Teacher's Guide for FACES ^® Norway

fjords * Norwegians * ceremonial * domination * stave * tundra * precipitation * bok mal * nynosk * Sami * optimal * crocuses * anemones * tidepools * nasturtiums * ferry * Firklovers * polser * fransker * northern lights * Polynesian * perilous * laden * quest * papyrus * incised * artifacts * sagas * factions * birkebeiners * coup * persevere * adversity * contoured * obligatory * curriculum * tur dag * toddy * tur mat * palegg * liverwurst * Nagetti * cauldron * coltsfoot * harbinger * sallow * troll krmn * Aurora Borealis * Syttende Mai * bunads * drakts * Storting * ration books * bunkers * picturesque * Lofotfisket * fluorescent * migratory * troll * replica

Using Tim Myers' recollection of his childhood in Norway ("When I Was a Boy in Norway"), have your students write a letter or a postcard to a friend in the United States from the perspective of being a child in Norway. What details can they add to show how life for children is different in Norway from life in the United States?

Have your students create a large timeline using the dates on page 13. You may wish to have your students include dates from pre-Norway Viking times that are pertinent to the area. Have students run a wide ribbon along a wall and include these dates on a single color of index cards or sticky notes. To help put Norway's dates in perspective, ask your students to add prominent dates from American history or world history on a different color of index cards or sticky notes. Have students use a third color of index cards or sticky notes to include dates from their school (such as groundbreaking, completion, date they began school, dates of prominent principals, etc.) or their own lives.

Have students learn more about one of these Norwegian explorers:

Leif Erikson	Roald Amundsen	Thor Heyerdahl
Erik the Red	Magnus Anderson	Leif Eriksson
Borge Ousland	Fridtjof Nansen	OttoSverdrup

You may wish to have your students share what they learned by having them trace the route of their explorer on a map, present an oral biography of their explorer, or write a newspaper article about the explorer and his exploration / journey. You may wish to have your students add these dates to the timeline created above.

Throughout this issue of FACES ^®, you and your students have touched on a number of days and events special to Norway and Norwegians. You may wish to group students together in teams to select, find out more, and present a student-written and -acted script about one of these days or events:

The Birkebeiner (Constitution Day)	Excursion Day	Syttende Mai
Lofotfisket	Russ	Midsummer's Eve
20 Days of Christmas	Easter	Labor Day

Northern Norway has been called the "Land of the Midnight Sun" because it is lit by sunlight almost 24 hours a day for most of May, June, and July. But during December, January, and February, this area becomes the "Land of the Noontime Darkness" because the sun cannot be seen above the horizon. Have students spend an imaginary "day" or "night" during one of these times. How would they spend their time? What would they do with a 24-hour day or night? You may wish to have your students write about their imaginary time or present their day or night in artwork.

Norway is known for a number of unique animals. Some of these species have spread throughout the world. Others remain in Norway. Have your students find out more about one of Norway's unique animals:

Reindeer	Artic fox	Musk oxen
Fjord horse or fjording	Wolverine	Artic gyrfalcon
Norwegian elkhound	Sea erne	Murres
Norwegian lemming	Artic tern	Puffin
Whimbrel	Auk	Guillemot

• How are these animals similar to species that are better known to your students?
• What is special or unique about these animals?
• Are any of these animals threatened with extinction today?

Have your students share what they've learned by creating posters about each of these animals.

Many of Norway's greatest sports involve snow and ice. Skiing began about 6000 years ago and remains very popular today. Most milestones in the history of skiing were made in Norway. You may wish to have students learn more about those milestones (first written ski manual, first ski club, first ski-jump competition, first cross-country ski race) and add them to the timeline you made above. In addition to skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and dogsled racing are very popular. Have students in your class engaged in these activities? Have students interview those who have participated in skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, and dogsled racing. You may wish to have students write up their interviews as a sports story or share what they've learned by having them present "A Sport Moment," a short sport highlight at odd intervals throughout the day.

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Updated: 7/23/08 06:29 pm
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