Characteristics Of European Union Member States

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students will increase their knowledge of EU Member States through a jigsaw activity in which they have to locate different pieces of information including language, food, capital city, landmark and a famous person.

USEFUL SUGGESTIONS
Have all the pieces from the twenty-seven jigsaws broken up in advance of the class. Make two copies of the student worksheet for each student. Step 1: Assign one country to each individual student. In classes of more than twenty-seven, two people should work together. Distribute one copy of the student worksheet. Students, using the internet, books, magazines, tourist information leaets, etc. should nd an image of the capital city, a famous landmark, a famous person and a typical item of food from their assigned country and the languages spoken in their country. Instruct students to record their ndings on their worksheet. Step 2: Distribute all pieces of the information jigsaw about each of the Member States randomly to each student. Each student should have ve pieces of the information jigsaw that are unrelated to his/her assigned country. Step 3: Inform students that they must go around the room and nd all of the pieces of the jigsaw for their assigned country. Each piece of the jigsaw represents one of the following capital city, language, food, landmark, famous person. Explain that the jigsaw images may not be the same images as the images students have found in Step 1. Step 4: When students think they have been successful, they should return to their seats. Distribute the second copy of the student worksheet. Step 5: Allow about fteen minutes for the activity. Go through each country to make sure that students have the correct information and allow them to complete their jigsaw and ll in the worksheet. When completed, the jigsaw on its reverse will show the outline of the country and the countrys ag. Students can compare their completed jigsaw with the images they found in their research.

Homework/ Follow-up Activities

Ask each student to reproduce or print and paste the ag for their assigned country. Ask them to do the same with the European Union Flag, which is an important symbol. Also, ask students to nd out what the European Union ag symbolises. The Irish government has asked you to design a symbol or logo to demonstrate Irelands place within the European Union which will be used on special occasions. It should be symbolic of both Ireland and the EU. Design this and make some suggestions as to what occasions it could be used for. Additionally, students could design a display including all of the information gathered in todays class including the ags of each individual Member State.

Teachers answer sheet to Information Jigsaw

Country
Austria

Capital
(Stephansdom)

Language
German

Food
Apple Strudel

Landmark
Johann Strauss Monument

Famous European
Mozart

Vienna

St. Stephens Cathedral, situated in the heart of Vienna.

Sweet pastry and apple pie.

Erected in Vienna, this monument represents the famous Austrian composer and musician.

Full name: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart; born in Salzburg; was a young prodigy well known for his composing and musical abilities; by the age of 5 he was already performing for royalty; died at age 35.

Belgium

(Grand Place)

Brussels

French Dutch German

Moules and Frites

Atomium

Audrey Hepburn

Situated in the heart of Brussels, the Grand Place is a square surrounded by beautiful Gothic and Baroque style buildings; various outdoor performances take place here during summer.

Mussels and French fries.

Erected in 1958 for an exposition in Brussels; 103 metre high monument represents a magnied iron crystal made of nine atoms.

1929-1993; Born in Austria; she had dual citizenship of Belgium and the UK; famous actress, fashion icon and ambassador for UNICEF.

Bulgaria

(Cathedral)

Soa

Bulgarian

Banitsa

Rila Monastery

Dimitar Berbatov
(Footballer)

Alexander Nevski Cathedral completed in 1912; afliated to Bulgarian Orthodox church.

Traditional Bulgarian pastry made by layering a mixture of whisked eggs and sirene (cheese) between lo pastry; baked in oven and usually served for breakfast with yoghurt.

Situated 117km south of the capital Soa in the Rila Mountains; largest and most famous monastery in Bulgaria (Eastern Orthodox) and indeed on the Balkan Peninsula.

Leading goal scorer to date for Bulgaria; played with various English teams, including Tottenham Hotspur & Manchester United.

Cyprus

(Archbishops Palace)

Nicosia

Greek Turkish

Meze

Petra tou Romiou (Aphodites Birthplace)

Aphrodite

Archbishop Makarios III was the rst president of Cyprus. His palace in the centre of Nicosia is a popular tourist site.

Translates as taste or snack; a selection of appetisers similar to Spanish tapas or nger food.

Popular tourist destination with breathtaking views and more famously known for being the birthplace of Aphrodite.

Greek goddess of love, beauty and sexuality. Also known as Kypris meaning Lady of Cyprus.

Country
Czech Rep

Capital
(Wencelas Square)

Language
Czech

Food
Vepro Knedlo Zelo

Landmark
Charles Bridge

Famous European
Martina Navratilova

Prague

Wencelas Square - one of the two main squares in the city centre. At the top of Wencelas Square is a statue of St. Wencelas on his horse. This is the same Good King Wencelas from the well-known song, who was murdered over a thousand years ago by his brother and is now a national hero.

Roast pork dumplings and cabbage.

Situated in the capital Prague and named after King Charles IV; constructed at the end of the 14th century; this beautiful bridge is on every Prague visitors must-see list.

Born 1958, Martina became one of the worlds best known tennis players from winning numerous awards and competitions. Holds the all-time world record of 20 Wimbledon titles including womens single title (won 9 times), doubles and mixed double titles. Has US citizenship also.

Denmark

(Tivoli Gardens)

Copenhagen

Danish

Danish Pastries

Little Mermaid

Hans Christian Andersen

Famous amusement park and pleasure garden; opened in 1843; second oldest amusement park in the world.

Fattening but delicious pastries!

The ctional character created by Hans Christian Anderson (See right).

Danish poet and author, best known for writing the fairy tale The Little Mermaid, a story about a young mermaid willing to give up her life in the sea and her identity as a mermaid to gain a human soul and the love of a human prince. (UK Liberal Democrat politician)

Estonia

(View of city)

Tallinn

Estonian

(Blood Sausage)

Verivorst

Pikk Hermann

Lembit pik

Capital city; on UNESCOs world heritage list; one of Europes most beautiful and most completely preserved medieval cities.

Similar to black pudding; this is a blood sausage.

Tower of the Toompea Castle in Tallinn; situated beside the Estonian Parliament; every day the national ag is raised and lowered at sunrise and sunset respectively, accompanied by national anthem at sunrise and another tune for sunset.

Former Member of UK Parliament; running for Liberal Democrat nomination for 2012 London Mayoral election. Born in Northern Ireland to Estonian parents.

Finland

(View of city)

Helsinki

Finnish Swedish

Pulla Bun

Sibelius Monument

Santa Claus

Port city, situated in the most southerly part of Finland.

Finnish buns made with crushed cardamom pods.

One of Helsinkis best known and loved tourist attractions. Gets name from creator- Jean Sibelius; made from 600 acidproof stainless steel tubes of various diameters, welded together individually.

No introduction needed for our very generous friend from Lapland!

Country
France

Capital
(Arc de Triomphe)

Language
French

Food
Croissant

Landmark
Eiffel Tower

Famous European
Napoleon

Paris

Paris commonly known as one of the most romantic cities in the world; the Arc de Triomphe was built 1806-1808 by Napoleon situated in the centre of Place Charles de Gaulle.

Flaky, buttery crescent-shaped pastry.

324m high (same as an 81- storey building); named after creator Gustave Eiffel; Built 1889; most visited paid-monument in the world.

Napoleon Bonaparte (also known as Napoleon I) military and political leader of France. He engaged France in various conicts which became known as the Napoleonic Wars.

Germany

(Reichstag)

Berlin

German

Sauerkraut

Brandenburg Gate

Albert Einstein

Berlin is the 2nd most populated city in Europe (after London); once divided by the Berlin Wall. The Reichstag building was built for the German Empire Parliament (1894 1933). Damaged by a re in 1933, it was restored and since 1992 has been used as the meeting place of the modern German parliament - the Bundestag.

Finely shredded fermented cabbage; has a long shelf life because of the fermentation and has a distinctive sour avour.

Last remaining (formerly-used) city gate into Berlin; represents peace; built 1788-1791 & located in the West of the city.

World famous genius physicist; 1879-1955.

Greece

(View of city)

Athens

Greek

Moussaka

Parthenon

Hercules

Often described as one of the worlds oldest cities (part of the Ancient Greece era).

Layered sauted aubergines, tomatoes and minced meat, then topped with white sauce and baked in oven.

Ancient temple of the Greek goddess Athena (Protector). Built 447 BC- 432 BC. Enduring symbol of ancient Greece and of Athenian democracy.

Mythical demigod Hercules, son of Zeus. Famed for his incredible strength, but also known to use unfair tactics to gain the advantage over his opponent. Often identied for wearing a lion skin and holding a club.

Hungary

(View of city)

Budapest

Hungarian

Goulash

Chain Bridge

Harry Houdini

Built on the river Danube; name comes from joining together the names of the two banks of the Danube River- Buda (west side) and Pest (east side).

From Hungarian word Cattle Stockman or Herdsman; like a soup or stew made from beef, onions, vegetables, various seasonings and spices (ground paprika is an important ingredient).

Suspension bridge in the capital Budapest that crosses the Danube; opened in 1849.

1874-1926; HungarianAmerican magician, escapologist and stunt performer. Some notable escape acts were Buried Alive, Chinese Water Torture Cell, Overboard Box Escape.

Country
Ireland

Capital
(Trinity College)

Language
Irish English

Food
Irish Stew

Landmark
Cliffs of Moher

Famous European
Bono

Dublin

The Liffey River divides the north and south sides of the city; Trinity College is Irelands oldest university (dating back to 1592) which houses the national treasure The Book of Kells.

One pot wonder of meat (either beef or lamb), vegetables, potatoes and stock.

Found in Co. Clare, this popular tourist destination stretches over 8km with drops of up to 214 metres.

Well known lead singer of the rock band U2; has been turning a lot of his attention to development aid in recent years.

Italy

(The Vatican)

Rome

Italian

Pasta

The Colosseum

Michelangelo

Rome is an ancient city with a rich history; located on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy; Rome is home to the worlds smallest state - the Vatican (only 0.2 square miles!) which is the seat of the Head of the Catholic Church - the Pope

Dried or fresh dough made from wheat our and water, usually cooked in boiling water. Several varieties exist.

The great amphitheatre in the centre of Rome - largest ever built during Roman Empire - capable of seating 50,000 spectators; can be seen on the national side of the Italian 5c euro coin.

A well-known Renaissance painter, sculptor, architect and engineer. His best known works include the sculptors of the Pieta and David and the painting of the Last Judgement in the Sistine Chapel.

Latvia

(View of city)

Riga

Latvian

(Pastry lled with bacon & onion)

Piragi

Freedom Monument

Kaspars Gorkss
(Footballer)

Important port; its historical centre has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Pastry lled with bacon and onion.

Memorial monument located in Riga honouring soldiers killed during Latvian War of Independence (1918-1920). Considered important symbol of freedom, independence and sovereignty of Latvia.

Born in Riga 1981; Latvian soccer defender, played in the English Premiership with Blackpool and Queens Park Rangers.

Lithuania

(View of city)

Vilnius

Lithuanian

Cepelinai

Hill of Crosses

Saulius Mikoliunas (Footballer)

In south-east Lithuania, close to where is claimed to be the geographical centre of Europe. Vilnius was elected as a 2009 European Capital of Culture.

Dumpling made from grated potatoes and stuffed with meat or sometimes with dry cottage cheese (curd); boiled and served with sour cream sauce and bacon bits.

Site of pilgrimage in northern Lithuania; thousands of crosses, crucixes and religious artefacts brought by Catholic pilgrims.

Born 1984 in Vilnius, regular with Lithuanian national team and English sides (Currently with FC Arsenal Kyiv (moved 2009)).

Country
Luxembourg

Capital
Luxembourg
(View of city)

Language
Luxembourgish

Food
Ardennes Ham

Landmark
European Court of Justice

Famous European
Robert Schuman

French German

Capital and country name the same. Very small country, landlocked by France, Belgium and Germany.

Air-dried, saltcured ham from the Ardennes region in Luxembourg.

One of the EU Institutions; task is to interpret EU laws and ensure equal application across EU member states. Composed of one judge from each member state.

1886-1963; noted French statesman; key founding gure not only behind the EU but also the Council of Europe and NATO.

Malta

Valletta (harbour)

Maltese English

(stuffed beef)

Bragioli

Hagar Qim

Edward De Bono

Malta is a tiny island in the Mediterranean sea south of Italy. One of Europes most densely populated countries; Valetta is its coastal capital.

Savoury national dish made from braised tender beef in a rich tomato sauce.

Complex of large megalithic temples; among the most ancient sites in the world; a combination of being made from limestone and the elevated location has subjected the ruins to severe weathering.

Born 1933; physician, author, inventor and consultant. Best known as the originator of the term lateral thinking and a proponent of the deliberate teaching of thinking as a subject in schools.

Netherlands

Amsterdam
(View of city)

Dutch

Gouda Cheese

Windmills

Vincent Van Gogh

Name comes from combining river Amstel and the dam that was built on it; boasts more museums than any other city in the world.

Type of cheese made from cows milk.

As synonymous to the Netherlands as tulips and clogs. Mills are still in use today for various industrial purposes- corn milling, land drainage and saw milling.

1853-1890 Dutch painter who made important contributions to the foundations of modern art; died largely unknown at the age of 37 from a self-inicted gunshot wound.

Poland

(View of city)

Warsaw

Polish

Pierogi
(Pasty)

Gdansk Shipyards

Pope John Paul II

(Karol Jozef Wojtyla)

A city that was almost entirely destroyed during WWII & since rebuilt.

Dish of boiled or baked dumplings of unleavened dough stuffed with varying ingredients.

City where WWII began, huge historical signicance linked to the shipyards.

1920-2005; Pope for 26 yearsthe second longest ever papal term in history.

Country
Portugal

Capital
(View of monument)

Language
Portuguese

Food
(Beef & cabbage)

Landmark
Monument to the explorers

Famous European
(Footballer)

Lisbon

Cozido

Cristiano Ronaldo

Largest city in Portugal; hosts two agencies of the European Union - the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA).

A rich stew made from beef, pork and smoked sausages.

Also known as the Discoveries Monument; worlds explorers in stone; built in 1960 on the Tagus river in Lisbon; represents 3 sailed ships ready to depart; all explorers are men except for one female - Queen Felipa of Lancaster.

Former Manchester United goal-scoring footballer who transferred to Real Madrid in a 93 million transfer deal, making him the most expensive football player of all time; he also captains his national team.

Romania

(View of city)

Bucharest

Romanian

Sarmalute Mamaliguta

Bran Castle

(Inspiration for the character Count Dracula)

Vlad III the Impaler

Located on the south east of the country on the banks of the Dmbovita river.

A dish of cornmeal mush (mamalgia) served with stuffed cabbage rolls.

Built in 1212; commonly known as Draculas Castle; situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. It is now a museum open to tourists.

A prince who became the inspiration for the character of Dracula - the lead vampire character in Bran Stokers iconic novel Dracula.

Slovakia

(View of city)

Bratislava

Slovak

(Potato dumplings with sheep cheese)

Bryndzove halusky

Bojnice

Martina Hingis

Located in south-western Slovakia on both banks of the river Danube. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only capital city to border 2 independent countries.

Potato dumplings served with sheeps cheese.

Bojnice is a small town in central Slovakia. Bojnice Castle hosts the single most popular museum in Slovakia and has featured in many movies.

Born 1980; very talented tennis player- spent 209 weeks seeded World No.1; in 2008 she was banned for two years from professional tennis for testing positive to cocaine and has vowed she will not play tennis again!

Slovenia

(Triple Bridge)

Ljubljana

Slovenian

(Ravioli lled with potato, onion &bacon)

Zlikro

Lake Bled

Robert Koren
(Footballer)

Ljublianas oldest stone bridge, a unique feature of Ljubljanas architecture. Since 1931 it has consisted of a stone arch bridge in the middle anked by a pedestrian bridge on either side.

Ravioli lled with potato, onion and bacon.

Glacial lake in the Julian Alps in north western Slovenia.

Born 1980 plays midelder for English club Hull City (accurate at May 2011); captain of Slovenian national team.

Country
Spain

Capital
(Royal Palace)

Language
Spanish Galician Basque Catalan

Food
Paella

Landmark
Sagrada Familia Church

Famous European
Pablo Picasso

Madrid

Madrid is the 3rd most populated EU city (after London and Berlin); The Royal Palace is the biggest Palace in Europe.

Rice dish, typically made with various seafood, meats, vegetables (peas etc). Be careful of ones you may come across in Spain as it is common to include snails!!

Church of the Holy Family; this astonishing unnished church, situated in Barcelona was designed by the famous architect Gaudi.

1881-1973; one of the worlds most famous artists; a child prodigy and one of the founders of the Cubist movement.

Sweden

(View of City)

Stockholm

Swedish

Smorgasbord

Royal Palace

Abba

Encompassing 14 islands; sometimes referred to as the Venice of the North.

Type of Scandinavian meal served buffet style with multiple dishes of various foods on a table.

Built 1697-1760 in Stockholm, this is the ofcial residence of the Swedish monarch.

4 member group (2 men and 2 women) who rst came to fame by winning the Eurovision song contest. Produced many CDs and had numerous number 1 hits in the music charts.

United Kingdom

(Tower of London)

London

English

Fish and Chips

Big Ben & Houses of Parliament

Queen Elizabeth II

London is the most populated EU city; Tower of London is an historic castle situated on the north bank of the River Thames; it is now the home of the Crown Jewels of the UK.

Fish and chips: Deep-fried cod, haddock or plaice and deep fried potatoes. Traditional popular dish which dates from the mid-nineteenth century.

Erected 1858 Big Ben refers to the tower, clock and bell, which still rings out today. Houses of the Parliament (site of Palace of Westminster) encompasses the two houses of the Parliament - House of Lords (similar to our Senate in Ireland) and the House of Commons (similar to the Dil in Ireland).

The constitutional monarch of the UK and the other 15 independent sovereign states known as the Commonwealth. She is politically neutral and by convention her role is largely ceremonial.

Student Worksheet
Country Austria Capital City Language Food Landmark Famous European

Belgium

Bulgaria

Cyprus

Czech Republic Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hungary

Ireland

Country Italy

Capital City

Language

Food

Landmark

Famous European

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malta

Netherlands

Poland

Portugal

Romania

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

European Studies Programme

Opportunities for Collaboration with Partner Schools:
Students from partner schools who have completed the jigsaw exercise on the 27 countries of the European Union can
Design an information leaet/brochure about their own country and/ or that of one of their partner schools under the following headings: language, food, cities, landmarks, famous people, etc. This could be done as a PowerPoint presentation and exchanged with partner schools. Complete a joint project entitled Our Countries in Europe. Students can research different aspects of their own countries and of those of the partner schools and compile the information on a joint website or on the European Studies website at www.european-studies.org Complete an images-only project on their own country and those of their partner schools. Possible images include: ags, landmarks, maps, symbols, etc. (For example, they can design a special ag demonstrating the links between their country and the EU). Exchange via e-mail or surface mail. Colour a blank map of Europe according to languages. This exercise will visually change the shape of Europe and students will become aware of the variety of languages spoken across Europe. Students can then write a piece about the importance of national languages using their own language and exchange. Write a rolling story in different languages. Design a menu for their own country outlining food commonly eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Students could also exchange recipes for national dishes. As part of a Europe Day event, students could prepare a variety of dishes from partner countries. Choose a famous person from their country and do a project on What made this person famous? This can then be exchanged along with photographs, a piece of their work, poems, etc. Engage in an online discussion/video-conference on the topic What difference will an enlarged EU make to us?

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