https://kids.kiddle.co/Circa
Circa facts for kids
Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Circa is a Latin word that means "around" or "about". We use it to show when something happened at an approximate time. It's like saying "about 10 o'clock" instead of "exactly 10 o'clock."
You'll often see circa shortened to c., ca., ca, or cca. It helps us understand that a date or number is not exact, but very close.
Contents
What Does Circa Mean?
Why Do We Use Circa for Dates?
Circa in History Books
Why Dates Are Sometimes Unsure
Circa for Estimated Amounts
When Numbers Are Approximate
How to Spot Circa
See also
What Does Circa Mean?
Circa tells us that a date or amount is an estimate. It's used when the exact information isn't known. This is common for very old events or historical figures.
Why Do We Use Circa for Dates?
Sometimes, historical records are not complete. For example, people in ancient times didn't always record birth dates precisely. So, historians use circa to give the best possible estimate.
Circa in History Books
When you read about famous people in history, you might see circa next to their birth or death dates. This means historians have done their best to figure out the date, but they don't have an exact record.
Example: Genghis Khan (c. 1162 – August 18, 1227)
* Here, the "c." before 1162 means that Genghis Khan was born around that year. We know he died on August 18, 1227, but his birth date is less certain.
Why Dates Are Sometimes Unsure
Before modern record-keeping, many events weren't written down with exact dates. Sometimes, records were lost or damaged over time. Using circa helps us understand that we're dealing with an estimated time.
Circa for Estimated Amounts
Circa can also be used for numbers or amounts that are not exact. This often happens in research or reports.
When Numbers Are Approximate
Imagine a scientist estimating the number of trees in a large forest. They might say "c. 5,000 trees." This means there are about 5,000 trees, but they haven't counted every single one. It's a good estimate based on their research.
Example: "The project involved c.450 kg of materials."
* This means the project used approximately 450 kilograms of materials. The exact weight might vary slightly.
How to Spot Circa
You will usually see circa or its abbreviations (c., ca., cca) right before a date or number. Sometimes, the word circa itself might be italicized. This shows that it is a Latin word, not an English one.
Giuseppe Arcimboldo (The Librarian c. 1566)
Barron discovered p 9/10!
Sunglasses on
Huckleberry cover on book
Money inside book
Book labelled Homer
Book case added
Green book on table
Curtain is red
Book page folded on head
Book mark missing on left near face
Book strap on 2nd book on right near arm area
We listened to https://blog.busymomsdopiano.com/free-music-listening-activity-for-kids-which-witch-sang-it/#more-1994
Add a Little Wicked Magic to Your Music Studies This Month ✨
Download the FREE “Which Witch Sang It?” Listening Activity
Are you ready to bring a little Broadway sparkle into your music time at home? With the highly anticipated release of Wicked: For Good hitting theaters this month, it’s the perfect time to explore the enchanting music behind this beloved story of two unlikely friends—Glinda and Elphaba– in this Wicked music activity.
To celebrate, I’ve created a FREE printable that your young musician will love:
🎶 Which Witch Sang It? — A Listening Activity for Kids
This simple and creative activity helps students develop their listening skills while getting to know the musical personalities of the two famous witches from Wicked! Using the included QR code, you’ll be able to scan a playlist and listen to songs from the musical. As students listen, they’ll:
✨ Decide which witch is singing — Glinda or Elphaba
💚 Reflect on how the music makes them feel
💫 Explore mood, movement, and storytelling through song
Kids will begin to recognize how composers use melody, lyrics, and musical expression to create character traits—a skill that connects beautifully to both music appreciation and performance!
Why This Activity Works for Young Musicians
This printable isn’t just fun—it’s also meaningful for musical growth. As students listen and respond, they’ll build:
Active listening skills
Emotional awareness in music
Understanding of character expression
Confidence when talking about what they hear
Plus, if you have a child who loves Wicked! (or musicals in general), this is a magical way to connect their interests to learning.
- Learn all about Stephen Schwartz, the musical mastermind behind Wicked, in this podcast episode from Busy Kids Love Music
https://busykidsdopiano.com/podcast/162/
Episode 162: Stephen Schwartz
by carly@busymomsdopiano.com | Nov 4, 2025 | 0 comments
Episode 162: Stephen Schwartz
Busy Kids Love Music
Busy Kids Love Music
Episode 162: Stephen Schwartz
Play Episode
Rewind 10 Seconds
1x
Fast Forward 30 seconds
00:00 / 00:07:06
Subscribe Share
RSS Feed
https://busykidsdopiano.com/feed/podcast/busy-kids-love-music
Share
Link
https://busykidsdopiano.com/podcast/162/
Embed
<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="2dfuiPJQOJ"><a href="https://busykidsdopiano.com/podcast/162/">Episode 162: Stephen Schwartz</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://busykidsdopiano.com/podcast/162/embed/#?secret=2dfuiPJQOJ" width="500" height="350" title="“Episode 162: Stephen Schwartz” — Busy Kids Do Piano" data-secret="2dfuiPJQOJ" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript">/* <![CDATA[ *//*! This file is auto-generated */!function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document);//# sourceURL=https://busykidsdopiano.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js/* ]]> */</script>
Download file | Play in new window | Duration: 00:07:06 | Recorded on November 4, 2025 | Download transcript
This month on Busy Kids Love Music, we’re celebrating the magic of musical theater — and the brand-new movie Wicked: For Good! In this episode, I introduce young listeners to Stephen Schwartz, the brilliant composer and lyricist behind some of Broadway and Disney’s most beloved songs.
From his early studies at Juilliard and Carnegie Mellon to writing timeless shows like Godspell, Pippin, and Children of Eden, Stephen Schwartz has spent his career creating music that inspires and uplifts. Of course, his most famous work — Wicked — reimagines the story of Oz through unforgettable songs like “Defying Gravity,” “Popular,” and “For Good.”
As you listen, you’ll learn what it means to be both a composer and a lyricist, explore Schwartz’s journey to Broadway, and discover how his music brings characters’ emotions to life.
🎵 Featured Music in This Episode
“For Good” – Wicked
“Popular” – Wicked
“Corner of the Sky” – Pippin
“Defying Gravity” – Wicked
“No Good Deed” – Wicked
🧩 Free Printable: Audio Treasure Hunt
Turn this episode into an interactive listening activity!
Download the Audio Treasure Hunt Worksheet from the show notes to answer fun questions about Stephen Schwartz and test your listening skills as you go.
👉 Download Here
💡 Fun Facts
Stephen Schwartz wrote music and lyrics for Wicked, Pippin, and Godspell. Listen to a full playlist of Stephen Schwartz favorites here!
He also penned lyrics for Disney favorites like Pocahontas (“Colors of the Wind”), The Hunchback of Notre Dame, and Enchanted.
You can even spot Stephen Schwartz himself in a cameo appearance in Wicked: Part 1!
🪄 Keep Listening
This episode kicks off a month-long celebration of musical theater at Busy Kids Love Music! Stay tuned for more Wicked-themed fun and behind-the-scenes stories about Broadway composers.
🎧 Subscribe to Busy Kids Love Music wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t miss a single musical adventure.
💻 Explore More
🎹 Learn piano with Busy Kids Do Piano: busykidsdopiano.com
📸 Follow along on social media:
Instagram: @busykidsdopiano
Facebook: Busy Kids Do Piano
YouTube: Busy Kids Do Piano Channel
