EUROPEAN UNION’S OFFICIAL ANTHEM
LESSON PLAN
Topic: „All people become brothers” – on the Anthem of Europe
Aims The students will: find out the melody of the EU’s official anthem learn its origin and symbolic meaning discuss the significance of national and European symbols and ways to respect them.
Materials projector, screen speakers laptop or computer with the Internet connection tablets with QR scanners worksheets
Instructions Stage 1: INTRODUCTION Discussion on national symbols: What national symbols can you name? (flag, emblem, anthem) What are the symbols of your nation? (e.g. in Poland - flag: white-red, emblem: white eagle with a gold crown on a red background, anthem: „Mazurek Dąbrowskiego”) What role do they play? (e.g. they stress our being part of a nation) When and where do we usually sing a national anthem? (during national celebrations, national holidays, international sports events, such as Olympic games, matches etc..) How should we behave while singing an anthem? (show respect, stand at attention)
Stage 2: PRESENTATION a) Symbols of the European Union – the flag, anthem, motto, currency, Europe Day. For a short review, use the poster from: https://europa.eu/european- union/sites/europaeu/files/symbols_en.pdf
b) What do you know about the anthem of the European Union? What is its melody and who is its author? – allow time to elicit pupil’s answers.
c) Play the anthem – choose the recording from the following: orchestra: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/SWR_hymne.mp3 piano: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/piano_hymne.mp3 pipe organ: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/grandorgue_hymne.mp3
STAGE 3: GROUPWORK a) Divide the class into groups (no larger than 4 students each) b) Each group receives a tablet and a worksheet. Task 1 Pupils scan the QR code which leads them to the app where they arrange a jigsaw puzzle – a portrait of Beethoven, the composer of the melody of the anthem. Task 2. Pupils solve the wordsearch which gives them the solution – surname and last name of the composer (Ludwig van Beethoven). Task 3 Pupils read the lyrics of „Ode to Joy” by F. Schiller. Task 4 Pupils read and complete the text about the anthem of the EU, using the hints provided.
STAGE 4: CONSOLIDATION a) Representatives of all groups read out loud one piece of information from the completed text. The text deals with the origins of the anthem and its symbolism. b) To sum up, pupils listen to different adaptations of the EU anthem. They are encouraged to express their opinions on the different versions. Adaptations: hip hop: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/Hymne_hiphop.mp3 trans: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/Hymne_trance.mp3 techno: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/Hymne_techno.mp3 electric guitar: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/Hymne_guitare_long.mp3 big band: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/Hymne_BigBand1.mp3 jazz violin: https://www.coe.int/02/_lfr/dc/audio/Hymne_jazz_long.mp3
Author: Ewa Kowalska
W O R K S H E E T TASK 1: Scan the QR code and solve the jigsaw puzzle: you will get a portrait of a famous German composer and pianist who lived in the years 1770 - 1827.
TASK 2: From the wordsearch below cross out the words connected with national symbols. The solution (the remaining letters) will form a first name and surname of the composer whose portrait you have just arranged and who is the author of the music of th EU’s official anthem.
F L A G L U D W I G A N T H E M V A N C U R R E N C Y B E E T H O V E V E M B L E M
TASK 3: Read the text of the poem „Ode to Joy” by F. Schiller and discuss the values it mentions. What is the poem’s message?
Joy, beautiful spark of the gods, Just and unjust Daughter from Elysium, Alike taste of her gift; We enter, drunk with fire, She gave us kisses and the fruit of the vine, Heavenly One, thy sanctuary! A tried friend to the end. Your magic binds again [Even] the worm has been granted sensuality, What convention strictly divides; And the cherub stands before God! All people become brothers, Where your gentle wing abides. Gladly, as His heavenly bodies fly On their courses through the heavens, Who has succeeded in the great attempt, Thus, brothers, you should run your race, To be a friend's friend, Joyful, like a hero going to conquest. Whoever has won a lovely woman, Add his to the jubilation! You millions, be embraced. Indeed, who calls even one soul This kiss is for all the world! Theirs upon this world! Brothers, above the starry canopy And whoever never managed, shall steal himself There must dwell a loving Father. Weeping away from this union! Do you fall in worship, you millions? World, do you know your creator? All creatures drink of joy Seek him in the heavens At nature's breast. Above the stars must He dwell. TASK 4: Complete the text with information on the EU anthem. You may use the terms provided below.
The melody used to symbolize the EU comes from the …………………………………….. composed in ………………………………… by ………………………………… Van Beethoven, when he set music to the "………………………………… to Joy", ………………………………… von Schiller's lyrical verse from ………………………………….
The anthem symbolises not only the European Union but also Europe in a wider sense. The poem "Ode to …………………………………" expresses ………………………………… 's idealistic vision of the human race becoming ………………………………… - a vision ………………………………… shared.
In …………………………………, the ………………………………… of Europe adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" theme as its anthem. In 1985, it was adopted by EU leaders as the …………………………………. There are no ………………………………… to the anthem; it consists of music only. In the universal language of …………………………………, this anthem expresses the European ideals of ………………………………….
The European anthem is not intended to replace the national anthems of the EU countries but rather to celebrate the ………………………………… they share. The anthem is played at official ceremonies involving the ………………………………… and generally at all sorts of events with a ………………………………… character.
TERMS TO COMPLETE THE TEXT:
Ninth Symphony 1972 Friedrich 1785 brothers
Ludwig Joy Beethoven music Ode freedom, peace and solidarity words European Union
1823 Schiller Council values official anthem of the European Union European
KEY Task 1: 1. Embed code for the puzzle: 35
Task 2:
F L A G L U D V I G A N
T H E M V A N C U R R E N C Y B E E T H O V E N
E M B L E M Task 4:
The melody used to symbolize the EU comes from the Ninth Symphony composed in 1823 by Ludwig Van Beethoven, when he set music to the "Ode to Joy", Friedrich von Schiller's lyrical verse from 1785.
The anthem symbolises not only the European Union but also Europe in a wider sense. The poem "Ode to Joy" expresses Schiller's idealistic vision of the human race becoming brothers - a vision Beethoven shared.
In 1972, the Council of Europe adopted Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" theme as its anthem. In 1985, it was adopted by EU leaders as the official anthem of the European Union. There are no words to the anthem; it consists of music only. In the universal language of music, this anthem expresses the European ideals of freedom, peace and solidarity.
The European anthem is not intended to replace the national anthems of the EU countries but rather to celebrate the values they share. The anthem is played at official ceremonies involving the European Union and generally at all sorts of events with a European character.
(source: europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/symbols/anthem_en) ATTACHMENT
VARIOUS ADAPTATIONS OF THE EU’s OFFICIAL ANTHEM
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