Poland.Classroom+Activities

toc

Classroom Activities
 * Geography || History || Culture || Politics || Economics || Classroom Activities || Teacher's Page ||



﻿Early Elementary Activity:
Make a traditional Polish Wycinanki! Wycinanki is the Polish art of paper cutting, it is sort of like how people in the US make paper snowflakes! Some Wycinanki can be very beautiful and detailed, but here are some patterns to help you get started! [] Now to do these: fold a piece of in half hot-dog style (the long way). Then you will have to print out the pattern sheet and cut each pattern piece out, trace it on the folded paper and color it (you can use the color suggested or pick your own!) Next, cut out all of the pieces that you have traced and colored and glue them on top of another so it resembles the Lowicz flower on the second page, and then glue it onto either white paper or construction paper. You just made a Wycinanki! Pretty, isn't?  []  To create this Wycinanki: fold a piece of paper in half hot-dog style. Then you will have to print out the pattern sheet and then cut out the pattern piece you like and then trace it on the folded piece of paper. Color it, cut it out and glue onto either white paper or construction paper, and you're done! That wasn't too bad was it?



Upper Elementary Activity:
Make Polish Cookies! They are very tasty! These cookies are called Kolaczki (pronounced klotch-key) and you will need an adult to assist you. Here's what you need: 5 cups all purpose-flour  4 egg yolks*  3 teaspoons baking powder  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">1 pound of shortening or butter  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">1 cup of milk  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">4 (0.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">1 teaspoon salt  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">1 cup any flavor fruit jam (strawberry, raspberry, etc.)  <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">1/3 cup powdered sugar to sprinkle on top <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Here's what you do: <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">1. Warm milk to just above room temperature (you can heat it up in the microwave). Dissolve the yeast in the milk and set it aside. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">2. In a medium bowl, stir together the flour, salt and baking powder. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">3. Mix in the shortening or butter in the flour mixture. Then stir in the egg yolks and the milk mixture. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">4. Knead the dough together and then refrigerate or for about 3 hours.* <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">5. After the dough has been refrigerated, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F* <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">6. While oven is heating up, dust a clean, dry surface with powdered sugar. Knead the dough for a few minutes, and then carefully roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Then cut out dough into circles with a cookie cutter (if you have one and if you do not, cut out circles carefully with a knife). <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">7. Place a teaspoon of jam onto the center of each circle, fold the dough over and pinch the edge. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">8. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven.* <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">9. Let cookies cool, then sprinkle powdered sugar on top, then enjoy! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Be sure to not store in a air-tight container or they can become soggy. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">* = adult assistance will probably be needed

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Fine Arts Activity:
<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Learn how to do a Polish Dance - The Carousel <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Here is a video clip of a group of children doing The Carousel. I suggest watching the video first, then try following the steps! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">1. Get a group of about 4-10 people and then hold hands in a circle <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">2. Now, alternate putting your right foot forward, then your left foot forward. <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">3. After you have kicked out your feet about 17-20 times, then jump, jump, jump! Jump 3 times! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">4. Next, go around in a circle 1 time, then turn around so everyone is facing away from each other, then jump, jump, jump 3 more times! <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">5. After jumping, go back around in the circle 1 time, then turn to face each other again <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">6. Then repeat steps 1-5 over again <span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Now you have learned how to do The Carousel. media type="youtube" key="sqSUmvSAMA8" height="349" width="425" align="right"

Information for this site came from: EddiePA. (n.d.). Youtube. //Youtube//. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqSUmvSAMA

How to make wycinanki. (n.d.). //Wycinanki//. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/wycinanki/lowicz.pdf

Kolaczki recipe. (n.d.). //Allrecipes.com//. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/kolaczki/Detail.aspx//

//Kurpie wycinanki. (n.d.).// Wycinanki//. Retrieved March 25, 2011, from info-poland.buffalo.edu/classroom/wycinanki/kurpie.pdf