Whether you’re celebrating Grandparent’s Day, which falls on the first Sunday after Labor Day, or you are doing a theme teaching unit on family, these grandparent lesson plans are fun a way to celebrate grandmothers and grandfathers. Expand language skills by sharing what kids around the world call their grandparents and how to say grandma and grandpa in sign language.

Even in your own classroom or family, children will have a variety of names for their grandmothers from grandma or granny to nana or mimi. Grandfathers might be called grandpa, granddad, papa or big daddy. Kids love hearing words from other languages.

Explore these names for grandmothers and grandfathers around the world.

Obasaan and Ojiisan in Japanese

Abuelita and Abuelito in Spanish

Mormor (mother of the mother) and Farmor (mother of the father) or Morfar (father of the mother) and Farfar (father of the father) in Swedish

Oma and Opa in Dutch

Mamy and Papy (pronounced mummy and puppy) in French

Nonna and Nonno in Italian

Learn to say grandmother and grandfather in American sign language.

“The sign for “grandma” or “grandmother” is made by touching your chin with the thumb of your right hand, as when signing “mother.” The right hand should be open. Now, move your hand forward in two small arches.”

“The sign for “grandfather” is made by touching your forehead with the thumb of your dominant hand, the same as when signing “father”. The hand should be open. Now, move your hand forward in two small arches.”

These “two small arches” like just going down (from the chin or forehead) and up with your hand as if it is making a little bounce.