• Have each student identify the assigned country's National Symbol, compare it to other national symbols, and explain what it says about what the nation values. (Page 30)
  
  
• Hold a mock Olympic Opening Ceremony (or Closing Ceremony) in which each student creates the assigned country's flag using the Flag Gallery printouts, gives a short presentation on the country, and takes part in a mock lighting of the cauldron. (Page 31)
  
  
• Ask students to create a Campaign for the Olympics. Each student should prepare a PowerPoint presentation, incorporating CultureGrams images or video footage, that outlines the reasons his or her country should be chosen to host an upcoming Games. (Page 54)
  
  
• Hold an Olympics-themed Food Fair, for which each student makes a native dish using a recipe from our Recipe Collection. Each student should also prepare a booth at which he or she provides samples of the dish and gives an introduction to the country. (Page 64)
  
  
• Have students identify common behavioral patterns in their assigned countries and compare them to behavioral patterns in their own country. Then have each student write a short paper as if he or she were a travel guide writer helping a traveler from the assigned country prepare to visit the United States. Then publish all of the papers in a class Travel Guide. (Page 84)
  
  
• To focus on the Vancouver 2010 games, have students read our British Columbia report in the Provinces Edition, paying attention to the sections that describe the factors that make it a good home for the Winter Olympics (e.g., the Climate and Geography sections) as well as the sections that describe the province's unique cultural and historical aspects (e.g., the Cultural Burst and Totem Poles sections). Have each group summarize and present their findings. Then have students discuss whether or not they think their own state has a suitable city to host the Olympics. (Page 41)

1. Which Canadian province is sometimes called Hollywood North because after New York and Los Angeles, it is the largest film and television production center in North America?
2. Which province has the highest percentage of residents who speak French as a first language (nearly 80 percent)?
3. Who were likely the first Europeans to have settled in Canada?
4. What Canadian city has the largest Sikh community outside of the Punjab province of India?
5. What is the only country in the world larger than Canada?
6. What is Canada's most populous city?
7. Which territory is the only part of Canada where native peoples form the majority of the population?
8. What is the third most common language in Canada, after English and French?
9. Who is Canada's head of state?
10. What are Canada's two national sports?

World Holidays
Holidays provide a great way to introduce students to the culture and history of a country. Observe a world holiday in your classroom by asking students to research the holiday's origins or learn more about a particular aspect of the country.

• British Columbia sometimes experiences a weather swing known as a "west coast special." Because of the quick temperature change, British Columbians can sometimes ski and golf on the same day!
• The Victoria Bug Zoo is a mini-zoo located in downtown Victoria. It houses 50 different species of insects and spiders and has the largest collection of tropical insects in North America.
• Native legend tells of a mysterious monster known as the N'ha-a-itk, or "lake demon," who lives in the waters of Lake Okanagan. Today the monster is called Ogopogo, and sightings are reported every year.
• The international environmental protection organization called Greenpeace was founded in Vancouver in 1971.
• A quarter of the world's bald eagles are found in British Columbia.

CultureGrams Photo Gallery Pick 


Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, March 2007

Mountains of British Columbia: Home to the 2010 Winter Olympics, British Columbia boasts a majestic mountain range fit for world-class skiers and winter sport enthusiasts. Like the flat prairie provinces and the Atlantic fishing coast, British Columbia's mountains exemplify Canada's many landscapes.

Access our complete, updated CultureGrams Photo Gallery.

BONUS: Spotlights & Challenge Quests
A commemoration of the historical, cultural, and contemporary roles of African Americans, Black History Month aspires to educate the nation on topics significant to the African-American experience.

SIRS Discover and SIRS Knowledge Source profile renowned African Americans of both past and present and reflect on African-American history and culture in this month's Spotlight of the Month.

The Boy Scouts was founded by American businessman William Boyce on February 8, 1910, and celebrates its centennial in 2010.

SIRS asks: How did Boy Scouts contribute to the war effort during World War I?

Top 3 Websites  
Each month, our SIRS team scours the Internet for top-quality websites for classrooms and libraries. This month's picks: Historical Earthquakes, King Center, Love & Romance.