Ideas for adding an extra country to ECC

[Marie]

Ideas for adding an extra country to ECC.

[Julie in MN]

This will be our first year with MFW and ECC (the logical place to start).

I would like to add Finland to our study of Norway. Have any of you done this or have any recommended resources?

It isn't hard to add a country to ECC. You will already find Finland included in the songs, the geography game, and generally in the Europe packet. It may well be in the library books, the craft book, & the Atlas readings as well, you'd have to check.

Some extra countries even have units in A Trip or Another Trip Around the World. If not, you can add a flag from places like EnchantedLearning or ColoringCastle (or make your own, the Finland one won't be hard!). Any info you don't find on your country, you can check at the CIA Factbook online, or in an encyclopedia, or get more books at the library.

The back of the ECC manual even has blank pages for recording your plans for two extra weeks.

Have fun in MFW!
Julie

[2Bgracious]

Okay, thanks. I'm already somewhat familiar with Finland as my grandmother came from there. Unfortunately, very little was passed on culturally. What I have found online, doesn't put the Finns in the best of light based upon our Christian beliefs.

[Julie in MN]

That is an excellent reason to add Finland to your family's studies this year!

You know, in ECC, we didn't really evaluate the countries, in terms of their historical atrocities & such. Unless we were praying for them in Windows on the World, where you get a very gentle background on why you should pray for them & how their lives would be better if they understood that God loves them!

In ECC, it is really just an introduction to each country -- where is it, what are its symbols, what is unique about their culture or climate or architecture or whatever. Of course, sometimes things come up in conversation or in a book or whatever, and a deeper discussion or further research ensues. But the fun part is that your year really focuses on the geography and culture first, before you get into explaining the rest :o)

I am sure when we start the history rotation this year, we will begin studying some of the ways that various countries "went wrong." But all in the context of God's love for the world and desire to bring salvation to each one!

Julie
P.S. I suppose I should have posted this on the general board!

[2Bgracious]

I'm glad you posted it here. What I've found are basically what their culture is like today. But only I guess what is common. I wish I could find out more. I found an online aquaintance though whose wife if from Finland and they visit regularly...so maybe she will help me out.

I do know a few things from a european tour a news station did one year. Hear's what I have chalked up so far for this section.

2 songs (one from the Wee Sing and another that is a political satire of America sung by Norwegians and Finns...was written by a Nor and passed onto me by my Finn grandmother) The Circle Goes Around and Oleana.

Boot throwing contest (I think they're too young and we too old for the wife carrying race!) The history is when a couple argued, if the wife had it she would take off her boot and throw it...signaling an end to the arguement for the time being.

Pictures of Finns....(Funny...all my children have brown hair except one. She looks like the pictures of Finnish children! PALE!)

Any other ideas anyone comes up with (recipes, etc) let me know!

[2Bgracious]

Here is an email I received when contacting an organization about a song my great grandmother, who came from Finland, used to sing to me (the song is from Norway):

My name is *** and I am a cultural consultant here at Sons of Norway. *** forwarded me your question about the song Oleana. The verse you quoted is reminiscent of a well-known Norwegian song from the 19th century, satirizing the inflated promises of emigrating to America. The story behind the song is an interesting one. In 1852 Ole Bull, a Norwegian violin virtuoso who was quite famous at the time, bought 120,000 acres of land in Pennsylvania and founded a colony called New Norway and a town there called Oleana. At the time, social unrest was building in Norway against the upper classes, and people were beginning to vote with their feet against the system by leaving for America. For those who remained behind, the emigration was a major issue of public debate, and arguments about the perils and rewards of this new land were taken up in streets, newspapers and pulpits all across the country. Bull's land deal was a way of thumbing his nose at the ruling class, as well as increasing his own considerable popularity. Unfortunately, the deal went bad and the colony was abandoned after only five years. Oleana became a target of derision for anti-emigration forces, but a clarion call for immigrants to renew their efforts: Ditmar Meidell's song Oleana became a favorite of both camps.

To read more, check out this article by Theodore Blegen (including complete lyrics) here:
http://www.stolaf.edu/naha/pubs/nas/vol ... ol14_5.htm
(it is hysterical the lyrics they wrote about the "streets of gold" here in America!).

I also found a sample of a modern, country western rendition of the song (in Norwegian) which can be heard here: http://www.mic.musikkonline.no/shop/dis ... p?id=27762
(scroll down to "I OLEANA - HELGE BORGLUND & RITA ENGEBRETSEN" and hit the play button - you'll need Windows MediaPlayer or something like it to hear the sample).

So, the question then becomes, why did your Finnish grandmother know this Norwegian song? Given the popularity of the song and the urgency of the issues it addresses, I can imagine that it could have migrated to Finland. The political situation in Finland in the late 19th and early 20th centuries might have lent new meaning to the song and inspired the change to "that's where I want to be, way down in Norway, to break the chains of slavery" - or it might be a simple misappropriation, or even just a joke (Norwegians traditionally regarded the Finns with some suspicion).

[cbollin]

Adding countries where we know missionaries

We have missionary friends in areas throughout the Caribbean, Central & South America and South Pacific. I think our family would benefit learning more about these particular countries & cultures, praying for and writing to our missionaries.

Just wondering if I could add countries in myself.

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 7:11 am

Outside of the regular geography lesson, ECC uses a book called Window on the World and some of the countries you mentioned are listed in that book. You’d be studying these countries and/or people groups in the context of missions and Bible.

When we did ECC all those many years ago, I found it easy to add in a special country or people group on “light and independent Fridays.” We took the time to pray for and remember missionaries that we knew in those same areas of the world. Although I didn’t do it this way, you could do the letter writing activity that is scheduled on Fridays to write to your friends.

Here are just a couple of things I did to add in a bit of informal study. I arranged for a “guest lecture” from a friend in town who used to work with Wycliffe and lived on an island in the South Pacific. In our Keepers at Home co-op, the girls learned about two missionaries (one in China and the other in the Philippines). When one of them was in town to visit ---the group held a special meeting in the summer to meet them.

Hope some of that helps.
--Crystal

[Julie in MN]

The "trip around the world" books include extra units

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 9:36 am

To continue Crystal's thoughts, not only Window on the World, but also the missionary read-alouds often visit extra countries, such as Cameron Townsend in Guatemala. Nate Saint in Ecuador.

You see, when ECC spends 2 weeks in Mexico & 3 weeks in Brazil, it is really spending those 5 weeks studying all of the Central & South American countries -- in the atlases, the maps, the board game, and other resources.

Several of us decided to go into a bit more depth on countries of special interest to our families. It was easy to just follow the pattern in ECC and plug them into the correct continent.

The "trip around the world" books include extra units, including flags & activities for Argentina, Panama, and Venezuela, all ready for you if you need them.

Julie

[Lucy]

Weeks 35 and 36 are optional and can be added anywhere in the year

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:01 am

If you want to add a country or 2, there are two extra weeks in the back of the TM - weeks 35 and 36 that are optional. You could of course add these weeks anywhere in the year. You would not have to wait until the end.

I feel like we are all sitting around a table this morning talking and drinking our coffee and tea.
Lucy

[Tina]

Adding more depth to countries already studied

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 11:26 am

We made out South America/Central America study very rich by reading both the recommended family readings (Cameron Townsend and Nate Saint) and also adding Jim Elliot to that list. We also got the documentary "Beyond the Gates of Splendor" and watched that.

Out of the whole year of studying missions with ECC, this section of the world was our favorite. We were so inspired and touched by the stories of these missionaries and the diversity of people in this area of the world. These were reads that none of us will ever forget. I actually went on in my own "studying" and read some of Betty Elliot's books, including the life and testimony of Jim.

May the Lord truly bless your family as you study ECC.

[qfbrenda]

Choosing an extra country based on home library books

Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 5:42 pm

I bought a bunch of books to go along with ECC for next year. I figured out where all the books fit. I was left with several books that relate to the Pacific Islands. So I thought I would plan a week to study them! I was thinking of Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa... not sure about others.

I thought we would study volcanoes and island formation.... not sure what else. Global Art did have several ideas. Our read-aloud would be The Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Any ideas for what else we could do that week?
-----------------------------
Posted: Sat Jan 20, 2007 6:06 pm
Author: Julie in MN

I would place the week at the nearest continent. I think the islands of "Oceania" are already included in the Australia study, covering a lot of the Pacific islands, so you could just extend that an extra week.

I would just follow the pattern of the other studies. Make a flag for one of the islands using one of the online sites such as http://flagspot.net/flags/cbk.html or Wikipedia or the CIA Factbook. Use library books from the closest continent to find a food to cook or a fruit indiginous to that area. As you mentioned, the ECC art book probably has an art project that would apply.

For your other subjects that week, you could see if you have skipped any science projects, copywork, or other misc. things earlier in the year & play catch-up.

Julie

[Julie in MN]

Adding Netherlands to ECC

My grandpa and grandma were both 100% dutch. So, I thougt it would be great for them to learn more about their heritage.

Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:15 pm

Kris,
I remember a discussion in the ECC Ideas section for Norway -- someone was adding Finland and I was talking back & forth with her to generate ideas. It probably is a strange item for the Ideas section, but maybe our thought process would help you figure out what to do.

Go to this link & look for 2Bgracious
http://board.mfwbooks.com/viewtopic.php?t=160

Julie

[lyntley]

Adding countries that are especially unique
&
Adding countries related to available people or events

Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:32 pm

We touched a little on Belize, Guatamala and Morocco since they are quite a bit different from those countries studied in each continent.

We are also doing a little on Lebanon now while doing Saudi Arabia. I have a good friend (HSer)that is Lebanese. She moved To the US as an adult so she has lots of stories. Last night she cooked a special Lebanese meal for us. She will be teaching the kiddies how to write their names in Arabic etc.

We are planning on learning a little more about the South Pacific islands after Japan since we have tickets to see a dinner show with dancing, flame throwers etc. The possibilities are immense! :-) You can check your area to see if there are any types of cultural events and tie them in where they fit.

[TurnOurHearts]

Added places I'd been to personally - with photos

Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 2:27 pm

When we were in Europe, I added a few countries to the geography game ~ places I'd been to personally. Poor kids...had to sit through looking at all my Europe photos from 1990 and listen to me go on and on and on about Austria! Somehow, they recovered. ;)

[Archiver2]

Adding in a country - IRAQ

Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 3:39 pm
Author: susie

I am working on adding Iraq to our studies and have requested a bunch of books from our library, though I have not yet looked at them. When I get them, I will try to let y'all know which ones I thought were worthwhile.

In the meantime, I am trying to figure out if we just want to continue deserts for our science, or do something different. The Window on the World book has a section on Iraq as well. I also thought we would spend some time talking about current events and looking up information in the local newspaper. Maybe we will make a collage on the information the girls find on Iraq.. Hmmm.

If anyone has any great suggestions for ways to flesh out the unit study, I would be most grateful. I think that I will focus on sacrifice from the Bible during the time frame that we study this country, as well.

Susie
momma to four girls

Posted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 12:17 am
Author: Janie

Hi Susie,
My husband served in Iraq with his National Guard unit. We too added Iraq to our ECC year. Some of the soldiers he was with took a tour of the ruins of Babylon. We used the video from the tour and studied the stories of Isreal in captivity in Babylon and, of course, you cannot study Babylon without studying Daniel.

Have a great day in My Father's World.

Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 10:34 am
Author: Lucy

I was reading through these post today and think it is great to see all the great ideas. We did ECC 4 years ago and this board did not exist then. What a great resource.

I just wanted to make a comment because this did come up in another post on the board. When we studied ECC we did look at Iraq and pray for that country because of all that was happening there. The question that has also come up is why is Isreal not in ECC.

Why don't we study these important countries? There is a post in the archives about this but the short answer is: when you study CTG the following year you study the history of Israel and this area very in-depth. So there is certainly nothing wrong with studying them in ECC too but if you do not, that it is o.k. too because it will be studied in-depth later.

Blessings to you all,
Lucy