Community Update

Mrs. Maria Stetin has been incorporating history, geography, and art into the reading program for her third grade students.  For the past month, the students have been reading stories about celebrating family traditions and travelling the world.

Initially, the children created Family Tradition Boxes.  They decorated the outside of a shoebox using flags or photos from the countries of their heritage.  On the inside, they placed four or five items that represent their family heritage, or traditions that they celebrate, and wrote a short description of each item.  Next,
the third graders shared their boxes with their classmates.  Some children even brought in food to share including cake and olives from Portugal, a sorrel drink from the Caribbean, and a chocolate dessert from Puerto Rico.   Not only did the project succeed in having the children practice their writing and public-speaking skills, but they learned about their own families and celebrated the similarities and uniqueness of other families and cultures.

After the Tradition Boxes were made and shared, the class
"The Keeping Quilt" by Patricia Polacco, a story about a quilt handed down in a Russian family who immigrated to America.  Next, the students will read "Grandma’s Records", by Eric Velasquez, about music from Puerto Rico and "The
Talking Cloth", by Rhonda Mitchell, which will teach the children about Ghana.  

Before Christmas, the children read how Christmas is celebrated in other countries, including Germany, Mexico, and Japan.  After “visiting” each country, they made a booklet of their travels and then made a Christmas tree, colored a poinsettia, and made origami Santas.   The class is having a great time “seeing” the world without leaving the classroom.  If you see a third grader be sure to ask them about their travels!

Join us for our Open House on Sunday, January 26, 2014 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. Visit our classrooms, meet our teachers, staff, and parent tour guides!