Finland

photo from GoogleMap – somewhere in Finland

We have studied Sweden and Norway and now must learn all about their Scandinavian neighbor to the east – Finland! The kids really wanted to not skip over Finland – though I was tempted….. but boy am I glad we didn’t!! What a beautiful country!  Funny story about Moomins – we had never heard of this but were in Oahu in 2000 something and ran into a couple who was looking for help to create an online store for their Moomin shop! They explained what Moomin were……… anyway, hadn’t thought about them until now – they were created by a Finnish illustrator and writer Tove Jansson. 🙂 I can see the design sensibility in Finnish design in his illustrations for sure as you’ll see below – Marimekko Black & White with bold colors and patterns.

PASSPORT & MAPWORK

• Print out Map for Finland – National Geographic MapMaker
• Stamp passports with flag, continent, country name, capital, languages, crest
• coloring page for Norway with flag and facts
• Label and color blank Norway map
• World Atlas – Finland
• Flag and Coat of Arms – Finland
• Symbols
• Capital City: Helsinki
• Currency: Euro
• Geography Statistics – measurements
• Weather

ABOUT FINLAND

This is Finland

The Official Travel Guide of Finland


PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

• Helsinki
• Aurora Borealis (videos and tons of information here)
• Midnight Sun
• 188,000 Lakes
• Baltic Sea Islands
• 65+% of Finland is covered with forest –video about importance of Forests in Finland
• Lake Saimaa
• Hogberget’s Cave, Kirkkonummi (video)
• Kimmakivi – large rock balancing on a small rock – in Ruokolahti (video)
• Devil Rocks in Paasvesi
• Tafoni (rocks with huge holes in them) Karhunpesakivi and Pirenpasa
• ‘Giant’s kettles’ in Askola (video)
• Valkulammi Mountain, Kuhmoinen (video)
• Devil’s Tomb – Hitonhauta, Laukaa (video with ice, snow)
• rock labyrinth in Rokokallio, Vihti (video)
• Oulanka National Park in Kuusamo (photos on Bing)

* link to see quick photos to some of  these are here


ARCHITECTURE

• St. Olaf’s Castle (mime reenactment to music video combined with modern day views – interesting way to bring an old castle to life!!)
• Kakslauttanen Hotel, Lapland, stay in glass igloo

FOOD

• Finnish Rye Bread
• Salmiakki candy (salty licorice!)
• Karelian Rice Pasties (Karjalanpiirakat)
• Reindeer
• Bilberries, Lingonberries, Cloudberry, Raspberry, Arctic Bramble
• More about Bilberries – better than Blueberries SuperFood?
• Various wild mushrooms
• Birch Sap
• Finnish Recipes and more about local cuisine
• Shrove Bun (looks yummy!)
• Pulla Sweet Bread or another version here

CULTURE

• Rovio (Angry Birds) along with many other retro vide games began in Finland!
• cell phone company NOKIA began as a rubber company for boots/tires
• inventors of ice skates and heart rate monitor
• text messaging invented by a Finnish citizen
• high speeding tickets – based on your income!
• full gender parliament in 1906
• known for quality education model
• broadband connection a legal ‘right’
• Santa Claus (Joulupukki)
• Skiing
• Sauna
• Water sports
• Fishing
• Snow sports
• reindeer rides
• contemporary design
• Marimekko 1950s to today – Textile design, housewares, interior accessories, fashion.
• Jopo bicycles
• Littala Glass Factory
• MOOMIN  by Tove Jansson (see some Moomin cartoons on youtube!) and of course visit MoominWorld
• Reindeer Herding/Farming
• Heavisaurus – Finnish Heavy Metal Music for Kids ?!
• ice water swimming
• ice fishing

ANIMALS

• endangered ringed seal (in Finland adapted to fresh water!!)
• swan
• Great Gray Owl
• brown bears
• lynx
• wolf
• wolverine
• Siberian Jay
• Ermine (awww, cute!!)
• white tailed eagle

TO DO LIST WITH KIDS:

• completely explore videos and links on this page
• passport and filling in map
• sharpie sketches with bold colors – see design links above
• make a Bilberry pie (but with blueberries)
• make Shrove buns
• make braided Pulla bread or Voisilmapulla Butter Eye Buns
• play Angry Birds
• watch a few Moomin episodes