“Passport Around the World” At-Home Activity

This month’s Creatively Shine™ curriculum, “Passport Around the World,” invites children to explore the incredible cultures, animals, environments, and traditions that make our world so beautifully diverse. To extend the fun and learning at home, we’re excited to share an activity your child will love: DIY Culture Suitcase!

(Photo thanks to ikatbag)

What You’ll Need:

• A shoebox, small cardboard box, or reusable bag (to use as your “suitcase”)
• Paper, crayons or markers
• Glue, tape, and scissors (child-safe)
• Printable or hand-drawn passport pages, flags, or stamps (optional)
• Magazines, postcards, or printouts of cultural landmarks, clothing, or food
• A few small household items or toys that represent different countries or cultures (optional)

✈️ Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Pick a Destination

Let your child choose a country or continent they’d like to “visit.” You can use a globe or world map for inspiration! Ask what they know about that place. What animals live there? What languages are spoken? What foods do people eat?

2. Pack the Suitcase

Help your child “pack” their suitcase with items inspired by that culture. They can draw foods, animals, or special clothing and tuck them inside. If you have small items that represent that place—like chopsticks for Japan or a tiny stuffed elephant for India—add those, too!

3. Decorate the Outside

Use crayons, stickers, or printable flags to decorate the outside of the suitcase. Let them label it with the name of their destination and draw what they imagine seeing there.

4. Stamp the Passport

If your child has their classroom “passport,” this is the perfect time to add a stamp or drawing to document the visit. You can also create your own simple version at home using folded paper and fun stickers or stamps.

5. Share the Adventure

Have your child “present” their suitcase and talk about their journey. What did they learn about the place they chose? What would they want to eat there? What animal would they see? Encourage storytelling and imaginative details!

🌎 Why It’s Beneficial:

• Practice for language skills as children describe their “travels” and what they’ve learned
• Boosts fine motor skills through drawing, gluing, and assembling
• Encourages social-emotional learning by encouraging appreciation and respect for other cultures

We can’t wait to see where your child’s imagination takes them! Feel free to share photos of their culture suitcase or “passport stamps” with us on our socials. We love celebrating each child’s journey. 🌟