Title: Homeland's Birthday

Lesson plan elaborated by: Magdalena Trysińska

Topic:

Homeland's Birthday. How to celebrate Independence Day. National holidays.

Target group

4th‑grade students of an eight‑year elementary school

Core curriculum

I. Literary and cultural education.

1. Reading literary works. Student:

18) uses his/her own experience and elements of knowledge about culture to interpret texts;

2. Reception of cultural texts. Student:

1) identifies the utterance as an informational, journalistic or advertising text;

5) distinguishes between important and secondary information in the text;

II. Language education.

4. Spelling and punctuation. Student:

1) correctly uses spelling rules in writing;

2) properly uses punctuation marks: dot, comma, question mark, inverted commas, colon, bracket, exclamation mark.

III. Creation of utterances.

1. Elements of the rhetoric. Student:

3) creates a logical, semantically complete and ordered utterance, using composition and graphic layout appropriate to a given genre form; understands the role of paragraphs in creating a whole mental utterance;

2. Speaking and writing. Student:

1) creates consistent statements in the following genre forms: dialogue, short story (creative, reproductive), description, letter, report (from the film, performance, event), dedication, invitation, acknowledgements, the announcement, wishes, description of internal experiences, characteristics, text of an argumentative nature.

IV. Self‑study. Student:

1) perfects reading quietly and aloud;

2) perfects various forms of recording the information acquired;

3) uses the information contained in various sources, collects information, selects information;

8) learns about the cultural life of his/her region;

9) develops the skill of effective use of information technology and Internet resources and uses these skills to present his/her own interests.

The general aim of education

Developing a patriotic attitude within the framework of Polish language lessons.

Key competences

• communication in the mother tongue;

• communication in foreign languages;

• learning to learn;

• social and civic competences;

• cultural awareness and expression.

Learning outcomes

Student:

• knows the vocabulary associated with the word “Poland”;

• understands the importance of Independence Day;

• can search for the necessary information in the text;

• searches for necessary information in various sources;

• uses a description;

• can write proper names correctly.

Methods / techniques

• practical: working with text, exercises concerned;

• programmed: using the computer, using an e‑textbook;

• problematic: activating – brainstorm, targeted conversation;

• exhibiting: exposure.

Forms of work

• uniform individual activity;

• group activity;

• collective activity.

Lesson plan overview (Process)

Introduction

1. The teacher defines the purpose of the classes: students will learn how Poland regained its independence, i.e. was born again, and plan how they want to celebrate its „birthday”.

2. At the beginning it is worth checking if the students understand the metaphor: birthday of the homeland. A short conversation about this topic.

3. The teacher invites students to create a mind map for the expressions: MY BIRTHDAY, HOMELAND BIRTHDAY. He asks students to write in pairs the associations to the given words, with special emphasis on the ways of celebrating birthday. How the family's birthday is celebrated, and how people celebrate the „birthday” of their homeland.

Realization

1. Listening to the recording of the text “The history of Poland in telegram form.” Students can follow the text in the abstract. The teacher briefly discusses the text, making sure that the students have understood the material.

2. Doing the puzzle: a map of Poland from 1918. Discussion about borders, finding the locations where students live.

3. Searching for various information in the text “The history of Poland in telegram form” and marking them with colours (practice of reading with comprehension and searching information).

4. Students' reflections: Why do you think the word “Homeland” is written in the text with a capital letter? Think about what Poles felt after they regained their freedom. How did they behave?

5. Organizing knowledge on the dates of celebrations, including national holidays and commemoration of historical events (interactive tasks).

6. Brainstorm on: How should contemporary Poles celebrate Independence Day?

• Stage I – submitting ideas,

• Stage II – evaluation and analysis of provided ideas according to established criteria, eg originality of the idea, ease of implementation, presentation method,

• Stage III – selection of ideas to be implemented.

Summary

1. Discussion on the gallery of photographs presenting the most important Polish monuments; students' conversation on what places they have visited, where they would like to go, what monuments are in their vicinity, etc.

2. The teacher asks students to evaluate their work during the lesson and the level of understanding of the material discussed. It can be done with a system of colored cards (eg green: I understood, yellow: I still need help, red: I had a lot of difficulty) or an interactive board included in the abstract.

Homework

Plan your homeland's birthday, write down what you can do to celebrate this day.

The following terms and recordings will be used during this lesson

Terms

Texts and recordings

Fatherland's Birthday

Do you know that Poland, like you, celebrates its birthday every year? We celebrate them on November 11, in memory of independence. This joyful day should be spent exceptionally.

The Polish state arises in the 10th century. For thousands of years, the fate of Poland and Poles is different. There are times of magnificence when our country is rich and strong. There are also such when its weakness is used by the neighbours. At the end of the eighteenth century, Russia, Prussia and Austria communicate with each other and forcefully occupy the territory of our Fatherland. Poland ceases to exist. It is not on the map of Europe. Schools and offices are forbidden to speak Polish. Poles, however, never accept the loss of their Fatherland and fight against the invaders. Tadeusz Kosciuszko leads in the first uprising against the Russians. Henryk Dąbrowski organises Polish legions in Italy. In the 19th century, other armed insurrections, including November and January, break out against the partitioners. However, these actions do not give the desired freedom. Such a chance appears only when our occupants argue and start to fight among themselves. Thanks to this, Poland manages to regain independence on November 11, 1918. After 123 years of captivity, our Fatherland is reborn and returns to the map of Europe. November 11 is celebrated in Poland as the National Independence Day.