
Follow me at my TpT Store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey
I am hoping you will find my teaching resources of value to use in your classrooms. I taught for 33 1/2 years. I was awarded both the NY State Elementary Social Studies Teacher and the National Council for Social Studies Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year(1988). I am the author of over 35 books for children and teachers.
SNOW FACTOIDS!
3. What do you think this quote of Martin Luther King Jr. means? “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” ___________________________________
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4. Illustrate one of the facts you found most interesting.
Get the free downloadable version here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iceland-What-do-YOU-Know-about-this-country-FREE-10719959
In the News: December 2023
Volcano erupts in the country of Iceland! The recent eruption occurred on the Reykjanes Peninsula(south-west part of Iceland). The fishing town, Grindavik, had been evacuated last month prior to the volcanic eruption.
What do you know about the country of Iceland? Write TWO facts: ________________________________________________________ and ________________________________________
The largest waterfall in Europe is Gullfoss(golden fall) and is found in Iceland.
Fun Facts about Iceland:
1. Iceland is a great place to see the Aurora Borealis light display especially between October-March.
2. NASA used the terrain of Iceland to train its astronauts for the first moon landing.
3. Iceland has no army, navy or air force. They only have a Coast Guard. Iceland also does not have a railroad system.
4. There are few trees in Iceland and those trees aren’t very tall. A joke says,”How does one find their way out of an Icelandic forest?” Answer: They stand up.
5. The largest waterfall in Europe is Gullfoss(golden fall) found in Iceland. Sigrious Tomasdottir, who lived near the falls, threatened to jump if a hydroelectric dam was built there. Today, a statue can be found near the falls in her memory for saving the falls. There is not a hydroelectric dam.
6. The word, geyser, comes from Icelandic! The oldest known geyser is found in Iceland. The word means “the gusher”.
7. Iceland has the oldest democracy in the world. Its parliament was founded about 1000 years ago and is called the Althingi.
8.In the 1960s, a volcanic eruption created the island of Surtsey.
9. The country uses geothermal energy for most of their energy needs.
10. Icelandic families have different last names. Icelandic people name their children after their father’s first name plus the name son or daughter. A boy, whose dad is named Eider would have the last name Eidersson. A girl would have the last name Eiderdottir. Only certain names, taken from the official book of names, are allowed to be used in the country of Iceland.
11. The Iceland horses have been on the island since around 930AD. No other horses can be brought into the country of Iceland.
12. Iceland was settled by the Vikings around the late 9th Century AD. Iceland is nicknamed the “land of fire and ice” because of all the many volcanoes, waterfalls, geysers and glaciers.
13. In 2010, the Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted, the most eruption to date.
14. In 1973, the only town on the Westman Islands of Heimaey, was badly damaged due to a volcanic eruption. Its 5000 residents had to evacuate. Lava and thick ash covered much of the town. Called the “Pompeii of the North”, excavation has uncovered most homes in good condition with many of the items intact!
15. Iceland has 32 ACTIVE volcanoes!
Map Work: Find the answers at this link: https://www.mapsofworld.com/iceland/
1. Highest peak in Iceland:____________________
2. Largest glacier in Iceland:_________________________
3. City closest to the Arctic Circle: _____________________________
4. Southernmost city in Iceland: ______________________________
5. River which the city of Borgarnes is nearest: _____________________
6. Capital city of the country of Iceland: It is the world’s most northern capital city._________________________
Additional Resources:
Learn more about the country of Iceland with this webquest: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iceland-Country-in-FocusIcelandic-Webquest-495815
Iceland, a Reading Passage: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Iceland-Reading-Passage-2546066
Teachers:
More information on the latest volcanic eruption with great photographs!
https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/18/europe/reykjanes-volcano-erupts-iceland/index.html
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/67758123
Kerio Crater in Iceland(concerts have been held here)
Click here for the downloadable version: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Customs-from-Around-the-World-FREEBIE-2215707
Fun World New Year Factoids!
In Russia, divers place a New Year’s tree into Lake Baikal, the world’s deepest lake.
Did you know that in Denmark, people like to through old broken dishes at the front door of friends, at New Year’s Eve?
Did you know that eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight is considered good luck in Spain?
Hogmanay is a custom celebrated in Scotland at New Year’s. The word means “last day of the year”. One of the activities is “first footing”, being the first person to visit a neighbor or friend in the new year. Usually, a gift is brought, too.
Christmas trees are made into bonfires to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Netherlands. This custom is done to symbolize getting rid of the old and welcoming the new year.
In Switzerland, don’t be surprised if you see people drop a bit of cream onto the floor on New Year’s Eve. It is thought that this will bring good luck in the new year.
In the South American country of Venezuela, people like to write a wish on a piece of paper and then burn it so that the wish may come true in the new year.
In the country of Italy, many people like wearing RED underwear at New Year’s believing the color will bring good luck in the new year. In other cultures, especially several countries in Latin America, wearing YELLOW is considered good luck.
In Mexico, don’t be surprised if you see people carrying empty suitcases around their house or street on New Year’s Eve. The custom is done if you would like to travel in the new year.
The custom of having a ball drop from Times Square, in New York City, on New Year’s Eve began in 1907. Some people in the south, believe eating black eyed peas will bring prosperity in the new year.
In Austria, people like to waltz when midnight strikes in the new year.
Did you know that throwing a bucket of water outside a window at midnight on New Year’s Eve is done in Puerto Rico? It is to get rid of bad spirits.
In Ireland, people bang bread on the walls and doors of their homes at midnight. This is done to scare away evil spirits and to bring good luck.
Finding an almond in rice pudding on New Year’s Eve means good luck in the new year. This custom is found in Sweden and Norway.
People in the Philippines believe that round things bring good luck and often wear cloths with polka dots on New Year’s Eve. Another custom is to have all the lights on in the home on New Year’s Eve so that it will insure a good new year.
Did you know that April Fool’s Day involved New Year’s Day? People used to celebrate the new year around March 25-April 1st. When the calendar changed the new year to January 1st, pranks were played on those that continued to celebrate the New year on April
Questions:
1. Which 3 customs did you find the most interesting? Why
2. How do you celebrate New Year’s Eve?
3. New Year's Eve is a time to make a resolution for the New Year. What is a goal which you'd like to try and work to accomplish in the 2018?
4.Illustrate one of the customs listed above.
5. Using a world map, locate the different countries mentioned in this list. Write ONE fact that you might know about each of these countries.
6. Rewrite 5 customs from the list and make mistakes in spelling or grammar. Exchange your list with another student for them to be a "proof reader" to find the errors.
Check out my fun/informative web quest on the history of New Years.
Learn about the history of New Year's with this fun/informative web quest. There are nine questions, lots of interesting customs of how people celebrate New Year's around the world, comprehension questions, extension activities and the key. Great activity for reading for information and research/computer skills. Included are also other holiday New Year's celebrations including Diwali, Chinese New Year, Songkran and Rosh Hashanah. The resources also mentions how April Fool's Day originated over when to celebrate New Year's! https:// www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Eve-Webquest-on- its-history-and-customsExtension-Activities-1584695
Gail
Check out my TpT Store(webquests/Reader’s Theater Scripts): https:// www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Gail-Hennessey
Note: I have other factoids including the following: pumpkins, turkeys, Diwali, mummies, Women’s History Month, Presidential Trivia, Chinese New Year and more...
Note:Illustration from openclipart.org