THE

British IslesBy Brian Orrick

Hall- Geography

2nd Block Honors

Great Britain/United Kingdom• England, Scotland, and

Whales make up this section of the Isles.

• These three countries, as well as Northern Ireland, create the United Kingdom.

• Kings and Queens have ruled Great Britain for more than 1,000 years.

Great Britain/United Kingdom

• Cars drive on the left side of the road.

• Soccer, rugby, and cricket all originated here.

• The people of Great Britain like to work in their gardens and drink hot tea.

Scotland

• The shamrock is the national symbol of Scotland.

• Nessie is a legendary sea monster said to live in Loch Ness, Scotland.

• Families are called clans. Each clan has its own plaid cloth, or tartan, often worn as a kilt.

Scotland

• Traditionally, Scots enjoy bagpipe music and dancing the Highland fling.

• Thistles are prickly plants that grow all over Scotland.

Ireland

• The Blarney stone sits near the top of Blarney Castle in Ireland. Legend says that anyone who kisses the stone will get the “gift of gab” (clever talk).

England

• In A.D. 122, the Romans who occupied England built Hadrian’s Wall to protect themselves from invaders to the north.

• Along the southeast coast of England are the great white chalk cliffs of Dover.

England

• The Tower of London was built as a fortress on the Thames River in 1066. It has been used as a prison, a palace, a royal mint, a vault for crown jewels, and a zoo.

• Piccadilly Circus, in London, is a busy Plaza with a fountain. People often meet on the fountain steps.

England

• The bell and this famous clock tower are known as “Big Ben.”

• The Tower Bridge crosses the Thames River. It is both a suspension bridge and a drawbridge.

England

• William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is a famous English playwright and poet. He created familiar words and phrases such as bump, lonely, and catch cold.

• The English countryside is a patchwork of hedges and sheep.