Cross-curricular reading strategies within the school library
2 . Cross-curricular reading strategies within the school library
2.1 A Look at the Diversity of Culture among the Countries of the European Union
Reading / Learning Strategies - for learners aged 13 by mag . Mirjam Francetič , school librarian , Slovenia
When the nine-year programme was being introduced in primary schools , the crosscurricular cooperation at the lower secondary level of education seemed very demanding and complicated to the teachers . However , when we started doing team planning and carrying out classes , things began to run smoothly . As a librarian , I am often at their disposal , so the teachers frequently stop by the library to browse through literature and , occasionally , discuss current issues . At the start of the school year , the Civics and Ethics teacher and I began planning a LIS ( Library and Information Sciences ) lesson for the seventh-graders ( aged 13 ) to be given on April 2 , International Children ' s Book Day . The lesson was a part of the thematic cluster Life in a Community : Nation Country , the title of the unit being Diversity of Culture among the Countries of the European Union . We wanted to include a presentation of the European Union ( hereafter referred to as the “ EU ”) and Slovenia ' s entrance into the EU .
The lesson comprised of the pupils first going over the basic concepts and symbols of the EU , getting to know about the diversity of cultures , and their importance in preserving national identity , as well as learning about the necessity of intercultural integration within the EU . They also got acquainted with key concepts , such as culture , intercultural integration , diversity of culture , national identity .
The teaching formats were the teacher-centred approach and group work , where we used the methods of discussion , practical work and that of a quiz . The pupils gathered in the library , which was organised so that they could split into five groups formed during the preceding Civics and Ethics lesson . My task was to explain to them the aim and purpose of their visit to the library . They reiterated the basic concepts and symbols of the EU with their teacher , the knowledge of which they acquired during previous Civics and Ethics lessons , where they talked about Slovenia ’ s entrance into the EU . They did this with the help of the Europass publication and the EU ’ s web page .
The lesson which followed started with the playing of the EU ’ s anthem . The pupils recognized it immediately and named its title – Ode to Joy , prelude to Beethoven ’ s Ninth Symphony . We unfolded the Slovenian flag and described its colours and coat of arms . This was followed by the flag of the EU . We talked about the twelve stars on the blue flag and
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