Temple School is studying Africa this year. One of the first things we did was to join the Africa School Project through The Creative Connections Project. We were matched up with a school in Namibia and have been exchanging information, artwork and videos. This exchange has been an informative and fun way for our kids to learn about what goes on halfway around the world.
It was amazing how many people had some sort of connection with Africa and were generous enough to offer their particular expertise. Julie, our former guidance counselor who retired last year came back to speak to us about her trip to Kenya. She brought artifacts and slides. She talked about the families she lived with when she was there. She had lots of pictures of the children and even some animal pictures from a safari.
Miss O is reading African folktales during library to familiarize kids with African stories. The fourth graders each chose a folktale to learn which they later performed for the younger grades. The two fourth graders here are performing The Grasshopper and the Toad which was a huge hit.
The first grade class has been busy making batik pictures as well as shakers and drums.
Barbara Leavy and Ann Falby taught us an African drumming technique that they learned from a gentleman from Guinea West Africa.
Chelsea taught us an African dance while her husband kept the beat. We had a blast!
Segun Femi, an African sand painter, brought in some of his artwork and taught us how to make our own sand paintings. What do you think of our sand creations? Beautiful aren't they?
One of our great-great-grandfathers shared the slides he took while on an African safari.
The second grade put on a puppet show based on the popular African tale Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema.
The whole school took a trip to the Mariposa Museum in Peterborough. What a gift it is to have such an incredible resource right in our own backyards. It is packed with amazing artifacts from many different cultures. Our main interest was Africa and we learned about instruments, clothing, art and more. We also had an African Folktale told to us by Linda Marsella which was enjoyed by all!
