Monday, May 20, 2013

Melville Intermediate - Cultural Diversity

This term our subject is cultural diversity.  We're looking at cultures around the world that we have a connection with to Room Five at Melville Intermediate School.  Each of our students are preparing interview questions for people from a different culture.  One of the students from our class who is doing this is Jamie, who is looking at Scottish/Celtic culture.

As our students are working on this procedure we've spent the last two weeks creating a set of interview questions. and then begun a process of conferencing, refining and thinking about our questions.  Our next task is to use a program to create audio files of our questions, and start conducting interview in person, using audio files and using Skype.

This is Jamie's introduction and a set of quesitons that she is looking to have answered.


Hi my name is Jamie. I go to Melville Intermediate. I am studying Celtic Culture. I have some questions that I would like someone who is Celtic to answer:
  • What are the main celebrations in your country?
  • What is the story behind your flag?
  • Where did the Bagpipes come from?
  • Do you eat animals?
  • Do you speak English or Gaelic?
  • What is your national animal?
  • What are your two most famous foods?
  • Do you have any traditional dances?
  • Do you have a national plant?
 You can see examples of some of Jamie's work here.

7 comments:

  1. Hi Jamie,
    I liked your video about the Treaty of Waitangi! Good work. My husband is Scottish. If you think you could understand his Glaswegian accent, perhaps you'd like to do a Skype, to get some answers to your questions?
    Mrs Monaghan
    A Room with a View

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mrs Monaghan,
      I think that would be really cool. I'm glad you like Elizabeths and mine's video. It took ages to do but it was heaps of fun. I cant wait to hear from you next. :) :)

      Delete
  2. Hello Room 5.

    We received comments on our class blog from Jamie and Elizabeth. We'll get the answers to their questions and reply to them as soon as possible.

    Primary 5V
    Carronshore,
    Scotland
    http://carronshore.edublogs.org/

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    Replies
    1. Hi Jamie Here,
      Awesome we cant wait here from you again. :)

      Delete
  3. Hi Jamie,
    I'll try and fix something up with your teacher!
    Mrs Monaghan

    ReplyDelete
  4. Jamie,
    Thank you for commenting on our class blog. We'd love to help you by answering some of your questions. We live in a small city in Scotland called Inverness (the capital of the Highlands).

    •What are the main celebrations in your country?
    We celebrate a famous poet called Robbie Burns each year on 25th of January; we like to eat haggis.
    We celebrate St Andrew’s day on 30th November each year. He is the Patron Saint of Scotland.
    On November 5th we celebrate Guy Fawkes night – a night filled with Fireworks and a Bonfire
    Each year on 31st December we celebrate Hogmanay – it is our New Years celebration

    •What is the story behind your flag
    Our flag is the St Andrew’s cross. There are a few different stories behind our flag. Here is a link to one of them http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/saltire/saltire.html

    •Where did the Bagpipes come from?
    Even though it is an instrument associated with Scotland, 28 people in the classroom have NO IDEA!

    •Do you eat animals?
    Yes – apart from the vegetarians/vegans. We tend to eat a lot of farmyard animals/cattle

    •Do you speak English or Gaelic?
    In our school we speak English, however have started to learn Gaelic this year. Some of us speak Gaelic at home, and have family and friends who speak Gaelic.

    •What is your national animal?
    In the Highlands we have the Highland Cow. In our research, interestingly, we also found out that the unicorn is also a national animal of Scotland. http://www.scottish-at-heart.com/unicorn-of-scotland.html

    •What are your two most famous foods?
    Our most famous food is haggis. In addition to this we also have: shortbread, Irn-Bru, Whiskey, Porridge and a Deep Fried Mars Bar.

    •Do you have any traditional dances?
    In Scotland we have both Scottish Country Dancing which we do at weddings, ceilidhs and Christmas dances. We also have Highland Dancing, which is a performing dance.

    •Do you have a national plant?
    The national plant for Scotland is the thistle.

    We’d love to Skype you in New Zealand, but unfortunately when we’re in school, you’re not and vice versa. If you have any more questions, please post on our class blog:
    https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/hi/P67ClassBlog-LochardilPrimary/
    P6/7 – Lochardil Primary School

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  5. Hi Jamie,
    I thing you got some fantastic replies there from Lochardil, that is so cool! What a great link you made!
    I like the reason why the thistle is the national plant of Scotland - perhaps you will find it amusing too:

    The prickly purple thistle was adopted as the Emblem of Scotland during the rein of Alexander III (1249 -1286). Legend has it that an Army of King Haakon of Norway, intent on conquering the Scots, landed at the Coast of Largs at night to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to move more stealthily under the cover of darkness the Norsemen removed their footwear.

    As they drew near to the Scots it wasn't the only thing hiding under the cover of darkness. For one of Haakon's men unfortunately stood on one of these spiny little defenders and shrieked out in pain, alerting the Clansmen of the advancing Norsemen. Needless to say the Scots who won the day.

    It's just a legend, but I love it!
    Kind regards,
    Mrs Monaghan

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