Global Citizens Club for Kids: Virtual Trip to Switzerland: Homeschooling Switzerland: Switzerland Crafts for Kids & Activities
Join us for a trip around the world as we “virtually” learn about different countries, cultures, foods, music and famous landmarks with Switzerland crafts and activities. Each week we will post about a different country with tons of great activities to engage with children of all ages. This week we will be learning about Switzerland. Join us on an adventure around the world with Swiss crafts for kids and lots of fun activities! This unit is perfect for homeschool families, travel-loving families, and teachers with our sample Switzerland lesson plan.
Grab this fun passport kit as an add-on to our global adventures. The kit includes a “passport”, stamps, stickers and other items to get kids excited about their adventure. You’ll see our passport used throughout the lessons. It’s perfect for our homeschooling Switzerland unit.
Each unit we locate the country of study on the map and complete our passport as we progress through the different activities. It makes it seem like we are really traveling the globe together!
Save this Switzerland Lesson Plan for the future.
Want to travel to more countries? Check out all of my previous travel units by clicking on the name of the country.
Be sure to read through all the Switzerland craft ideas & activities, gather or purchase any needed supplies (most are what you have around the house) and then decide which activities you’d like to cover each day. Each activity has suggestions on how to modify it for younger and older children, but feel free to get creative and share your experience with us.
The following activities works great as Switzerland lesson plans for preschool aged children, toddlers or elementary students.
If you like a schedule, here is a suggested 3-day “schedule” to complete all the Switzerland classroom activities. It makes a great schedule for a Switzerland homeschool unit.
Day One
- Read Books About Switzerland
- Locate Switzerland on the map and do the map activity
- Create a Swiss flag
- Listen to Swiss music (Yodeling, Polka, Alphorn)
- Learn some Swiss phrases
- Pick some Switzerland Crafts for Kids from the list
Day Two
- Make your own Mailaenderli (Swiss cookies)
- Learn about famous landmarks and create your own landscape complete with mountain climber
- Have fun with Swiss activities and Crafts
- Go for a hike with a nature scavenger hunt
Day Three
- Watch Heidi on Disney +
- Read some Swiss Folktales
- Enjoy a Swiss dinner complete with cheese fondue and Swiss chocolates
- Plan a Field Trip or your future trip
All About Switzerland for Kids
- The Swiss people speak German, French, Italian, and Romansch.
- Switzerland is located in Europe. Switzerland is a landlocked country in Central Europe.
- The capital city of Switzerland is Bern. However, the largest city in Switzerland is Zürich with a population of 1.3 million.
- Switzerland has the highest mountains in Europe. The most famous Swiss mountain is the Matterhorn near Zermatt. Matterhorn is 4 478 m/ 14 692 ft. high.
- The Swiss are known for their banks, their farms and dairies and their clock making skills.
- Switzerland has remained neutral in all the wars, including World War 1 and World War II.
Books About Switzerland for Kids
We found quite a few great books for kids about Switzerland. We’ve included a few options that you can either purchase on Amazon via the links or you can reserve them at the library for a low-cost option. Grab a few options, even if the reading level is too high for your child, they can still look at the pictures and maps or have an adult read the book to younger children.
Do your kids enjoy watching YouTube? I know my son is always finding fun little videos. Here is a great video with beautiful scenes from all around Switzerland. Learn about how to make cheese, explore the mountains and go paragliding with Colleen and her family.
There are a few ads, but you can skip over those.
Switzerland Map Activity
Switzerland is a country located in Europe. The country shares a land border with Germany, Austria, Liechtenstein, Italy, and France. Bern is the capital city of Switzerland.
If you have a globe, help your child(ren) locate Switzerland on the map. If you have the passport kit from Amazon, it comes with a fun colorful map that you can hang up.
- Ask your child what they know about Switzerland
- Write down any questions your child has about Switzerland
Print the map below (right-click on the image, save it and then print).
Color Switzerland GREEN on the map. Then use different colors to show the various countries surrounding Switzerland.
You can use watercolors, crayons, markers or colored pencils. I’ve linked to our favorites if you need more supplies.
Preschool Kids: Color the map
Elementary Ages: Talk about the various regions. Ask questions about the map:
- What is the Capital City of Switzerland? Mark the capital on the map with a star and write Bern.
- The highest point in Switzerland is Monte Rosa, which stands at 15,203 feet), find it’s location and highlight it on the map with a mountain shape. Add the name “Monte Rosa”.
- Add the neighboring countries names
Swiss Flag Activity
The Swiss flag is a red square flag with a white cross at the center. The white cross is known as the Swiss cross. Switzerland is the only country in the world with a square flag
Make a flag of Switzerland.
For preschoolers, practice cutting and gluing with the instructions below.
Older kids can choose to paint or hand draw and color.
For this craft, all you need are: (if you need supplies, click on the links)
Step 1. Cut two strips of white paper to form the cross. The strips should be 2″ wide.
Step 2. Lay the white stripes in a cross pattern over the red paper and glue.
Step 3. Display your flag during your unit study. We’ve hung ours on a string down the stairs.
Swiss Recipes
Grab the kids and make your very own Swiss sweet cookies! Your kids can decorate them with sprinkles like Christmas cookies in this fun hands-on recipe.
Here is the recipe we used to make the Mailaenderli cookies.
Step 1: Lay out all the ingredients.
Step 2: Mix the ingredients and then cover and refrigerate for at least an hour.
Step 3: Roll out dough. Cut into desired shapes using cookie cutters. Put cookies on the cookie sheet. Brush with beaten egg yolks and decorate with sprinkles.
Step 4: Cook for 15-20 minutes and then enjoy!
Looking for more ways to enjoy Swiss foods? Visit a Swiss/German Restaurant to try new foods (or order take out). Some of our favorite Swiss foods include:
- Cheese Fondue
- Rösti
- Raclette
- Saffron Risotto
- Älplermagronen
Ready to cook a delicious traditional Swiss family-friendly dinner? Here are a few of our favorite recipes.
- Gruyere Potato Gratin – Potato Gratin is the perfect simple side dish for any type of meal. Thin slices of Yukon gold potato are baked in cream, milk, cheese, onions, and wine, until bubbling and golden.
- Bircher Muesli (Swiss Oatmeal) – an easy and delicious make-ahead breakfast recipe, Bircher Muesli is made with oats, fruit, and nuts soaked in yogurt.
- Alpine Macaroni– a traditional Swiss dish served on the slopes of the Alps. It’s similar to macaroni and cheese with a Swiss twist.
Don’t forget to end your meal with a delicious chocolate treat. The Swiss are well known for their chocolate and can either be enjoyed with a plate of chocolate fondue or with these candy bars.
If you aren’t quite ready to cook up a meal, see if you have a fondue restaurant close by. We ordered take-out from The Melting Pot for some cheese fondue and chocolate fondue. Their food is amazing and the in-restaurant experience is really fun for the whole family.
Swiss Folktales
There is no shortage of Swiss myths and legends. One of the most popular is William Tell- the man who skilfully splits an apple on his son’s head with his crossbow rather than bowing down to a local dignitary’s hat – has come to represent the Swiss people’s spirit of independence.
Here are some of our favorite stories for children that you can read online:
Looking to add to your library collection? Here are some other books below.
Swiss Music
Listen to traditional Swiss music while you complete the activities. Ask Alexa to play “Traditional Swiss Music“, or check out this youtube video with various songs from traditional bands.
The alphorn has long been a tool used by shepherds in the 17th century. It was used to call the cows from the pastures and into the barn at milking time and for religious purposes. Although the alphorn had more or less lost its original function in the mountains, it now won the hearts of its audiences as a musical instrument – and has become a tourist attraction and a symbol of Switzerland.
Animals Native to Switzerland
Switzerland, just like many other European countries, had nearly lost its wildlife between the 17th and 19th centuries. Conservation efforts and reintroducing wildlife back into the environment has brought back many animals considered to be extinct.
Alpine marmots are the largest species of the squirrel family and found in the Swiss Alps at elevations from 2,500 to 10,000 ft. Marmots are excellent diggers and therefore live in burrows. They have large front teeth and a thick fur coat.
The brown bear is an endangered species in Switzerland. It was an extinct animal for almost a century after the last bear was killed in 1904. Conservationists had been unsuccessful at reintroducing the brown bear in multiple attempts but were finally able to add two bears into a national park. Then in 2017, a wild brown bear that had migrated from Italy was seen roaming in Switzerland, the first in over a century.
The Golden Eagle has a wingspan of six feet makes the flight of the golden eagle and impressive sight unless you are on its menu. The bird is considered the “king of the air” in Switzerland because it is unrivaled in air dominance. There are about 300 pairs of golden eagles in the country.
Although not a wild animal, one of the most famous Swiss icons is the St. Bernard mountain rescue dog. Since the early 18th century, monks living in the snowy, dangerous St. Bernard Pass—a route through the Alps between Italy and Switzerland—kept the canines to help them on their rescue missions after bad snowstorms. Over a span of nearly 200 years, about 2,000 people, from lost children to Napoleon’s soldiers, were rescued because of the heroic dogs’ sense of direction and resistance to cold.
Famous Landmarks
Switzerland is known for the beauty of its majestic mountains and historic towns. Most of the major landmarks include mountains, waterfalls, trains, covered bridges, stunning landscapes and castles.
The famous Matterhorn is an iconic emblem of the Swiss Alps. The mountain derives its name from the German words Matte, meaning meadow, and Horn, which means peak. With its 4,478 meters (14,692 ft) high summit, lying on the border between Switzerland and Italy, it is one of the highest peaks in the Alps.
The Jungfraujoch is a peak in the Bernese Alps accessible by railway, ending at Europe’s highest mountain station. Highlights include views of spectacular mountain summits like the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau, and views of the large Eiger Glacier that nestles below them. The Sphinx Observatory, one of the highest astronomical sighting stations in the world, is located here as well
The Bernina Express is a brightly colored train that crosses the Alps, just across the border in northern Italy. It is one of the most scenic Swiss train rides. The route takes about 4 hours and goes over 196 bridges and through 55 tunnels. Guest enjoy views of glaciers and mountain peaks and towns, bridges spanning across 60 meters (200 foot) drop and many more breathtaking sights are speeding by outside of the train, while waiters bring snacks and drinks directly to your seat.
The Rhine Falls, near Schaffhausen, is Europe’s largest waterfall. Guests can enjoy views of the waterfall via a boat tour, from one of the many platforms or while enjoying a bite to eat. Visitors will also enjoy views of the riverside castles, and spectacular boulder perched in the middle of the river at the top of the falls. A children’s playground, historical museum region, and adventure trail make it the perfect spot to visit.
The mountain town of Grindelwald is the largest ski resort town in the Jungfrau region. This lovely alpine town is both a summer and winter activity region. Tourists who visit in the summer can enjoy spectacular hiking trails and some of Europe’s most-loved rock climbing locations. Winter tourists can ski or even try the local toboggan run.
Check out the craft below where you can create your own mountain scene complete with climber or paraglider.
Swiss Crafts for Kids & Activities
There are so many fun crafts that you can do to learn more about Switzerland. I’ll share some of our favorite Switzerland crafts for kids below. If you find more activities that you love, please share them with me and I’ll add them to this list.
1. Coloring Pages – Click the link for tons of great coloring pages
2. Edelweiss Flower Craft
The edelweiss, a delicate mountain flower with furry white petals that grow in high altitudes (2,000 to 3,000 meters). The flower adorns everything from airlines to coins to the logo for the Swiss tourism office.
Supplies Needed:
Step 1: Layout the supplies including various colors of construction paper: dark blue, light blue, white, yellow and green.
Step 2: Draw and cut out the shape for the mountain background.
Step 3: Glue the mountains to the dark blue background.
Step 4: Draw and cut out the shapes for the petals, stems and pollen.
You’ll need 5 larger petals, 5 smaller petals, one large yellow circle, and 5 smaller circles. Also a strip of green for the stem.
Have older children practice drawing and cutting. Pre-cut for younger students.
Step 5: Glue the green stem in the bottom center of the paper.
Step 6: Arrange and glue the five large white petals in a circle.
Step 7: Arrange and glue the five smaller white petals between the larger petals.
Step 8: Glue the large yellow circle in the center of the white petals.
Step 9: Arrange the smaller yellow circles in the center of the flower and glue.
Now you have a beautiful landscape of the Alps with an icon Edelweiss flower to enjoy.
3. Alpine Adventure Climber/Paraglider Craft
The Western Alps is the largest rock climbing area in Switzerland that includes Interlaken and the famous mountains of the Eiger, Jungfrau, and Monch. Parasailing or paragliding is also very popular in the areas as a way to take in the picturesque views of the Swiss Alps.
Supplies Needed:
Step 1: Layout the supplies including paper plate, blue construction paper background, printed climber or parasailer, paints, paintbrushes, brads, and a toothpick.
Step 2: Cut off the bottom of the paper plate to make it flat.
Step 3: Paint a mountain scene on the paper plate with light grey paint.
Step 4: Add blotches of dark grey paint and wipe it with a paper towel.
Step 5: Add grass at the bottom of the mountains.
Step 6: Print a climber (click the link for the PDF) or a paraglider (below)
Step 7: Cut out the image you choose, cut inside the line so it isn’t visible.
Step 8: Use a brad to attach your climber to the back of your mountain scene. Make sure he isn’t hidden as he climbs the mountain.
Step 9: Glue your toothpick to the front and use a small piece of extra white paper to write “The Alps”. Glue both to the front in the grass.
Step 10: Glue the paper plate to a blue background and have fun with your new alpine climber or parasailer!
4. Alpine Hat Craft
The Tyrolean hat, also a Bavarian hat or Alpine hat, is a type of headwear that originally came from the Tyrol in the Alps, in what is now part of Austria, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
Supplies Needed:
Step 1: Fold the paper in half (short wise)
Step 2: With the open end facing down, fold in both corner to meet in the middle.
Step 3: Fold up the bottom flap and then flip it over.
Step 4: Fold up the bottom flap.
Step 5: Fold in each corner and tuck it into the hat, glue, and clip to hold it while it dries. Do this for all four corners.
Step 6: Add a feather and glue.
Step 7: Make a mini swiss flag with extra construction paper scraps.
Step 8: Glue the flag to the hat.
Now you’ve got a cute swiss hat for your stuffed animals. You can add some string or elastic so it stays on.
Swiss Inventions
Switzerland has made some major contributions to the world as we know it. Swiss engineer George de Mestral invented Velcro after studying how seeds stick to clothing. The swiss army knife was invented by Karl Elsener and has adapted to modern times, now including a USB device.
In addition, the Swiss formed the Red Cross in 1863 to set up international rules on caring for wounded soldiers, notably prisoners. Since that time it has grown into the largest humanitarian network in the world, with a presence in nearly every country. Today this network of national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies is powered by 13 million volunteers, helping roughly 284 million people every year
- Make your own play first aid kit for dolls and pretend play
Make your own first aid kit out of felt. You can be as simple or as complex as you’d like. We did a combo of sewing and gluing to make the various pieces.
Supplies Needed
Step 1: To make the bandaids, make a template out of cardstock or cardboard and trace the shapes onto felt. Also cut out white rectangles for the center.
Step 2: Glue or sew the white strips to the center of the bandaids. Hand sew snaps to the ends (one top and one bottom). You can also use sticky velcro.
Step 3: Make a cute first aid bag out of felt. I sewed the top edges first on both sides with the handles.
Step 4: Cut out two red crosses and pin them to the front and back of the bag. Sew the crosses (or glue).
Step 5: Sew the sides of the bag together to complete the first aid kit bag.
We made quite a few extras, as requested by my son. We made a thermometer, ointment tube, pills, and a wrap bandage. Feel free to get creative and modify with the items you have at home.
Swiss Hiking: Get Moving!
The people of Switzerland enjoy a wide variety of outdoor activities. With nature all around, it is easy to get out and explore. Find a local trail or explore the neighborhood with this nature scavenger hunt.
Here are some of our favorite printable scavenger hunts. See which one will work best for the kids in your family.
Family-Friendly Swiss Movies
There are a couple of choices for family-friendly movies set in Switzerland. I’ll share a few of our favorites below.
Heidi (rated G)- In the most famous novel about Switzerland, an orphan girl is sent to live with her grandfather in the Alps. There are multiple versions.
A Bell for Ursli (rated PG)- High in the Alps, a boy named Ursli hikes alone into the snowy mountains to find a big bell with which to lead the spring procession.
You should be able to find the movies on Amazon, Netflix or Hulu. If you’d like to buy the DVD, click the photos below. There are also some educational films.
Learn some German Phrases/Words
Switzerland has four official languages, but the majority of the people who live in Switzerland speak Swiss German. For example, the customary greeting in standard, or high, German would be “guten Tag,” but in Swiss German, the all-purpose hello for one person is “gruetzi” or “gruetzi wohl,” and for more than one, “gruetzi miteinander,” the equivalent of “hello, everybody.”
Whereas “guten Abend” is the standard German way of saying, “good night,” speakers of Swiss German would say, “guten Abig” when addressing one person, and “guten Abig zusammen” or “guten Abig miteinander” for two or more. Despite conversational differences, the Swiss use standard German in writing.
There weren’t many options for learning Swiss German on youtube, but here are 10 of the most popular phrases to learn.
My 5-year-old is a huge fan of Little Passports, a monthly subscription service for kids focused on global learning. They have two versions, Early Explorers is meant for ages 3-5 years of age and it focuses on various themes such as music, oceans, and dinosaurs.
World Edition is meant for children 6-10 years of age and it focuses on a different country each month.
After the
first month (when kids receive their world map and suitcase), your child will
receive souvenirs, activity sheets, photos, stickers for their map and
suitcase, and access to more activities online.
Field Trip: Swiss Style
There aren’t many ways to learn about Swiss culture without traveling to Switzerland, but here are a few ideas.
- Go for a hike in the mountains
- Have fun with winter sports like skiing and tobogganing
- Visit a fondue restaurant for a swiss-style meal
Attend a Swiss festival in your area or nearby. Ohio hosts a swiss festival each year in October with wine and cheese samples along with parades and activities. Click the link to check the schedule.
Plan your trip!
If you loved learning about Switzerland and are looking to plan a trip, check out these great resources from our family travel blogger friends. They’ve got all the best insider tips and tricks.
Looking for a quaint alpine town to explore? Don’t miss Grindelwald, Switzerland. There are plenty of opportunities to hike, amazing alpine playground and views to amaze.
Here is the link to a post I wrote about our long weekend visit to Grindelwald, Switzerland.
Visit Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe with these helpful tips.
We also loved the lown of Lucerne with its transportation museum, covered bridge, easy access to the mountains and chocolate galore!
I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a virtual trip to Switzerland with your kids. Learning about new countries and cultures can be a fun experience for both children and adults. I created this travel blog for families to inspire others to travel and create memories with their families.
Don’t miss our first Virtual trip to Greece, Virtual trip to Japan, Virtual trip to England, Virtual trip to France, Virtual trip to Brazil and Virtual trip to China. Click the link to head to that post.
Please share your fun activities with me on Facebook or Instagram. Looking to plan an adventure with kids, but not sure where to start? Check out my top posts on my homepage to discover more of our favorite places to travel with kids around the globe.
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