Lesson plan
Heimchen
The Heimchen (sg., pl.; ) is a being from German folklore with several related meanings. In the first place, Heimchen (diminutive of Heim = home) is the German term for house cricket. The house cricket is one of the animal appearances taken by dwarves, as is also attested by the dialectal names such as Herdschmiedl (hearth smith) and Heunemänken (Mänken = manikin). In North Palatinate and Western Palatinate, the house cricket, there known as Krikelmaus (Maus = mouse), is a nursery bogey used to scare children. In Pomerania, the Heimchen feed lost children with bread rolls and milk instead. In Silesia, the stridulating house cricket indicates the presence of a deceased soul.
Article summary
The Heimchen (sg., pl.; ) is a being from German folklore with several related meanings. In the first place, Heimchen (diminutive of Heim = home) is the German term for house cricket. The house cricket is one of the animal appearances taken by dwarves, as is also attested by the dialectal names such as Herdschmiedl (hearth smith) and Heunemänken (Mänken = manikin). In North Palatinate and Western Palatinate, the house cricket, there known as Krikelmaus (Maus = mouse), is a nursery bogey used to scare children. In Pomerania, the Heimchen feed lost children with bread rolls and milk instead. In Silesia, the stridulating house cricket indicates the presence of a deceased soul.
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Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
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Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.