This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication (communication) reflects the views only of the author and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of information contained therein.

PROJECTImproving key

competences through stories and legends

2009 – 1- ES1-COM06-098867

ORPHEUS JOURNEYON THE TRAIL OF DRAGONS

ORPHEUS ON THE TRAIL OF DRAGONS

ORPHEUS ON THE TRAIL OF DRAGONS

I am Orpheus-the most famous Thracian musician. I live in the gorgeous Rhodope mountain. I used to travel around the world amusing people with my music. One day I landed in a country called England and I heard the legend of Saint George-The Red Cross Knight, and The Dragon. Listen to it:

St. George and the Dragon

ORPHEUS ON THE TRAIL OF DRAGONS

The legend was really interesting and, deep in thoughts about it, I traveled, and traveled, and suddenly I found myself in another country called Poland, in one beautiful town-Krakow. An old woman told me the story about the name of the city. Here it is:

The legend of the Wawel dragon

ORPHEUS ON THE TRAIL OF DRAGONS

I thought to myself that you can meet the evil everywhere, but one thing is sure-good always wins. St George won, because he was brave and noble, Skuba won, because he was clever and smart. I understood, that both of them are heroes, because they didn’t think for their own safety, but for the good of other people, as gesture of good will and friendship. And I understood that

A friend in need is a friend indeed

After this long journey I decided to go back to my homeland and soon I saw the green hills of the beautiful Rhodope Mountain in southeastern Bulgaria, which was once the great land of Thrace called in Bulgaria ‘Trakia.’Once upon a time the two mountains - Hemus and Rhodope - were brother and sister, their father was a sea god. Hemus was the elder brother and Rhodope – the younger sister. Both lived a carefree childhood full of games. Once however, they decided to mock the old gods. Hemus made himself a long white beard, and Rhodope let down her gorgeous blond hair. That rather daring game infuriated the Old God, the Lord of the whole world. In his divine fury he transformed Rhodope into a large, curvaceous mountain. Seeing the metamorphosis, her brother Hemus petrified and turned into another mountain, however mannish and severe. To make the punishment even harsher, the Old God divided the two mountains with the spacious Thracian Plain. 

ORPHEUS

The story, told by Orpheus, ends here, but now starts the legend for him - the greatest musician ever known.

Let’s listen:

ORPHEUS

ACTIVITIES-BASED ON THE THREE LEGENDS

ACTIVITY 1:Recipe for a Perfect READING

.  Seasonings for Filling:pinch of praisebunch of enthusiasmscoop of encouragementdash of discipline

Ingredients:

1 bunch of 15 active participants1 dedicated & knowledgeable teacher2 cups reading1 cup word work1 cup spelling2 cups writing1 cup effort1 cup friendship1 cup respect1 cup cooperation1 cup responsibility

ACTIVITY 1:Recipe for a Perfect READING

Filling: 5 computers exciting videos and creative learning activities

Directions: Sift together reading, word work, spelling, and writing. In a comfortable setting, at low speed, blend in the first 2 ingredients and mix well. Slowly increase speed until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Set aside. Meanwhile make filling: Gradually blend together great literature, book projects, and creative learning activities until well combined. Stir in a pinch of praise, a bunch of enthusiasm, a scoop of encouragement and a dash of discipline. Add computers and videos to enhance different learning styles and to give the batter a zesty flavor. Gently fold in effort, friendship, respect, cooperation, and responsibility to insure that all ingredients are being learned. Add to batter and mix thoroughly. Divide dough into 3 equal parts and mold into independent thinkers. Turn students around 180 degrees until they are task-committed readers, eager to learn. Bake in a classroom for 90 minutes until done. Check progress frequently. Drop self-reliant students into the world prepared with knowledge and sprinkled with self-esteem

The Learners Creed

I believe in myself and my ability to do my best at all times.Just for today:

I will see. I will speak. I will feel.I will think. I will reason. I will write.

I will do all these things with one purpose in mind:to do my very best and not waste this dayfor this day will not come again.

ACTIVITY 2:Read, Think and Write

Think about your reading and respond to one of the writing prompts below. The sentence starters may help you to make connections between the legends you are reading now and other stories you have read in the past, or you may connect the legends and stories you

are reading to your personal experiences.

Read, Think and Write

1. The part that I liked the most was...because...

2. The part that I disliked the most was...because...

3. This character…. reminds me of myself because...

4. This legend is very realistic/unrealistic because...

Read, Think and Write

5. I think the relationship between ______ and ______ is interesting because...

6. The character I most admire is ______ because...

7. The character I least admire is ______ because...

8. I learned that...

ACTIVITY 3:Students are asked to rewrite the stories from another

point of view - competition

The winner:St. George and the Dragon - Another View

Through The Dragon's Eye

As I looked out over the barren wasteland that I had begun to see as home and rule as king, all I saw was discarded carcases of human and animal alike. Some of the humans were warriors, knights seeking a name by returning my lifeless body to the hands of barbarians. Others just crossed my path and caught my eye. Most were about to run and tell the champion dragon slayers where my lair was, so they could come and massacre my body as I slept. Cowards, all of them.

Many tried and failed to destroy me and the destruction I wreaked on their towns and villages. I do not do it for fun though. Oh no, I do it for revenge on all of the human race. Why? I am the last one the one and only dragon left in the world - all of the others slain. I am alone and so shall they be - I will destroy them the way they destroyed my kind. 

The winner:St George and the Dragon - Another View

Through The Dragon's Eye

That was when they sent him. George. He was strong, no doubt about that. He came fast and swift across the dry desert lands, his armour shining in the furiously hot sun. He rode his horse heartlessly hard kicking up the harshly dry dirt as he made his way to my lair. He stopped a mere few metres from the entrance and called out to me whilst preparing for the battle that would always have the same outcome - him or me. 

He fought hard for many hours; he wasn’t even growing tired. Nor did he falter, not once. He did earn respect that day for he was the strongest knight that had ever come to face me not to mention persistent. We fought long into the night. I had begun to tire of being the last one long before but it was only that night when I felt the pain of loneliness. By the time the last blow came I welcomed it, it came sudden and painless. The knight had claimed his prize won the battle and became a saint. I found that death really is the answer to all.

ACTIVITY 4:Read-Aloud Response Journal

ACTIVITY 5:WORDMAP

ACTIVITY 5:WORDMAP

ACTIVITY 5:WORDMAP

ACTIVITY 6:STUDENTS’ WORKS

ACTIVITY 6:STUDENTS’ WORKS

ACTIVITY 6:STUDENTS’ WORKS

St George, Skuba The Shoemaker, Orpheus

ACTIVITY 6:STUDENTS’ WORKS

Wawel Hill, Magic Orange Tree, Rhodope mountain

ACTIVITY 7:A ROUND TABLE PERFORMANCE

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED

Objectives- -To improve all language skills

concerning legends.- To stimulate students’ interest and

involve them more efficiently in the teaching process.

- To improve creative skills using IT- To create an interest and respect for

different culture and stimulating team working skills

KEY COMPETENCES

Selecting the legends.Reading and translating the legends and the new words.Making a recipe for a perfect read.Making a word map.Rewriting the stories from another point of view.Writing the descriptions of characters.Drawing up the characters and the decoration. Round table performance.

KEY COMPETENCESACTIVITIES

KEY COMPETENCESORAL COMPREHENSION

Children can:Understand the meaning of the legends.Understand and follow a role-play situation Understand descriptions about the

characters.Understand and follow instructions how to

make decoration.Find and use specific details from the

legends.Identify characters and realize their places in

the story.

ORAL INTERACTION

Children can:Use classroom language to

communicate Answer the questions about the

legends.Participate in games using the

language.Make connections and inferences

to answer the questions.Dramatize the legends

KEY COMPETENCES

ORAL PRODUCTION

Children can:Use words and sentences related

to the legends.Tell the legends.Describe the characters.Participate in guessing games

about the characters.Participate in a role-play situation.

KEY COMPETENCES

WRITING RECEPTION

Children can:Read and understand the

legends.Read and understand information

about the characters.Connect the legends with their

personal experience.

KEY COMPETENCES

KEY COMPETENCES

WRITING PRODUCTIONChildren can:Write the descriptions of

characters from the legends.Correct sentence structure and

punctuation.Rewrite the legends from another

point of view.

ITC COMPETENCE

Children can:Search online information about

the legends and characters.Prepare a power point

presentation.

KEY COMPETENCES

SOCIAL AND CIVIC COMPETENCEChildren can:Work and collaborate with each

other in groups.Learn information about different

culture.Express opinion in discussion and

listen to others’ opinion.

KEY COMPETENCES

LEARNING TO LEARNChildren can:Understand the importance of the

legends.Remember and tell the stories.Make connections and inferences

to answer the question.Respect and tolerance towards

people in need.

KEY COMPETENCES

CULTURAL AND ARTISTIC COMPETENCE

Children can:Participate in a role play situationUse different artistic techniques to

create pictures and decoration about the legends.

Perform the legends on a stage.Document their common work with

photos.

KEY COMPETENCES

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEEDA friend in need is a friend indeed,As the popular saying goes;Someone who is always there,To help you with your woes.

I've been thru life a fair way along,And many things I have learned;There is nothing like forever friends,One day all bridges shall be burned.

So to all those of you out there,A warning I send loud and clear;Beware of having friends aplenty,Most will never hold you dear.

'Tis but a brief passing phase,In each and everyone's life;A friend will move on from you,Causing a whole lot of strife.

And before you think me bad,For saying things about friends so dear;There are one in a million,Who will always keep you near.

I have moved on myself,From many a friend in the past;For reasons that seem so petty,I wish I had made them last.

So choose your friends with care,For a happy life to lead;Remember and act on the saying,A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed!