Do you know the difference between the Pantheon and the Parthenon? What is a “quark?” Do you know who painted “Christina’s World?” What was the significance of the “crash of ’29?” Which countries made up the former U.S.S.R.? Do you know these bits of our cultural history? Do your children know them? Sadly, our society is moving away from teaching children a foundational base of knowledge from which to build. Fortunately, E.D. Hirsch (author of “The Core Knowledge Series”) has published a book, “The New First Dictionary of Cultural Literacy,” which contains a “common core of knowledge” that all children (and adults!) should be familiar with. But learning facts doesn’t have to be boring!!! Learn how to hold “Cultural Literacy Bees,” using Dr. Hirsch’s book as a primary resource. These “Bees” inspire our children to strengthen their knowledge base in everything from literature to architecture to world geography while having tons of fun!
