Section 1 - SWISS FOOD

Section 1 - SWISS FOOD

Cheese

Discuss why cheese has holes:

The holes in Swiss cheese come from bacteria that form during the aging process. This specific type of bacteria is unique to Swiss cheeses due to the type of starter used and the specific temperature the cheese wheels are stored at during aging. This bacteria gives off carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide forms bubbles in the cheese and when the bubbles "pop" holes are created.

SWISS CHEESE AND CRACKERS

Here's what you'll need...

• Yellow and brown craft foam sheets (you could also use orange for your crackers)
• Paper plate
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Glue
• Green tissue paper (optional)

Here's how you make it...

1. From your foam cut circle cracker and square cheese shapes.

2. Make holes in your Swiss cheese with your hole punch. You can glue the cheese to the crackers and the crackers to the paper plate - or, you can leave them unglued if the kids want to play with them! We put some green tissue paper on our plate to look like a lettuce garnish.

Easy Cheese Fondue

1. Turn on your fondue pot and melt the butter. Add the garlic and spring onion and cook for two minutes while stirring.

2. Add the juice and rosemary and let it simmer for about 4 minutes.

3. With burner on low heat, add the cornstarch and shredded cheese, one handful at a time, until all of it is melted. With a wooden spoon, mix well and stir continuously.

4. Add pepper to taste.

5. If the mixture is too hard, add juice. If the mixture is too soft, add cheese.

6. Dip bite size pieces of steamed broccoli, asparagus and cauliflower, button mushrooms, pear slices, apple slices or mild pepperoni sticks.

7. Let the dipped pieces cool off for a few seconds, then enjoy and repeat!

Tip: If you ask your girls to make a figure 8 while dipping, it will turn this meal (or appetizer) into a game while ensuring the cheese mixture gets constantly stirred.

Chocolate

Switzerland is very famous for its chocolate. Switzerland's chocolates have earned an international reputation for high quality. During the more than 400 years since Columbus became the first European to see cocoa beans, Switzerland has come to the forefront of chocolate manufacturing worldwide. Swiss chocolatiers have created such delights as truffles, pralines, cakes, and mousses.

Chocolate Fondue:

Ingredients : for each child
1 square choc
2.5mls cream
small silver tray (available from some supermarkets - small pie size)
plastic spoon
cocktail stick
2 marshmallows or pieces of fruit
tea light or small candle
chopping board
Peg ("spring" type)

Method
1 light candle
2 clip peg on to silver tray to form "pan"
3 put choc in silver tray and hold low over candle to melt choc whilst stirring
4 when melted stir in cream
5 spear marshmallow or fruit with cocktail stick and dip into choc/cream mix
6 eat!
7 eat rest of fondue with spoon
8 throw away cocktail stick, remove peg and either wash tray or throw out, wash spoon.

The Chocolate Game:

You will need:

- a wrapped bar of Swiss chocolate

- a plate,

- a knife and fork,

- some dressing-up items (at least a hat, scarf and gloves)

- two dice

1. Put the bar of chocolate on the plate with the knives and forks nearby and sit the children around it in a circle. Throw the pile of dressing up clothes into the circle. Give one child the dice.
2. Children take it in turns to roll the dice on the floor in front of them, passing them around the circle to their left. If a child rolls a double, they leap into the centre of the circle, put on the dressing up clothes, and start to unwrap and then eat the bar of chocolate - but only using the knife and fork.
3. That child keeps going until another child rolls a double, at which point they must co-operate in handing over the dressing up clothes so that the next child gets a turn.

Hints:
This game can get very rowdy as doubles sometimes come thick and fast! Be prepared to change the rules if nobody is getting a chance to eat any chocolate, perhaps using only double 3, double 4, and double 5.

Chocolate apple faces:

What you need:

- One eating apple threaded onto a wooden skewer for each child participating in the activity

- Melted Swiss chocolate

- Rice cereal or chocolate vermicelli etc. for decorating

- Assorted sweets for decorating

- Paper Plates

1. Coat the apples thoroughly in chocolate
2. Dip the top of the apple into a bowl of Rice cereal or chocolate vermicelli to create the ‘hair’.
3. Create eyes, nose and a mouth from different assortments of sweets.
4. Place on a named paper plate and leave to one side to set.

Toblerone Chocolate

Toblerone is a famous Swiss chocolate, well known for its distinctive prism shape. It was created by Theodor Tobler and Emil Baumann in Bern, Switzerland in 1908. They developed a unique milk chocolate including nougat, almonds and honey with a distinctive triangular shape. The product's name is a portmanteau combining Tobler's name with the Italian word torrone (a type of nougat). The image of a bear is hidden in the Matterhorn mountain, on the packaging, symbolizing the town of its origin.

TOBLERONE fudge

Serves: 24 servings, 1 piece each
Ingredient:

• 100g sugar
• 112g butter
• 1 can (Approx 140g) evaporated milk
• 4 bars (100g) TOBLERONE Swiss Milk Chocolate with Honey and Almond Nougat, broken into pieces

Preparation:
1. LINE an 8-inch square baking pan with foil, with the ends of foil extending over sides of pan (to make handles); set aside. Place sugar, butter and evaporated milk in large heavy saucepan.
2. BRING to full rolling boil on medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil for 5 min, stirring constantly. Remove from heat.
3. ADD the chocolate; stir until completely melted. Pour into the prepared pan. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm. Remove fudge from the pan, using foil handles. Cut fudge into 24 pieces. Any pieces not eaten can be stored in tightly covered container in a refrigerator.

Section 2 – SWISS CULTURE

The Red Cross

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in Geneva, Switzerland in 1863. This organization has helped protect victims of war and domestic violence.

Make a Red Cross Magnet / Badge

Rainbows / Brownies use Hama Beads:

Square Peg board, 92 red, 20 white – follow design

For guides & senior section

Use seed beads and safety pins

Materials Needed:

• 10 - 1 1/16 inch Safety Pins
• 1 - 1 3/4 inch Safety Pin
• Seed Beads (see picture below for colours needed)

Instructions:
Follow this pattern to complete this project.

The Edelweiss – the unofficial flower of Switzerland

A white flower found high in the Alps.

Learn the song and then try with the actions:

Edelweiss

Edelweiss, Edelweiss. Every morning you greet me.
Small and white, clean and bright,
You look happy to greet me.
Blossoms of snow, may you bloom and grow,
Bloom and grow forever,
Edelweiss, Edelweiss. Bless my homeland forever

Directions:

• Sit or stand in a circle with your left hand palm side up and right hand palm side down, above the hand of the person to your right
• As you sing move your right hand as follows, but keeping you left hand still:

1. Tap the person to your right’s left hand.

2. Tap your right thigh.

3. Tap your left thigh.

4. Tap underneath your left hand so your right palm touches the back of your left hand.

5&6. Tap the palm of your left hand twice with your right palm.

• All action above would be done during one ‘Edelweiss’, then again for the second and repeated though ‘every morning’
• To make it more fun, once everyone thinks they have it, shout CHANGE and the whole process is reversed (holding out right hand and moving your left).

Make a traditional hat and decorate with the edelweiss flower

Fold large sheet of construction paper in half.
Fold both top corners in towards the middle evenly, leaving 2-3 inch border along the bottom.
Now, fold the bottom up on both sides each to their own side. This forms the brim. Decorate with a flower and a feather

Famous People

William Tell

Is a folk hero of Switzerland. He is best known for shooting an apple on his sons head with an arrow.

Read the story of William Tell:

A long time ago, Switzerland was not a country in its own right, but was ruled by the neighbouring country of Austria. The people in the area did not like being ruled by the Austrians and were unhappy. They became even more unhappy when they were given a new Governor, called Gessler. He noticed the resentment of the people towards him, and decided to test their loyalty.

He ordered his soldiers to put a huge pole in the middle of the town square. On the top of the pole one of his hats was hung, painted in the Austrian colours. Soldiers were placed either side of the pole and the local citizens were told they had to bow to the hat as they walked past to show their respect.

One day, William Tell, a man from another town, passed through the square accompanied by his son. William Tell was ordered by the soldiers to bow to the hat.

‘Why should I bow to a hat?’ questioned William Tell. The soldiers barked back, ‘It is the law. You must show your respect for the Governor and his laws.’

William Tell refused to bow to the hat replying, ‘I am a free man. I will not bow to a hat that represents someone who rules over our people in a cruel way.’

Hearing this, the soldiers grabbed William Tell and his son and took them to appear before Gessler. Gessler was very angry when he heard what had happened and decided to punish William. He knew that William was an accomplished hunter and that no one in the area could shoot with a crossbow as well as him. In his mind Gessler formed a cruel plan.

‘You can go free if you shoot an apple from the top of your son’s head with a single arrow!’ he announced. William was horrified. Although he was skilled with a crossbow and arrow, he could not put his son in this dreadful position. He was just about to refuse when his son spoke out.

‘I am not afraid father. I know you can hit the apple. I will stand against this tree.’ Reluctantly, as the apple was placed on his son’s head, William took two arrows. He drew the bow back, released the arrow and split the apple clean in half. The people around cheered and the soldiers prepared to release him. Gessler said, ‘You may go free. But why did you take two arrows from your quiver?’ William Tell replied courageously, ‘Because if I had harmed a hair on my son’s head I would have used the second arrow to pierce your heart.’

The people of the area were so impressed by the way that William Tell had stood up to the Governor that they all rebelled against their rulers and eventually Switzerland became a free country.

William Tell Race

William Tell Target Game

Get a child to stand against a wall and balance an apple on her head. Watch out! Apples are wobbly. When the apple is balanced, have another child stand about five feet away and toss a foam ball to try and hit the apple (have the child cover her face with her hands!) How many tries does it take? Take turns so everyone gets a chance to be the target as well as the thrower. Try this is teams racing against each other.

Find out about other famous people and what they are famous for: e.g.

Roger Federer

Ursula Andress

Renée ZELLWEGER

Henri Nestle

Swiss Watches & Clocks

The Swiss Watch & Clock Industry first appeared in Geneva, Switzerland , in the middle of the 16th century. From 1541 onwards, reforms introduced by Jean Calvin led to prosperity of the watch-making industry in Switzerland. The mass production of Swiss watches began in the 20th Century due to industrialization and new technologies. The end of World War 1 witnessed the introduction of wrist-watches, which then became popular across the globe. Today, Switzerland has the world's third largest watch industry.

Activities:

Learn the 12 verses of the nursery rhyme ‘Hickory Dickory Dock’ and make a clock with a mouse:

TEMPLATES: See appendices D,E,F,G

Make a sundial activity. TEMPLATES:

See appendix H

Swiss Army Knife

The Swiss Army knife (German: Schweizer Offiziersmesser: "Swiss officer's knife",) is a brand of pocket knife or multi-tool. The term "Swiss Army knife" was coined by US soldiers after World War II due to the difficulty they had in pronouncing the German name.[1]

The Swiss Army knife generally has a blade as well as various tools, such as screwdrivers and can openers. These attachments are stowed inside the handle of the knife through a pivot point mechanism. The handle is usually red, and features a Victorinox or Wenger "cross" logo or, for military issue knives, the coat of arms of Switzerland.

Have a closer look at a Swiss Army Knife, can you decide what all the attachments are used for?

Design a Swiss Army Knife for a Girl Guide in the 21st Century. What would it include? Your iPod, mobile phone?

Section 3 – SWISS ALPS

Mountains

Switzerland is known for its high mountains, the Alps (in south) and Jura (in northwest) with a central plateau of rolling hills, plains, and large lakes. The Matterhorn is one of the most popular mountains in the Alps. Mont Dolent is of geographical importance as it is the point where France, Switzerland, and Italy meet.

The Swiss Alps are high, snow-covered mountains most of which are over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters). The most famous peak is the Matterhorn which is 14,692 feet (4,478 meters) tall, but the highest peak is Dufourspitze at 15,203 feet (4,634 meters).

Mountain Goats: This animal in Switzerland is a popular game animal. Locals like to eat the meat of the mountain goats, use its’ hide as leather, and use the mane to decorate hats and clothing. The mountain goat has become endangered due to over hunting. The Swiss government now has limited how many of these animals can be killed by hunters. These animals’ magnificent horns can weigh up to 22 pounds each. A remarkable feature of this animal living in Switzerland is its’ hooves. They have a hard outer rim and a soft middle; allowing the animal to “grab” hold of the rocky mountainside. This animal has been hunted almost to the point of extinction. The locals believe that different parts of this animal can cure diseases.

Make a mountain goat:

• Print out the template of choice - Colour or Black and White.
• Colour (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.
• Glue the large rectangular piece on first to cover the tube.
• Glue on the head, arms and legs as shown.

TEMPLATES: See appendices A & B

Learn the song – High on a Hill is a Lonely Goat (from the Sound of Music)

– see appendix C

Snowball Fight:

Split the girls into two teams. Position each team to opposite halves of the room, then divide the room across the centre in a line (with a tennis net if you have it, otherwise a line of chairs). Then give each girl 2 balled up pieces of newspaper snowballs, one for each hand. When the whistle blows the girls have to throw their snowballs over the line onto the other side of the room at the opposing team. They then have 3 mins to throw any snowballs that have landed on their side of the room back, only ONE at a time. After the time is up and the whistle blows the snowball fight must stop. The winners are the team with the least snowballs on their side of the room.

SKIING

Skiing is a way of travelling over snow, using skis strapped to one's feet. In modern times it has been mostly an athletic activity. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding. Alpine skiing is also called downhill skiing. Typically, downhill skiing takes place at a ski resort with specified ski pistes or ski runs.