Teaching Children About Poland

My children do not attend Polish school.  It's out of our budget and just too far from our house.  Because of that, I have to find other ways to teach my children about Poland.  I also am trying to foster in them a sense of belonging to Poland, a connection.

I found a link online to a free website run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland and the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

You can play this interactive site in English, Polish or even Chinese.

Right now, we are playing it in English until my kids feel comfortable enough with it.  Then, we will be switching to Polish and having them use their memory of the site and hearing it play in Polish so that they learn Polish with their visual reinforcing the language as they learn it.

http://www.kula.gov.pl/

So far, we have been exploring Wroclaw, since that is the city that my older daughter has visited and associates easily with Poland.  The mountain village we were at is not on this site, which I didn't expect it to be.

The site offers several different key cities throughout the different regions of Poland.  Each is represented with a key figure that helps children associate it with a piece of it's unique history.

Legends for some of the cities are shared, as well as several important details about each city. 

The first day I introduced the site to my children, we were supposed to go to the park after school but we ended up playing this site for 1 1/2 hours instead.  I couldn't get them away from it.  I'd say it's successful.

Also, a tiny detail of many that work in the site for my family's needs.  When loading each page, the words "momencik" comes up.  My older daughter asked what it means (one moment) and she is now walking around using it with me and her sister.

It might seem like a little thing, but in my experience as an immigrant child learning a foreign language, it is a culmination of many tiny such details that make the difference between a child comprehending a language or not.  The same goes for native speakers as children.

Na razie...





Disclaimer:  I'm not compensated in any way for sharing this site.  I was not asked to share this site.  I just found it and thought it was very well done and worth sharing with you.


Related Posts:

Slimak, Slimak: Polish Children's Rhyme

A Polish Nursery Rhyme, Biedroneczka Mala and Planning the Next Trip to Poland

The Hussar in 15th Century England

Teaching My Children Polish

Polish Embassy's Contest, Babywearing Links and Other Fun Links

I thought today I would share a few fun links I've found online.



The first is The Embassy of Poland in DC's first ever Social Media contest.

Go to Do You Know Polska?, check out some of the polish slang words featured there, come up with a sentence using one (it can be written in English with just the word in Polish or, if you want to, write the entire sentence in Polish), and either email to:  washington.press@msz.gov.pl or tweet to @PolishEmbassyUS.  Easy!

The prize is a newly published book about Maria Sklodowska-Curie.

Photo from Embassy of Poland in DC's Facebook Page

Today is the last day to enter!  Also, this is their first social media contest ever, so let's show support by spreading the word.

I also found a forum online in Polish about Baby wearing, called Chusty.  In Poland, baby wearing gear is called a Nosidełka or a Chusta, depending on whether it is a carrier or a fabric carrier (scarf).

Another site in Polish (use Google Translate button or try reading what you can, practice your Polish reading skills!) with older photos of babywearing in Poland from Chustomania.pl.

I found a website called World Memory Project and wanted to share it.  Some of you are sharing or looking for your family history and I thought this would be a good tool. 

 

And just to lighten things up a bit, I thought I would share a couple of videos. 

The first is a song my kids sing constantly.  A Ja Wole Moja Mame.  This video has the words and is sung by Edyta Gorniak instead of the original Majka Jeżowska.






The second was playing in Poland on our honeymoon.  My husband hates pop music but it got stuck in his head and we went searching for the video.  Warning:  It's not exactly Sesame Street.

Na razie...

I am not being compensated in any way for sharing any of these links.  I just wanted to.

Other Sites I Love About Poland

I can't write this blog without writing a list of some sites which I really enjoy reading.  These are not Blogging Mom sites, these are sites which offer useful information about Poland, Polish Americans (the Polonia), and our culture.

First and formost, the Official Promotional Website of The Republic of Poland
This site has lots of interesting and useful information.  The public holidays of Poland, news, beautiful photos, information about towns and areas, and lots more.  There are also some very insightful videos of the perspectives of some tourists from various countries around the world in Poland.  The official description is "poland.gov.pl is the official promotional website of the Republic of Poland run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in English."

Another website is the Polish National Tourist Office

Poland's Ministry of Culture website that catalogs wartime losses. You can see which works have been recovered, and browse through information on those that haven't - including royal pocket watches from the 17th &18th centuries; intricate chalices; a gorgeous wedding dress from the early 19th century; sculptures & paintings. Website visitors can also submit any information they may have on missing works.

Another site I enjoy is about my hometown, Wroclaw

Polish Culture Forums , which I visit and write in and which is chock full of information about Poland and Polonia

Piast Institute, an organization who's goal is to build a New Polonia (which I look forward to)

An organization making great strides to spread the word about Poland and it's amazing people and culture, The Kosciuszko Foundation

A site that is in the works which I am interested in
http://landofpoland.pl/

A blog written by a Polish gentleman in London who is writing about true Poland, not the stereotypes or wrong information

Another great blog about Poland...  And be sure to check out the widget on my sidebar that teaches you a Polish word each day, courtesy of

A Blog about European Facts

A Website written for Polish Americans living in Texas (but just because you aren't from the Lone Star State, doesn't mean you won't enjoy it!) which I have also contributed to.

A site following Poland's EU Presidency http://pl2011.eu/en




Many of these sites also have facebook fan pages and twitter accounts, so you can keep up to date with them. 

I hope you check these sites out.  There are many more which I have not yet listed but keep checking back!

Also, I have not been compensated monetarily or with any gifts from any of these sites, I just really enjoy them and wanted to spread the word.

Perhaps you will feel inspired to visit Poland.  Or, become an active member of the Polonia.  If so, feel free to share your story with me.