Austria

Austria

Grades 5+

  1. Up in the Austrian Alps, a quaint village is holding its most eventful festival of the year. It’s Ländler time!
  2. Couples dressed in traditional clothing fill the streets, singing and laughing. The air is filled with the sound of music and the smell of delicious food. Everyone is having a wonderful time.
  3. An Austrian folk dance typically accompanied by an accordion or a zither – a guitar-like instrument – the Ländler is usually performed by two couples. They face each other and hold hands. Then the man dances with his left hand holding the woman’s right. The couples circle one another counterclockwise while keeping their hands joined. As they circle, the couples dip, sway, and sometimes jump.
  4. The dance originated in the Austrian countryside, up in the mountains. Popular among the peasants, it was danced mainly at local fairs, but eventually it made its way to the Austrian nobility, who enjoyed it for its rustic charm.
  5. It was brought to Vienna in the early 19th century. Vienna has always been a major center for music, with a strong tradition of classical music. It has been home to many of the world’s most famous composers, including Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Johann Strauss II.
  6. The Blue Danube, which Strauss composed in 1867, is probably the best-known musical piece for the waltz, the dance known for its whirling couples. The waltz increased the Ländler’s popularity. Some historians think the waltz evolved from the Ländler, while others believe they are two distinctive dance forms.
  7. Whichever the case, Stauss’s masterpiece glorifies the mighty Danube River, which runs through Austria. Today, the Danube’s banks are lined with magnificent castles, palaces, temples, mansions, and churches that, like the nation’s dances, give us a glimpse into Austria’s rich history.

 

Austria Activity 1

Write down the pronoun test:

Write down the pronouns from each paragraph.  Many are repeated.

Paragraph                       Number of Pronouns                      List the Pronouns

      1.        1
      2.        1
      3.        2    (4)
      4.        4
      5.        3
      6.        3
      7.        4