Questions and Answers for Kids about Switzerland:
1. Q: What continent is Switzerland located in? A: Switzerland is located in Europe.
2. Q: How many people live in Switzerland? A: About eight million people live in Switzerland.
3. Q: What do we call a country that is completely surrounded by other countries? A: We call it "landlocked."
4. Q: Where does Rachel live in Switzerland? A: Rachel lives in a small village called Sisikon.
5. Q: How many people live in Sisikon? A: About 400 people live in Sisikon.
6. Q: What language do most people in Sisikon speak? A: Most people in Sisikon speak German.
7. Q: What is the average maximum temperature in Sisikon in January? A: The average maximum temperature in Sisikon in January is 2°C.
8. Q: What is the average maximum temperature in Sisikon in July? A: The average maximum temperature in Sisikon in July is 25°C.
9. Q: What are the main languages spoken in Sisikon? A: The main language spoken in Sisikon is German, but some people also speak Italian or French.
10. Q: Where is Sisikon located in Switzerland? A: Sisikon is in a small valley on the shores of Lake Lucerne.
11. Q: What are the snow-capped mountains of Switzerland called? A: The snow-capped mountains of Switzerland are called the Alps.
12. Q: Why do the Alps attract many holidaymakers in winter and summer? A: The Alps attract holidaymakers because of their snow-capped beauty and various outdoor activities in both winter and summer.
13. Q: How do roads and railways pass through the mountains and valleys in Switzerland? A: Long tunnels and bridges are used for roads and railways to pass through the mountains and across valleys.
14. Q: What is the employment situation in Sisikon? A: Sisikon has two shops, several hotels, guesthouses, and a campsite. There is also a main road and railway for transportation.
15. Q: What do farmers in Sisikon use the steep land for? A: Farmers in Sisikon use the steep land for grazing animals rather than growing crops.
16. Q: How do farmers feed their cattle in winter in Sisikon? A: In winter, cattle are kept indoors and fed on hay that was cut from the meadows during the summer.
17. Q: What do leisure boats do in Sisikon on Lake Lucerne? A: Leisure boats regularly call in at Sisikon and take passengers to other towns and villages on Lake Lucerne.
18. Q: What is done with some of the milk produced in Sisikon? A: Some of the milk is made into cheese.
19. Q: Why can't crops be grown around Sisikon? A: The soil is too thin, and the slopes are too steep for crops to be grown around Sisikon.
20. Q: How do farmers use the high mountain meadows in summer? A: Farmers graze their cattle on the high mountain meadows in summer.
21. Q: What is the purpose of keeping cattle in Sisikon? A: Farmers keep cattle for both meat and milk.
22. Q: What is the source of the large river that flows north through France, Germany, and the Netherlands? A: The large river's source is in Switzerland, and it flows north through France, Germany, and the Netherlands is the Rhine River.
23. Q: Name some of the surrounding countries of Switzerland. A: Some surrounding countries of Switzerland are Germany, France, Austria, and Italy.
24. Q: Which of these surrounding countries are also landlocked? A: Switzerland, Germany, and Austria are landlocked.
25. Q: What is the main focus of leisure boats on Lake Lucerne? A: Leisure boats focus on transporting passengers to other towns and villages on Lake Lucerne.
26. Q: How is the climate in Sisikon during summers? A: Summers in Sisikon are warm but fairly wet.
27. Q: How many shops does Sisikon have? A: Sisikon has two shops.
28. Q: What type of vehicles carry people and goods between Italy and Switzerland? A: Main roads and railways carry people and goods between Italy and Switzerland.
29. Q: What is the purpose of the campsite in Sisikon? A: The campsite allows holidaymakers to stay in Sisikon.
30. Q: Why do farmers keep cattle for meat and milk in Sisikon?
A: Farmers keep cattle for meat and milk because of the steep land that is not suitable for growing crops.**
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Looking at Switzerland
Switzerland is a small country in Europe with a population of about eight million. Being completely surrounded by other countries, it is considered "landlocked."
Sisikon Village
Rachel resides in Switzerland, specifically in a small village called Sisikon. Approximately 400 people inhabit Sisikon, where the primary language spoken is German. However, some residents also speak Italian or French. The weather in Sisikon varies, with an average maximum temperature of 2°C in January and 25°C in July. Summers are warm but fairly wet, while winters bring deep snow almost to the edge of the nearby lake.
Map of Switzerland
Sisikon is situated in a small valley along the shores of Lake Lucerne. The Alps, Switzerland's snow-capped mountains, significantly influence the climate, attracting many holidaymakers throughout the year. The region features long tunnels and bridges facilitating transportation through the mountains and valleys.
Employment and Land Use
Sisikon boasts two shops, various hotels, guesthouses, and a campsite for holidaymakers. The village is connected by a main road and railway, facilitating the movement of people and goods between Italy, Switzerland, and other parts of Europe. Leisure boats often visit Sisikon, offering transportation to neighboring towns and villages on Lake Lucerne.
Some of the milk produced in Sisikon is used to make cheese. In winter, cattle are kept indoors and fed with hay from summer meadows, as the steep terrain makes crop cultivation impractical.
Several small farms surround Sisikon, where farmers graze their cattle on high mountain meadows during the summer. The cattle are kept for both meat and milk. The challenging terrain around Sisikon makes it more suitable for grazing animals than growing crops.
Activities
Finding Switzerland and Lake Lucerne:
- a. Use an atlas to locate Switzerland and Lake Lucerne.
- b. Identify the countries surrounding Switzerland.
- c. Research and write a sentence or two about each surrounding country using reference books or the internet.
- d. Identify the large river originating in Switzerland and flowing north through France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
Countries with Coastlines and Landlocked Countries:
- Identify which of the listed countries (Chad, Botswana, Bolivia, Bhutan, Austria, Australia, Zambia, Italy, Japan, Mali, Paraguay, China) have coastlines and which are landlocked.
