ideas in the comments!

Clean Drinking Water Around the World

Think about water for a minute. Is water important? Why?



Read some of these random facts about water. Did you know all of that? Ms. Hoffman is guessing that maybe you didn't take the time to read all of the bullet points on that website so she pulled out two that she really wants you to think about.

• Most people around the world have access to clean drinking water but it is a major problem in poorer areas of the world. Water pollution and low quality water can lead to dangerous bacteria, disease and viruses such as E coli and Cryptosporidium.
• Drinking water is needed for humans to avoid dehydration, the amount you need each day depends on the temperature, how much activity you are involved in and other factors.

Did you know that there are a lot of places that don't have access to clean drinking water? What do you think happens to people who don't have clean drinking water?



Here is more Information about clean water around the world. Some of that information is pretty sad and scary isn't it?

Want to learn more or know how you can help? This website will give you a lot of information. Learn more.

No Worries

When Ms. Hoffman was traveling in Bali, she meet a cool person. This man said something that she really liked and will remember. It was a saying. Do you know what a saying is?

It is a short expression that gives advice or wisdom. A lot of people like to share sayings on Facebook! You've probably seen them there before.



The saying that Ms. Hoffman learned was this:

Everyone has the same worries like money and food. So don't worry about those. Instead just worry about working hard and always doing your best.

What do you think of this saying? Do you like it? Why or why not? Discuss with a friend or write a short essay with your opinion!

Do You Know How to Make Chocolate?

Ms. Hoffman got to visit a very cool place in Bali, Indonesia. She visited a chocolate factory! That's right, just like Charlie, she got to visit a place where they make chocolate.

It was very cool to learn how they make chocolate. It reminded her of when she learned how to make olive oil!

Making chocolate starts with a fruit. That's right: chocolate comes from a fruit!

It is called Cacao and this is what it looks like:

You use the seeds inside to make chocolate. Ms. Hoffman tasted these seeds and they were bitter - not like chocolate at all!

Next, they remove the seeds from the fruit and they roast them. After they are roasted, they take the shells off the seeds. Then, they are chopped up into little pieces called nibs.

Once they are chopped, they can be ground up. When are ground up, they become a sort of paste. They are finally starting to look like chocolate!

Once they have the paste, they squeeze it really hard. When they squeeze it, the paste separates into a greasy cocoa butter and a dry cocoa powder. They use the cocoa powder to make chocolate. They can use the cocoa butter to make white chocolate OR you can use cocoa butter on your skin or hair like a lotion. The cocoa powder is mixed with sugar and a variety of other things to make different kinds of chocolate!

See if you can retell a friend all the steps to make chocolate!

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

What do you know about Olives and Olive Oil? (Part 2)

Last week, Ms. Hoffman asked you all to think about olives and what people might do with them. Did you come up with some ideas?

Ms. Hoffman visited a museum in Sparta, Greece to learn more about these amazing fruits!

People have been using olives for around 3000 years. The Ancient Greeks were using them in 500 B.C. and even earlier. But what did they use them for?? 

The olive was an amazing plant that had many uses back then and today. Here is a chart that was at the museum which describes some of the uses of olives.

As you can see, they used every part of the olive tree! They used the wood to build things and to burn for heat. They used the fruit to eat and to create olive oil. We use olive oil for eating today and they did then as well, but they also used it for other things. They used it to fuel their lights and they used it for perfume. Athletes wore it to protect their skin. They used the pit of the olive to burn, to make different kinds of oil, and even to make soap! They used the leaves to feed their animals.

Can you think of another culture that makes sure to use every part of an animal or plant to live? Give some other examples!

What do you know about Olives and Olive Oil??

Did you know that olives and olive oil are really important in Greece (and many other countries)? People have been using olives for thousands of years here in Greece. Ms. Hoffman went to a museum to learn more!

First, what are olives? Can you see them in this picture? If you visit Greece, you will end up eating olives a lot! They come in every Greek salad! They are delicious!!

So, you now know that people can eat olives, but can they do anything else with olives?? Brainstorm some ideas of some other things that people might do with olives!

Answers: Using Estimation to Make Math Easier!

Yesterday, Ms. Hoffman asked for your help. She thought maybe she could use estimation to make converting from Turkish Lira to US Dollars easier.

Did you think of a good way?

Here is one way:
Ms. Hoffman knows that 0.45 is close to 0.50. (Just like 45 is close to 50 when you round to the nearest 10)
$0.50 is half of $1.00.
If 1 Turkish Lira is about half of $1.00 then about 2 Turkish Lira equal $1.00. Make sense?

Now it is easy! All you have to do is divide how many Turkish Lira you have by 2 to get the number of US dollars.

Let's try a problem now!

Ms. Hoffman bought a special Turkish towel. It cost 10 TL. How many dollars was it?

10 divided by 2 = 5! The towel is about 5 dollars. Remember, it is not EXACTLY 5 dollars, because we are estimating, but it is close!

Estimating to Make Math Easier!

Last week, Ms. Hoffman asked you how to convert Turkish Lira to US Dollars. She told you that the official exchange rate was 1 TL = $0.45. You then figured out how much 15 TL was in dollars. But, I bet you had to use a pencil and paper to figure it out! Ms. Hoffman does not always carry a pencil and paper with her (or even a calculator) when she is traveling. But, she still wants to know how much things cost in dollars. She has to find ways to do the math in her head!

With some different money, the exchange rate was pretty easy, like in South Africa. But, here in Turkey, it is not so easy. Ms. Hoffman might have to use estimation.

Can you think of a way to use estimation to make it easier for Ms. Hoffman???

Communism vs. Capitalism Part II

Last week, Ms. Hoffman asked you to think about some questions related to what life is like in the USA which has a mostly Capitalist Economy.

Today we will look at what the answers to those questions would be if you lived in a Communist Economy.

*Note for Teachers: This information comes from the information and stories I've heard in the former communist countries of the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, and Albania. The Communism in the former Yugoslav countries I visited of Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia Herzegovina, and Montenegro was considerably less strict. Also keep in mind that there are currently only 5 communist countries in the world: China, Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, and North Korea. The Communism described below would only come close to describing what life is like in North Korea and Cuba. Most economies today would be described as mixed, so I have tried to describe some of the more pure examples.

	Capitalism in the USA	Communism in Late 1900s in Eastern Europe
Can you own something? Like a car or house?	Yes, you can own something as long as you have enough money to buy it. The government protects your right to own something.	In many communist countries, you cannot own something for yourself. Everything belongs to the government. You can live in an apartment, but it is not yours. You might be able to use a car, but it is not yours to buy or sell.
How do you earn money?	You earn money for providing goods or services for people. You earn money for your job from the person, people, or company that you work for.	You work for the government. The government will provide you with money or the goods and services you need to live.
Who decides what you do with your money?	You decide what you do with your money.	The government decides what goods and service you can buy with your money. It tells you how much you can buy and where to buy it.
Who decides how much things at the store cost?	The people/person/company who owns the store decides how much things cost. They set the prices based on how much they think they can sell at each price.	The government decides how much things at the store will cost. It will cost the same at every store that you are allowed to go to.
Can you change jobs when you want to?	Most of the time you can. It is your choice where you want to work. The owners of each company can choose when/if they want to hire you based on your skills, knowledge, and education.	Not often. You don’t have a lot of choice about where you work. The government will choose where they need you to work. They will likely decide the level of your job based on your loyalty to the communist government.
Can you move to another city or state if you want to?	You can always choose to move, as long as you have the money that you need to do so.	Not often. The government will decide when or if it will allow people to move.
Can you travel to another country?	Yes. If you have money and a passport.	Sometimes, but it is difficult to get permission from the government to leave your country.
When you go to the doctor, who pays for it?	You do. Sometimes you pay a health insurance company to help you pay for the doctor.	The government pays for it. You can go to the doctor for free.
Does everyone have to have a job?	No. Everyone does not have to have a job. Many people have jobs but some people want a job but have a hard time finding one.	Yes. Everyone must have a job. The government will help you find one.
Is everyone equal?	People are supposed to have equal rights. Some people have more money than others.	Everyone is supposed to be equal- everyone has the same amount of money. In many of the countries Ms. Hoffman visited, there were still people in the government who had more power and more money than others.

After learning more about the difference between Communism and Capitalism, do you have an opinion on which you would rather live under? Why do you think that most countries are no longer Communist?

Communist Images in the Czech Republic. The goal is to glorify the common worker!

Communist Imagery in Tirana, Albania

Communism vs. Capitalism Part 1

Ms. Hoffman visited many countries in central Europe. One thing she learned was that the counties that she visited are very young. They are young because they completely changed their governments and economies. Two weeks ago, she asked you what an economy was. Did you figure it out?

In the USA, we have a mostly Capitalist or Market Economy.

In many of the countries that Ms. Hoffman visited, they have the same kind of economy now, but not too long ago, they had a different kind. It was called Communism.

Have you heard of Communism? This is a different kind of government and economic system. To help you understand, answer the questions below. Check back here next week to understand how the answers to these questions would be different in a Communism System!

In the USA...
1. Can you own something? Like a car or house?

2. How do you earn money?

3. Who decides what you do with your money?

4. Who decides how much things at the store cost?

5. Can you change jobs when you want to?

6. Can you move to another city or state if you want to?

7. Can you travel to another country?

8. When you go to the doctor, who pays for it?

9. Does everyone have to have a job?

10. Is everyone equal?

What is an Economy?

Ms. Hoffman visited many countries in central Europe. One thing she learned was that the counties that she visited are very young. They are young because they completely changed their governments and economies. What is an economy?

An economy is the system that deals with money in a country. It also deals with how people exchange goods and services. You can learn more here!

http://0-school.eb.com.erslion.dpsk12.org/levels/elementary/article/353081

http://0-school.eb.com.erslion.dpsk12.org/levels/elementary/article/353081

Answers: Why Did They Build That City There?

Last week, Ms. Hoffman asked why certain cities were built in their locations. The answer she heard in the cities is that they were built along rivers. Every major city in Central Europe was built by a river. Why do you think it is important to be near a river?

If you said for water, you are right!

But what about for transportation and trade? Do you think those could be reasons too?

Ms. Hoffman has traveled to even more cities now, and she has found more that are near the ocean and rivers. Do you think this is important?? Is your city near a river or ocean? If not, why do you think they built your city where it is?

Here are maps of some other cities Ms. Hoffman visited:

Zagreb, Croatia


Dubrovnik, Croatia


Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Why Did They Build That City There?

Ms. Hoffman for to visit a lot of cities in Central Europe. She found one thing in common about all the cities. She was curious about why people decided to build cities where they did. All these cities were very old! People have been living in the same place for thousands of years. If you look at the maps for these cities can you figure what they all have in common? Something that might explain why they decided to build cities there?

Prague

Krakow

Bratislava

Budapest

Ms. Hoffman got to go to a Soccer Game in Czech Republic

Ms. Hoffman had a wonderful experience today. She got to experience a soccer game in Olomouc, Czech Republic. The two teams were called SK Sigma Olomouc and they were playing a team called 1.SC Znojmo. We were rooting for Sigma because that was the country we were in, but unfortunately they lost 2-0.

What was very cool was that it was a whole lot like a soccer game in the USA! There were excited fans and good athletes. There are some things the same no matter what country you are in!

Is there anything else you can think of that is the same in all countries? Things that all people can enjoy?

Answers: Why is there a city called Cape Town?

The trip to Indonesia from Amsterdam was a very long one by ship. Sometimes it would take a year to travel! Can you imagine being in a small ship for a year?? People would get tired and sick. There was no such thing as a refrigerator back then, so it was hard to keep good food on the ship for a whole year as well. They would start to run out of food! The ships would sometimes begin to wear and things would break. The Dutch needed a place like Cape Town right in the middle of the journey. That way the people on the ships to get on land, eat good food, and get better if they were sick. The ships could also pick up more fresh food to take on their way. People could also fix the parts of the ships that were broken.

That is why there is a city called Cape Town!

Why is there a city called Cape Town??

Ms. Hoffman got to visit a city called Cape Town in South Africa. This city was first started in the 1600s by the Dutch. Dutch people come from a country called the Netherlands. The capital of the Netherlands is called Amsterdam. You can find it on the map here.

The Dutch people had a company called the Dutch East India Company. The company used ships to trade special spices from Europe to a country in Asia called Indonesia (Batavia). Look at this map of how they went.

Can you find Cape Town on the map? Why do you think they started this city called Cape Town? Why did they need a city there?

What is a Castle? (Part 2)

Check out some pictures of castles that Ms. Hoffman has seen on her trip. Do they look like what you drew?

What is the same about all of them? What is different between them?

Did you notice that many of the castles are on a hill? Why do you think that is?

Did you notice that the castles had big walls around them? Why?

Did you notice that many of the castles had water (a moat) around them? Why do you think that is?

Did you see that one of the castles had bears in the moat? Why?

Castle in Cape Town, South Africa - Castle of Good Hope

Prague Castle in Prague, Czech Republic

Cesky Krumlov Castle in Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic