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Lesson 4: Greece International Festival: Passport to the World Lesson Series

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International Festival: Greece 

Student Teacher: Petroula Delivorias
Project Children L.E.A.D. Director: Dr. Vincenne Revilla Beltran
Subject Area: Multicultural Diversity
Grade level: Kindergarten (Ages 5-6)
Length of Lesson: 60 minutes 

Learning goals based on the Pennsylvania Academic Standards:

  • The overall goals for this lesson are for the students to experience a country unfamiliar to them through music, food, language, and the country's customs.

 

PA STANDARDS:

  • GEOGRAPHY

    • 7.1. Basic Geographic Literacy

  • A. Identify geographic tools and their uses.

    • 7.2. The Physical Characteristics of Places and Regions

  • A. Identify the physical characteristics of places and regions.

 

  • MATHEMATICS

    • 2.1. Numbers, Number Systems and Number Relationships

  • A. Count using whole numbers.

  • C. Represent equivalent forms of the same number through the use of concrete objects, drawings, word names, and symbols.

 

  • READING, WRITING, SPEAKING AND LISTENING

    • 1.6. Speaking and Listening

      • A. Listen to others.

      • B. Listen to a selection of literature.

      • D. Contribute to discussions.

 

  • WORLD LANGUAGES

        • 12.1.1. Communication in a Target Language (PERFORMANCE INDICATORS)

  • A. Recite [Repeat] target language alphabet and associated sounds and basic words with proper accentuation.

  • B. Speak and write common vocabulary, phrases and structures during activities with the teacher, classmates, and family (Interpersonal Skills).

 

        • 12.3. The Role of CULTURE in World Language Acquisition (CONTENT STANDARDS)

  • A. Identify fundamental products and customs of the target culture.

 

        • 12.3.1. The Role of CULTURE in World Language Acquisition (PERFORMANCE INDICATORS)

  • B. Use culturally appropriate memorized expressions and gestures for basic social interactions.

 

OBJECTIVES:

  • Given a map and pictures of Greece, the children will name at least one of the geographic features (i.e. water, land).

  • Given Greek greetings, the students will mimic the sounds made and repeat the sayings back to the teacher.

  • Given a story read in Greek, and English, the students will compare and contrast their families to the Greek family in the story by giving examples.

  • Given the names of the Greek numbers, the students will repeat the numbers in Greek and count to six in Greek.

  • (TIME PERMITTING) Given play dough, the students will "make" the koularakia shape by rolling out the play dough and twisting it.

 

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

  • Teacher:

    • Large Greek flag poster

    • Smaller posters of Greek people from www.greektourism.com

    • Map of Greece from www.greektourism.com

    • Papaloizos, Theodore C., Ph. D. [1988]. My Greek Reader for the Second Grade. U.S.A.: Theodore C. Papaloizos Publications.

    • Greek boy and girl cutouts (modified using cutouts from http://coloring-page.net/pages/cchld004.html)

    • Greek sayings

    • Spinner and number placemat

    • Prizes

    • Informational books about Greece mailed by www.greektourism.com

    • Three dozen Koularakia (Recipe attached)

    • Koularakia recipe for each child

    • "Greek Traditional Music Collection" CD. Greece: FM Records. Carnegie Library of Oakland, record CD 11325.

    • "Anthology of Greek Music: Popular Classics" CD. Greece: FM Records. Carnegie Library of Oakland, record CD: 12541.

    • Play dough

    • one or two tables

 

  • Students:

    • Play dough

    • Koularakia and Koularakia recipe

ADAPTATIONS AND Accommodations FOR DIFFERENTIATE INSTRUCTION:

      • The music and oral presentations about Greece will appeal to auditory learners.

      • The working with the play dough and using the spinner will appeal to tactile learners.

      • The reading of the story will appeal to the students who like to read and be read to.

      • The posters and maps will appeal to visual learners.

      • Students who need help spinning or using the play dough may work with a partner.

      • Directions will be repeated for students with hearing impairments.

 

PROCEDURES:

 

REVIEW: Review the concepts of land and water by asking the students to show you on the map of Greece, which part is the land and which is the water.

 

INTRODUCE:

  1. Ask any of the students if they have heard of the country Greece or its capital, Athens. Ask them where they heard it (they might remember the name from watching the Olympics). Tell the students the Olympics first began in Greece.

  2. Show them the Greek flag and briefly tell the symbolism behind its colors white and blue.

 

DEVELOP:

  1. Tell students you went to Greek school. Show them the alphabet written on the board, and point to the first three letters, saying each one. Have students repeat back.

  2. Read the story about the Greek family from the Greek reader, translating into English as you go along. Ask students about their families.

  3. Ask students how many siblings were in the story (3). Boys? (2). Girls? (1)

  4. Introduce Greek numbers, one through six. Have students repeat.

  5. Introduce spinning game. Remind the students that taking turns is very important.

  6. Have students each take a turn and spin. If the arrow points to their number, say that number in Greek and have them repeat. Then tell them to go pick a prize. Wait until all students get a prize before the second round. If there is time for another round).

  7. If time, have students make koularakia shape using play dough. Demonstrate how to make koularakia shape by rolling the dough and twisting the ends.

 

ASSESS: The students will be assessed by:

  1. How well they follow directions

    • Did they repeat the words after the teacher?

    • Did they take turns?

    • Did they roll and twist the play dough just as the teacher?

  2. How well they listened

    • Did they know the story was about a family? Did they talk about their families or something else?

 

ASSIGN: No assignment will be given.

CLOSE: The lesson will close by asking the students: "What did you learn today?"

REFLECT: To be done after the lesson is taught.

Koulourakia Recipe

(Butter Cookies)

 

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. butter, softened

  • 2 c. sugar

  • 2 egg yolks & 2 whole eggs

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 tsp baking powder

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 7-8 c. sifted flour

  • ½ c. orange juice

  • 2 egg yolks, beaten

  • 4 tbsp milk

  • 1/3 c. sesame seeds (optional)

 

Directions

    1. Using a mixer, cream butter until light and fluffy.

    2. Add sugar and beat thoroughly.

    3. On a medium speed, add 2 egg yolks and 2 whole eggs, whole ones first, one at a time.

    4. Then add orange juice and vanilla.

    5. In one cup of flour, add the baking powder and soda.

    6. Next, add the flour mixture to the batter, 1 cup at a time, until it is easy to handle, but a little sticky.

    7. Remove from mixer and knead if necessary.

    8. Pinch off a piece of dough and roll on a board lightly into a snake shape about 6" long and ½" thick.

    9. Fold snake in half and while holding the top, twist the bottom to make a spiral look.

    10. Place on cookie sheet about 2" apart and brush with egg yolk and milk mixture.

    11. Sprinkle with sesame seeds if desired.

    12. Bake at about 350 degrees for about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool off sheets.