Rēznas elementary school students participate in the excursion “to explore and know the history of Latvia!”

At the beginning of February, a “willow fund” excursion competition was announced throughout Latvia, “we'll explore and know Latvia's history!”. Her primary school teacher, Inga Katkovsky, wrote a project application which was positively assessed and supported. On March 29, the teacher went to Latvia's National Library in Riga to participate in the final award ceremony and receive a cash prize awarded by the Montreal Latvian Public Centre for successful start-up in the project. The excursion on the castle of light followed. The guide focused on a valuable exhibit – the book “Terra Mariana” in the original size and seriousness, then viewed by the Dina cupboard, admired by the beautiful panorama of Riga.
On May 11, the 3 rd, 5 th, 6 th, 7 th-class students of the Central School of Rezne went to excursion with the aim of learning the ancient population and familiarisation with ancient tools, its significance earlier and today. The children had the opportunity to visit Rēzekne's clerks. IN Vērēmu parish, the children visited z/s “Apkalnhomes” at the leather goods masters, the podnieks and the Latgale cultural history museum in Rezekne.
In “crew home”, the excurators learned one of the ancestral wisdom of creating and settling the place of residence – everything must be thought-out and dozens of times. The lady showed her courtyard and the garden with pride. Rarely who knew that in the ancient fashion there were blue or white hops, gods, peony bushes, peppermines, bombs, etc. From the lady's narrative, the pupils knew that the horse had a very important place in human life. The ancient horses have been surveyed, the Latvian ancient tools and things are familiar, as well as the specific nature of the work to be performed in the rural area compared to today. Then, a practical work on the craftsman's table – the preparation of a brochure and a hang.
The lesson on the podnieks expanded into a great adventure and the abstraction of attractive knowledge about the diversity of Latgale ceramics, watching the demonstration, followed the mysterious transformation of the clay by participating in the conversation, learning the traditions of Latgale ceramics. Then he was offered the chance to try to make a whistle of the clay.
In the museum of Latgale cultural history, pupils participated in the museum pedagogical programme “ancient games and games”. In the course of the lesson, the children learned the toys of the ancient and their own hands, playing educational, fun games. The programme updated the use of ancient wooden toys, games and toys, while maintaining and inheriting knowledge of folklore and traditions.
Thank you very much to the Latvian Montreal public centre and the foundation “willow foundation” for the opportunity to go into a familiar excursion that helped pupils to look at a slightly different world – the one in which our ancestors lived and which we can only imagine. These meetings with craftsmen gave life to stories about the past and our People's history. Students will be able to describe ancient Latvian lifestyle and traditions when visiting their neighbors. When co-operating and learning the skills of ancient positions, children will also learn about their preservation and continuation in the future.
Inga Katkovsky,
Rēznas primary school teacher