HISTORICALLY SPEAKING SCOTLAND PATCH PROGRAM
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1. The United Kingdom consists of four countries, England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Locate Scotland on a map. What continent is it on? What is the capital city and what does the flag look like?

2. People that reside in Scotland are called Scottish. Their official language is English, but they also have two other languages, Gaelic and Scots. Learn some simpleScots phrases and words.

3. During Scottish celebrations men may wear kilts and march to the music of bagpipes. There are a variety of holidays and festivals in Scotland. Have your own celebration representing a holiday or special event OR learn the meaning of the event OR attend a festive Scottish event OR create a drawing, art project, or prepare a food served at the event. Some examples include: Christmas, All Hallow’s Eve, Easter, Hogmanay, and Burns Night.

4. There are 790 islands off the coast of Scotland but only 150 are occupied. It’s sea coast measures about 2,500 miles and no where in the country are you more than 50 miles away from the coast. Learn more about the terrain area OR try a outdoor activity that is conducted there OR learn more about the seashore or oceanography OR create a craft or picture representing the terrain. Examples include: golfing, swimming, fishing, bicycling, sailing, canoeing, surfing, snowboarding, and skiing. [Make sure you have the proper equipment and instruction before you perform these activities]

5. Heather plants,which have aflower shaped like a bell, are mentioned in Scottish folk songs. Choose three [3] plants OR animals that live in Scotland to learn more about OR create a craft or picture representing an animal that resides in Scotland. Examples: red deer, Scottish wild cat, golden eagle, grey seals, or a gannet.

6. Thousands of years ago it was said that the loch Ness monster lives beneath the deep lake of loch Ness. Read a fable or folk tale that is told in Scotland OR create an art project depicting a tale or fable.

7. Scotland has had residents for over 7,000 years. The oldest inhabited castle in the country is Traquair and it has more than 400 museums. Learn about a landmark, castle, or historical site in Scotland OR create a craft representing a landmark. Examples include: Highland Folk Museum, Castle Fraser, St. Duthus Church, Linlithgow Palace, Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow’s George Square, or Strome Castle.

8. In Scotland there is a variety of food served including seafood due to their location near the coast. Traditional foods such as fish and chips, schortbread, sweet scones. marmalade, clootie dumpling, cranachan, and bridie are eaten in Scotland. Choose a recipe, dish, or sweet to try that represents Scotland.

9. Traditional clothing in Scotland is mainly worn for dances or special occasions. For men it includes kilts and women wear white blouses and tartan skirts, sometimes with a matching tartan sash. Each clan in Scotland has it’s own specialized colors and patterns called tartans. Draw a picture, wear clothing, or create the paper doll in Scotland manual.

10. Some impressive Scottish writers have become well known for their poetry, books, and plays. Each has their own style of creations that have become well known by many. Learn more about one of the writers and what they wrote OR famous people of Scotland. Examples of writers include J.K. Rowling, Robert Burns, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Sir Walter Scott.

11. Scottish children enjoy a variety of traditional games. Learn about games or toys played OR play a game from Scotland. Examples include: Beetle, Switch, Hearts, Beggar my Neighbor, marbles, tig, hide and seek, and [peever] hopscotch.

12. Scotland is best known for it’s music and dance, especially their bagpipe music. Learn more about bagpipe music OR how a bagpipe works OR listen to Scottish music OR learn a dance OR watch a dance.

13. Each Clan of Scotland has chosen their individualized colors and patterns called a tartan. They wear these patterns in traditional outfits and kilts. Learn about a tartan [plaid] design and what clan and colors it represents, create your own tartan design OR create your own family crest to represent your culture.

This patch program will help its participants learn more about the history and sites in this country. If you have the privilege of visiting this country, you can complete some of these requirements there. It would be helpful to learn more about the country prior to your visit. Use the library and the internet to research more.