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Teacher's Guide for FACES ® Sweden

October 2002

Teacher Guide prepared by: Linda Johns of Seattle, Washington, children's book author and education writer.

Some web sites with general facts about Sweden include: The following suggestions include a mix of whole group, small group, and individual activities based on articles in this issue.

Skills:
  • Relating prior knowledge to the reading
  • Vocabulary
  • Comprehension
  • Critical Thinking
  • Writing
Introduction to Sweden (whole class activity)

Pre-reading:
Introduce the Sweden issue of FACES ® by showing the front cover of the magazine. Show students where Sweden is on a map or a globe.

Ask students what they know about Sweden. Begin a KWL chart with columns for what students think they know about Sweden and what they wonder about Sweden. Reserve the third column (what students learned about Sweden) for after they've read and discussed articles in the magazine.

Begin a KWL chart about Sweden.
What we KNOW about SwedenWhat We WONDER about SwedenWhat we LEARNED about Sweden
  • Lots of people ski there
  • They speak Swedish
  • It's close to the Arctic





  • What do people like to do there?
  • What holidays do they celebrate?
  • What is school like?












Vocabulary
The following words, terms, and names are used throughout this issue of FACES ®. Ask students to work in groups to put the words in alphabetical order and create a mini dictionary of the following words:

Samiarchipelagopersecution
byalagdalahastSaint Lucia
LutheranaltitudeCrown Princess Victoria
democracyEuropean Unionmartyred
descendantVikingsVasa (ship's name)
mythicalmusli


Create a Timeline
Have students create an illustrated timeline for Sweden based on important dates included on page 13. Encourage students to look through the magazine, on the Internet, and in other classroom reference materials to find information to help them accurately illustrate benchmark dates on the timeline.

Write a Biography
Have students read "Sweden's Future Queen" on pages 14-15. Ask students to write a short biography of Crown Princess Victoria. Encourage them to include information on her family, education, hobbies, and interests. Students should also include information on the royal family's role in Sweden and how the crown is passed from generation to generation.

You might want to ask students:
  • What kind of effect did the 1979 Act of Succession have on Victoria, even though she was only two years old at the time?
Encourage students to use online resources to find more on Princess Victoria.

Create a Travel Poster or a Travel Brochure
Ask groups of students to read either "Icehotel" (beginning on page 6) or "A Walking Tour of Stockholm" (beginning on page 22). Ask students to work independently or in small groups to create a travel poster (or brochure) for either the city of Stockholm or the Icehotel. Encourage students to go online to find photographs to use as reference to illustrate their posters or brochures.

Some good online resources include: Comparing Frukost and Breakfast
  1. Discuss what students eat for breakfast. Begin a class chart listing some typical breakfasts, as well as special celebration breakfasts.
  2. Ask students to read "Fish for Breakfast" on pages 26-27. Ask students to add to a separate list of what Swedish students eat for frukost.
  3. Make a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting a typical American breakfast and a typical Swedish breakfast.
  4. If you have access to a kitchen, make musli using the recipe on page 27. Or you might want to make a batch at home to bring into the class (or purchase ready-made musli).
Comprehension Skills / Writing Activity
Ask students to read "Going to School in Sweden" on pages 28-31. After students have read the story, ask some comprehension questions:
  1. How do parents know how the children are doing in school? (recalling)
  2. What are some subjects that Swedish students study?
    1. How are they similar to what American students study?
    2. How are they different?
    (comparing and contrasting)
  3. What part of the Swedish approach to school seems the most interesting to you? Why? (personal response)
Now ask students to choose one of the following topics and write an opinion piece:
  • Students should study woodworking and sewing in school.
  • All students should study and master a foreign language.
Remind students that they can either agree or disagree with a statement, but they'll need to back up their opinion.

Act It Out!
Divide students into groups of five or six students to read "What Shall Baby's Name Be?" a play based on a Swedish folktale. There are five roles in the play. A sixth student in each group could act as director / facilitator, keeping things moving along.

Art for Saint Lucia's Day
Ask students to independently read "Celebrating Saint Lucia's Day" (beginning on page 36). Provide materials to make a Lucia Crown, using the directions.
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