1. What country, anciently known as Abyssinia, is the oldest independent nation in Africa?
   
   
2. Which country is the world's fourth largest island?
   
   
3. Rwanda's mountain ranges and highland plateaus have earned the country what nickname?
   
   
4. Nearly all residents of Comoros adhere to which religion?
   
   
5. Seychelles is home to what reptile, found only there and in Ecuador's Galápagos Islands?

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.
Read about world holidays occuring this month.

• Hawaii is the only state where coffee beans can grow.
  
  
• Hawaii has a different time zone from the rest of the nation: Hawaiian standard time. It is also one of two states that doesn't practice daylight saving.
  
  
• The island of Niihau has been privately owned by one family for generations.
  
  
• No one is allowed on Kahoolawe (unless given permission) until the U.S. Navy and Air Force clean up all the unexploded bombs. The island was used for target practice by the U.S. military between 1941 and 1990.
  
  
• The island of Hawaii produces more macadamia nuts than any other place in the world.
  
  
• Hawaii's two official languages are Hawaiian and English.
  
  
• Read more facts.

September Podcast

Graphing Features, Flags, and
New Additions

Photo Gallery Pick


Kayogoro, Burundi, March 2007
Baby Tied to Back: Mothers and older sisters often have a baby tied to their backs. To do this, a woman bends forward at the waist and balances the baby stomach-down on her back. She takes a piece of cloth, either manufactured or handmade from goat skins, and puts it around the baby's shoulders or waist. Then she pulls the cloth tight around her body and tucks it in over her chest. The woman then takes the bottom of the cloth, pulls it tight under the baby, and tucks it in again over her stomach to secure the baby to her body.
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