Can you give me some kilt facts?

[Phogfan86]

At one time, it was a scientific fact that the world was flat...Science changes.

So you're implying that the scientific fact that men in kilts have more swagger than their panted counterparts is wrong or may change?

Blasphemer!

[Kilted Craanen]

Thanks for all the tips (and scientific correctness) posts so far!

Got quite a few good points already.

Keep it going! feel free to come up with other ideas for the presentation as well.

Daniel

[Nick the DSM]

No, Alec Guinness was Obi Wan Kenobi... but that was in the real StarWars movie...

Well, you mentioned Ewan then Vader, so I was correcting you on that but yes, Sir Alec Guinness was Obi Wan Kenobi.

[sathor]

So you're implying that the scientific fact that men in kilts have more swagger than their panted counterparts is wrong or may change?

Blasphemer!

There is always that chance that some kilted man might lose some swagger in an even more swaggered guy in a loin cloth. Or pants may change into some other form, imagine if something as barbaric as codpeices came back into fashion. there would be some disturbing swagger there I bet.

[CDNSushi]

I'm not sure exactly what you're after because I don't know how long your presentation should be, how many kids will attend, how old they will be (a presentation for grade 1 children is quite different than a presentation for grade 6, even though they are both in the same elementary school)... But without knowing these specific things, I'm still glad to offer some general pointers.

Having taught elementary school here in Japan for several years (and also having been requested to do numerous special presentations on various topics), the best way is to ENGAGE the children somehow. Involve as many of their senses as you can and they will love you for it.

Here are some things that I might try in your shoes.

1. If you are wearing a kilt (or even if you can just bring one with you) the actual length of an 8-yard tank is deceiving. Ask the kids how much fabric do they think it takes to make 1 kilt? After you get some guesses, take out a tape measure or meter stick and measure off roughly 8 meters. then say: "THIS much!" I guarantee, the kids will go "Oooooohhh!" Tell them they are welcome to help you measure the kilt after class (if there's time) if they don't believe you.

1b. Determine how much wool a single sheep produces in a single shearing, then determine how many sheep you'd need to make 1 kilt. Use large cut-out colourful pictures of sheep and stick them onto a blackboard for added effect.

2. Yes, it's stereotypical but bring in some bagpipe music and explain that bagpipers generally wear the kilt when they play. If time, give a brief history of bagpiping and how it was used in times of war. Even better would be if you had an actual set of bagpipes to bring, demonstrate and have some of the kids try out.

3. Arts & crafts time. Give a brief explanation of tartans, thread counts, weaving and colours. Give each kid a white piece of paper and some coloring pencils and have them design their own tartan patterns. Have them give it a name and tell you why they used the colours they did. Some kids will surprise you!

4. If you are in NL be sure to tell (and show the kids a photo) of the Netherlands tartan. Here's a good story on it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4211272.stm

Or, go to the Scottish Tartans Authority website and look up:

Name of Tartan: Holland, Tartan of
Alternative name:
ITI number: 6655 Date: 2005 May
Category: Fashion
Designer / Source: Wishart, Dr. David
Copyright: Crescens Akkermans (Prov.)

5. Don't forget of the link between Scotland and the Netherlands through William of Orange (there were several so you have to be careful) but William III of England was a prince of the House of Nassau-Orange and he governed over most of the provinces of the Dutch Republic from 1672 to 1689 when he became King William II of Scotland and King William III of England.

That's all I can think of for now, but if I'm feeling creative later I might add to my list.

Otherwise, good luck with your presentation. I'm sure you'll be a hit!

[Cerebite]

1. If you are wearing a kilt (or even if you can just bring one with you) the actual length of an 8-yard tank is deceiving. Ask the kids how much fabric do they think it takes to make 1 kilt? After you get some guesses, take out a tape measure or meter stick and measure off roughly 8 meters. then say: "THIS much!" I guarantee, the kids will go "Oooooohhh!" Tell them they are welcome to help you measure the kilt after class (if there's time) if they don't believe you.

1b. Determine how much wool a single sheep produces in a single shearing, then determine how many sheep you'd need to make 1 kilt. Use large cut-out colourful pictures of sheep and stick them onto a blackboard for added effect.

There was a thread on this over the weekend [Off Topic?] on the subject that I found fascinating and I am sure the kids would love. IIRC the "answer" [no not THAT question] was between 1.5 and 3 sheep depending on fabric weight and construction.

[Kilted Craanen]

CDNSushi,

Thank you for that post. that really helps. I'll make it easier for you to come up with new stuff - if you wish to do so.

Kids are about 9-10 years old
length of the presentation is about 30 minutes]

Daniel

[CDNSushi]

Hmm... I'll keep thinking about it.

You could play a kilt-related game if you had an old kilt (some old kilts) that you don't mind if it might get dirty or damaged... You could have a "kilt relay race." Where you split the kids off into groups, and each kid has to put on the kilt, doing up all the buckles, putting on some hose flashes, dancing a jig, removing all the aforementioned and handing it to the next kid in line....

If you wanted to talk about the international reach of the kilt, you could have a simple tartan ID game. First, show them a swatch of the Dutch National tartan (printed out in colour on A4) pointing out that there are enough Dutch people interested in wearing kilts to have justified creating that tartan... In the same way, many people in many other countries love the Scottish kilt but are proud of their own countries' heritage and want to celebrate it by having a "national tartan" too. Then, put up numerous other national tartan swatches belonging to other counties... Eg. American national, Maple Leaf (Canadian), Pride of New Zealand, Norwegian, Sweden, Spain, etc.... and see if they can match the country to the tartan. I'd probably also use A4-sized color flags for each country. Split them off into groups and the group to get the most correct wins... Or play it as a Mastermind-game style race. When the group thinks they have them all correct, they call you over and you tell them how many they have right and how many they have wrong, but not WHICH ones...

The possibilities are limitless. Again, if I have any more sudden inspirations I'll add them to the thread.... But I used to invent this kinda stuff for a living before the school board transferred me to teach adults at the college.