CroatiaActivities

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** Early Elementary: **
=Kaladont: Popular word game= Players: minimum of two, there is no maximun number. Procedure: 1. The first player says a word longer than two letters, for example: //slon (//which means elephant in Croatian). 2. The next player must say a word beginning with the last two letters of the previous word. In this case, the word must begin with "on" (because slon ends with "on"). 3. Players keep going back and forth saying words. 4. When a player can't think of any word or when a word is non-existent, the player loses. 5. When there are only two players left, the goal is to be the first one to say "kaladont", as it is regarded that the word starting with "nt" does not exist in these languages, but kids still say this word in Croatian as it's the nonsense word name of this game. When one player says this word, it forces the remaining player to be out. - There are other winning endings, such as "elj", "ms", etc because words in Croatian don't end in these combinations either.
 * Good game for knowing how to spell common words and vocabulary words.
 * Forbidden words are names, repeated words and foreign words. If a child says this they are automatically out.

**Two truths and a lie:** > Croatia is located in Africa).
 * Each child writes three facts about Croatia on three separate pieces of paper. Two of them are true (such as The topography of Croatia is diverse and a Licitar Heart is a traditional Christmas Decor) and one fact is false (for example,
 * After each child writes their facts, they get turned into the teacher.
 * The teacher reads what the children have written and after each statement is read, the class votes on if the statement was true about Croatia or not. If the statement is false, the class discusses why this is false.
 * Children then write down all the true facts and study them beca use they could turn into potential test questions or used in further lessons/assessments.

=Activity Website: =

http://www.digitaldialects.com/Croatian.htm Summary: This website provides interactive computer games for children to match Croatian vocabulary words with pictures. Matching colors, shapes, animals, common phrases and calendar vocabulary is also included.

** Upper Elementary: **
=Trešeta: Similar to US card game Blackjack =


 * Good game to play for practicing counting and adding up values to 21 quickly. Mental math is used.

Croatian version unique rules: "The cards that score ⅓ point (Kings, Horses, Knights, Threes and Twos) are most commonly referred to as //belas//. Having three belas or three aces or three highest ranked cards (Ace, Two, Three) of the same suit in hand is known as //akuža//. Akuža can only be won in a four-player game. When player gets an akuža, three points are immediately added to their total score. However, akuža must be announced before the player has played their first card. The Croatian varian is played in a clockwise order." [|Trešeta rules] Players: Four players playing in partners of two. Partners face sitting each other. Procedure: 1. Ten cards are dealt to each player. 2. In one on one play, the remaining twenty cards are placed face down in front of both players. 3. The object of the game is to score as many points as possible until a score of 21 is achieved. - Players must follow suit values unless that suit does not remain in their hand, and players must show the card they pick up off the card pile to their opponent.
 * Tressette is played with a standard Italian 4-card deck.
 * The cards are ranked as follows from highest to lowest: 3-2-Ace-King-Knight-Knave and then all the remaining cards in numerical order from 7 down to 4.

=More card games: =
 * **Briscola**: Memory Card Game. Description and rules can be found by clicking [|here.]
 * **Belot:** Counting game. Players must remember suit values and numbers assigned to each. Depending on how many people are playing (2-4) the values change, so players need to be aw are of these rules. Description and rules can be found by clicking [|here.]

Each child will make their own brochure adverstising for Croatia. They will fold a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 paper into three folds and that will be their brochure. From the information learned from this wikispace, as well as additional resources including books and internet, each child will include information about Croatia. The goal of this brochure is to inform others about this beautiful, wonderful country. The children will write informational facts, as well as illustrate the brochure.
 * Brochure Activity: **

** Fine-Art Activity: **
=**It's time to dance!**=

Have class break into 2-4 groups depending on class size. Each group needs to make up a traditional Croatian dance. =Requirements:= Eeveryone in the group needs to participate Dances should be preformed to music. Each group can pick their own song. Dance should be 3-5 minutes long Children can pick the movements, a s long as they are appropriate.  - Each group needs to include at least once circle movement in the dance. Cirlcle dancing (kolo) is one of the basic forms of Croatian folk dance. The circle dance is regarded as the oldest form of dance, and can be seen as an expression of community, especially in village life. Each group chooses matching/coordinating costumes to wear. Each group will preform in front of the class on assigned day.
 * Students can refer back to the video on the Culture page at any time.

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