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Jan. 16\u2014JOHNSTOWN, Pa. \u2014 Homeschooled children from Cambria, Somerset and Blair counties showcased their knowledge of the diverse world around them at a cultural fair on Monday at a Johnstown-area church.<\/p>\n
“International Day” displays were created by about 50 children, ages 5 to 14, who shared what they had learned about the language, people and geography of countries such as Canada, Egypt, Poland and France.<\/p>\n
The event was hosted by the Johnstown-area home-school co-op group God Leads Our Way (GLOW) at Oakland Church, 1504 Bedford St. in the Oakland section of Stonycreek Township.<\/p>\n
“A child or family take a country, research it on their own and put together a display,” said Sue Paonessa, one of the organizers. “It’s a chance to show off what they’ve learned and for the kids to make friends and socialize.”<\/p>\n
Xavier Stranathan, 12, and sister Arella, 8, of Colver, chose to learn about Canada and Sweden, respectively.<\/p>\n
Xavier, who is “all about hockey,” chose Canada. He is an avid hockey fan who plays goalie and enjoys traveling to Pittsburgh to watch his favorite team play.<\/p>\n
Arella’s display included various bits of information about Sweden \u2014 that “Dalecarlian horses,” carved and painted wooden statues of horses that today symbolize Sweden’s Dalarna province, originated as toys for children; that Lake Vattern is the second-largest lake in Sweden, after Lake Vanern; that Sweden is the home of the first hotel made out of ice, which “has reindeer skins on the beds and seats so you don’t get cold,” Arella said.<\/p>\n
Twelve-year-old student Angelica Marsh chose to make a display about France.<\/p>\n
“I learned a lot about the government and the language,” she said. “It’s really beautiful. I find it very interesting.”<\/p>\n
Across the room, Paislee Detwiler, 6, of Sidman, erected a display about England that included Peppa Pig, a character from a British animated children’s TV series.<\/p>\n
“She lives in England and she likes to jump in muddy puddles,” Paislee said.<\/p>\n
Twins Madilyn and Kaylee Yock, both 7, selected Egypt and Italy, respectively.<\/p>\n
“I like the pyramids and the sphinx,” Madilyn said. “The sphinx has the head of a man and the body of a lion.”<\/p>\n
“I learned about the volcano eruption,” added Kaylee, referring to the eruption of Italy’s Mount Etna in December, “and my mom told me about the Colosseum.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n