Poland Unit Study

Picture Books

The Cats in Krasinski Square by Karen Hess

A young girl sees the injustices suffered by the group of people trapped behind the fence of the Warsaw Ghetto. She wants to help get supplies to them, but isn’t sure how. The cats lurking around Krasinski Square just might be the key. 

P is for Poland by Agnieska Mrowczynska

Explore the country and culture of Poland through this pictoral alphabet adventure. From unique wild animals, to delicious food, beautiful landscapes to kind-hearted people, this book will provide a wonderful introduction to Poland. 

Din, Dan, Don It’s Christmas by Janina Domanaska

A parade of birds and people wind their way through town to meet the Christ Child. Based on a Polish Christmas carol. 

Marta and the Manger Straw: A Christmas Tradition of Poland by Virginia Kroll

While WWII rages, a poor girl is gifted some straw to bring to her poor family. While walking home, she sees others more in need of the straw than her and gives it away, bit by bit. In the end, she has empty hands but a full heart. 

Poland Unpacked by Clive Gifford

An epic children’s travel guide to one of Europe’s most intriguing countries. Discover the traditions and special holidays celebrated by the Poles, the fabulous cuisine, and the unique natural landscapes and wildlife of this special country. 

The Mermaid of Warsaw and Other Tales from Poland by Richard Monte

Enchanting, funny, and intensely entertaining, these traditional stories from Poland come to life in this collection, complete with lovely illustrations and beautiful colors.

The Glass Mountain: Tales from Poland by David Walser

This collection of traditional stories is made even more interesting because the pictures that accompany them are made from the Polish cut paper technique. Kids are sure to enjoy these stories that celebrate honesty, loyalty, and creativity. 

Marie Curie

Marie Curie was a Polish scientist born in 1867. She did a lot of research on radioactivity and made several important discoveries that paved the way for many future medical advancements. She was also the very first woman to receive the Nobel Prize. Discover more about this remarkable woman below:

Nicolaus Copernicus

Copernicus was an astronomer who studied the stars, planets, and the sun. He suggested that instead of the planets and sun revolving around Earth that, in fact, the sun was the center of the solar system. 

Frederic Chopin

Chopin was born in Warsaw, Poland in 1849. He was a child prodigy at the piano and was giving concerts and composing his own pieces by the age of 8. At the age of 20, Chopin went on the road, playing in several European cities and eventually landing in Paris. There he stayed until he died of tuberculosis at the age of 39.

Virtual Tours

Craft Projects to Help Kids Learn About the Culture of Poland

Art 

Polish folk art is easily recognizable with its intricate patterns and bright colors. Traditional art includes paper cut-outs, straw decorations, painted Easter eggs, and clothing embroidery. Check out some samples of traditional Polish folk art at the site below:

Music

Enjoy these children’s songs, lullabies, and games from Poland.

Recipes

Polish Sweet Cheese Rolls

A savory yeast roll filled with farmer’s cheese. 

Pierogi

These traditional Polish dumplings can be filled with meat, fruit, potatoes, cheese, or sauerkraut. 

Sweet Polish Sausage

This traditional dish is simple and yummy, with no hint of greasiness!

Paczki (Polish Donuts)

These sweet desserts are popular in the days leading up to Ash Wednesday, the day when fasting begins until Easter in Poland. 

Polish Apple Pancakes

Thick and fluffy, these pancakes are also served with chunks of sweet apple inside. Add a dusting of powder sugar on top to finish it off before serving!

Movies

Felix the Cat: The Movie

An evil scientist takes over the Land of Oriana, leaving Felix the Cat to play hero to the city once again. 

The Flying Machine (G)

Two children find themselves stuck in animated movie “The Magic Piano”. Their mother, with the help of a famous pianist, must work to save them. This movie contains the music of famous Polish composer Frederic Chopin. 

Janka 

Two friends, called Janka and Julka, must navigate their friendship while dealing with their two rivaling families. 

The Two Who Stole the Moon 

Two brothers are looking to make some fast money and devise a plan to steal the moon. They set off looking for a place where the moon sits low enough to capture, and eventually do snare it in a net. But once the moon is caught, the trouble has just begun!

The Young Magician 

A teenager feels rejected by his classmates at school and just can’t seem to find a place to belong. When his parents take him to a magic show, the boy volunteers for one of the tricks and finds his calling as a magician. 

Learn Some Polish

DK Eyewitness Medieval Life offers an in-depth look at life during that era. It covers several different perspectives from both the town and the country and for the peasants and the aristocracy of the era. 

Want to extend learning even more? Check out this Europe Unit Study! This comprehensive, 240-page unit study goes in-depth to the culture, languages, geography, history, landmarks, and tourism of five different European countries: England, Germany, France, Italy, and Russia. Each of the five unit studies included are highly interactive and contain book, movie, person, and topic resource lists so your students can learn through several different forms of media. All five studies also have 8-9 different subjects, allowing students to explore the country through its music, art, animals, geography, and more! To tap into students’ artsy side, the interactive notebooks provide a creative way to learn some fast facts about the country. STEM projects engage students who love to learn in a hands-on and memorable way. This unit study also includes two picture book study guides and some cheat sheets to help students remember things about the country. As a bonus, 10 pages of guided research sheets are also included. Your students are sure to enjoy the Europe Unit Study. Check it out on the Learn in Color shop and use code LOVETOLEARN for 20% off. 

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