Icelandic Day at Kindergarten

Yesterday I was a Special Guest presenter at the Oak Grove Elementary School Kindergarten class. The theme of this week was, “People in our community who help others.” Various volunteers this week from the Fargo-Moorhead area came by invitation to speak about their volunteer activities. So I talked about Iceland!

It was so much fun. We had Icelandic stories, lava rocks to touch, woolen items, knitted gloves and sweaters, money, flags, various small items to touch, and of course Icelandic desserts including pönnukökur and vínarterta.

Our granddaughter struggles with some food allergies. So, I made gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free pönnukökur! They turned out pretty good. The recipe I used is below and the regular recipe and an Icelandic friend making the pönnukökur is in a video below. Here we are getting ready – our little kindergartener and I in the Icelandic National Costumes – Upphlutur.

Oak Grove Lutheran Elementary Iceland Day

The vínarterta was from Arden Jackson, Chief Vinarterta Officer.

Arden Jackson Vínarterta

A few of the pönnukökur Gluten-Free, Egg Free, Dairy Free Ingredients:

1 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour 3/4 tsp Xanthan gum 1/2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda 1 tablespoons sugar 1 cup almond milk (could try rice milk) 2 eggs – substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla 2 teaspoon olive oil (or similar)

Directions:

1. Mix flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, and sugar.

2. In a 2nd bowl, mix the milk, egg substitute, vanilla, and olive oil.

3. Add the liquid slowly to the flour mixture.

4. Combine well. Batter should be thin.

5. Add flour or milk as needed, a small amount at a time.

6. Heat pan to about medium high. Make sure your pan is hot and greased.

7. Pour small amount of batter into the pan – about 1/4 cup.

8. Roll your pan from side to side to thinly and evenly coat the bottom of the pan.

9. Cook until lightly browned – about 30-45 seconds.

10. Carefully loosen the pönnukökur with a spatula and flip.

11. Cook a short time on 2nd side – about 20 seconds.

12. Transfer to plate or tray. Sprinkle inside with sugar and roll up.

Here are the traditional Icelandic pancakes. I just made them rolled up with sugar.

The students loved the pönnukökur and vínarterta and all asked for seconds. Good thing I always over-prepare! 🙂

The students were great and so attentive. I brought coloring pages for them to take home. Payten and I shared Icelandic words with them and the difference of language. She did a great job speaking in Icelandic. We talked about our costumes. She is the only one with Icelandic heritage in her class. We told them about Iceland and how some people moved from there to North America and how other people come here from other areas of the world. I told them about glaciers, volcanoes, sheep, horses, and lava sand. Using the Icelandic National League of North America calendar, Waterfalls of Iceland, I showed them these beautiful waterfalls and rainbows photos of Iceland. The 2016 calendars are for sale now through your local club or from www.inlofna.org website

Waterfalls of Iceland Calendar by the Icelandic National League of North America

Because Oak Grove is a Lutheran School, I was able to go into more detail about Goðafoss and how Iceland became a Christian nation — in a brief, kindergarten, and age-appropriate method.

Goðafoss – God’s Falls

We showed them where Iceland was on the globe and how we fly over the ocean to get there. Below are the three coloring pages I gave them to take home and share with their parents.

We talked about Vikings and how Leif Eiríksson was the first to land in North America – not Christopher Columbus.

A Family Tree paper to fill in, have their parents help them, and a basic start to learn more about their family.