World Languages & Cultures ST. PAUL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY - FALL 2012
The 2012-2013 school year at SPCA is off to a great start. Our new and uniquely designed St. Paul World Languages & Cultures program gives our students the opportunity to explore what life is like in different countries. This year we have chosen to focus on China, Brazil, Kenya, Japan, and Mexico. Students in junior kindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade are learning introductory language skills, studying traditions and cultures, and examining native arts and crafts from each country. Our goal is that the students will learn to respect, appreciate, and enjoy the beauty that God has
created around the world. We recognize that these students will need 21st Century skills and an understanding of different countries and cultures to work and serve in an increasingly global, connected society. It is our prayer that a passion for Christ will grow deeply in our students and their love and understanding of people groups and cultures will prepare them to serve as God leads them both in the United States and around the world. In this newsletter you will find some first-quarter highlights from each of our WL&C classrooms. The students have already experienced and accomplished so much. Please also notice the country rotation
schedule for the remainder of this school year. I would love to hear from parents. If you have special knowledge, experience, or interesting items to share from any of these countries, let me know. Please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions you have also. Blessings, Mrs. Christy Summey (WL&C JK-1 Coordinator) csummey@stpaulchristian.org
WL&C Theme verse: "Jesus is the light of the world." John 8:12
WL&C Schedule
KENYA Jambo! For the past five weeks, I have taught the students in Mrs. Brown's and Mrs. Anderson's classes. We have all had a lot of fun exploring the culture of Kenya and its language of Swahili. The children were surprised that they were already familiar with a few Swahili words and phrases, such as "nala" and "Hakuna Matata", from The Lion King. In every class we learned what each character's Swahili name meant in English, and drew pictures and received stamps as a reminder of the new vocabulary. We also reviewed Swahili greetings each day with the singing of the popular Kenyan song "Jambo Bwana." The children located Kenya on a map, colored the flag, and made traditional necklaces worn by tribes in the African country. Together, we read the book For You Are a Kenyan Child about village life, played the African game "Ampe" while learning about school and after-school activities, and sang and danced to learn our numbers in Swahili. For market day, the children enjoyed passing around items from an actual Kenyan market, practicing wrapping babies on their backs, and carrying bowls
of mangoes on their heads. We ended the quarter going on a pretend safari, during which we listened to and looked at all the animals unique to Kenya. Home Connection: Have your children tell you what language they speak in Kenya, and have them share some vocabulary that they learned. Ask your children the meaning of The Lion King characters' names, and see if they can recall the words and motions to the "Jambo Bwana" song. Kwa hari, Miss Ellie Collins
Mrs. Cooke (Tuesdays 9:35-10:05) 9/3-10/5 Brazil 10/08-11/13 Mexico 1/7-2/8 Japan 2/11-3/15 China 3/25-4/26 Kenya 4/29-5/17 Review Mrs. Holladay (Wednesdays 9:35-10:05) 9/3-10/5 Mexico 10/08-11/13 Japan 1/7-2/8 China 2/11-3/15 Kenya 3/25-4/26 Brazil 4/29-5/17 Review Mrs. Herb (Fridays 9:35-10:05) 9/3-10/5 Japan 10/08-11/13 China 1/7-2/8 Kenya 2/11-3/15 Brazil 3/25-4/26 Mexico 4/29-5/17 Review Miss McGarry (Mondays 10:15-11:00) 9/3-10/5 China 10/08-11/13 Kenya 1/7-2/8 Brazil 2/11-3/15 Mexico 3/25-4/26 Japan 4/29-5/17 Review Mrs. Brown (Wednesdays 10:15-11:00) 9/3-10/5 Kenya 10/08-11/13 Brazil 1/7-2/8 Mexico 2/11-3/15 Japan 3/25-4/26 China 4/29-5/17 Review Mrs. Burns (Fridays 10:15-11:00) 9/3-10/5 Japan 10/08-11/13 China 1/7-2/8 Kenya 2/11-3/15 Brazil 3/25-4/26 Mexico 4/29-5/17 Review Mrs. Anderson (Mondays 1:15-2:00) 9/3-10/5 Kenya 10/08-11/13 Brazil 1/7-2/8 Mexico 2/11-3/15 Japan 3/25-4/26 China 4/29-5/17 Review Miss Carrraway (Tuesdays 1:15-2:00) 9/3-10/5 Brazil 10/08-11/13 Mexico 1/7-2/8 Japan 2/11-3/15 China 3/25-4/26 Kenya 4/29-5/17 Review Mrs. Ford (Fridays 1:15-2:00) 9/3-10/05 Mexico 10/08-11/13 Japan 1/7-2/8 China 2/11-3/15 Kenya 3/25-4/26 Brazil
While talking about the culture of Brazil, we learned that soccer is a favorite pastime. The students tasted mangoes as we talked about Brazilian food.
BRAZIL Ola'! I have enjoyed teaching Miss Carraway's and Mrs. Cooke's students about Brazil in World Languages & Cultures this quarter. We read Brazil ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of Brazil by David Seidman. We studied the globe to find Brazil. The students also enjoyed coloring the Brazilian flag. My students learned to sing part of "The Twelve Days of Christmas" in Portuguese. That was a lot of fun and gave them opportunities to practice numbers in Portuguese. The students learned Portuguese words and phrases.
We ended the unit with a Brazilian Carnival. The most famous carnival in Brazil happens the days before Lent. People parade through the streets through streams of confetti, dressed in dazzling costumes. The students decorated masks like the people of Brazil wear for the Carnival. Home connection: Ask your children to share fun things about Brazil: numbers, colors, and facts about Brazilian culture. Ask them to tell you about the Carnival masks they made. In Christ, Miss Brooke Bishop
The "Christ the Redeemer Statue" in Rio De Janeiro was another important focus. This landmark, known as "Christo Redentor," is one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
Mexico This quarter I taught students from Mrs. Holladay's and Mrs. Ford's classes. The children were lots of fun and full of curiosity. Each week we worked on numbers, colors, and introductory conversation in Spanish. The students learned to locate Mexico on the map, and they colored a copy of the Mexican flag. We read books about children and families in Mexico. We talked about the markets in Mexico City and all the wonderfully delicious and spicy food one can buy. The beautiful colors of Mexican fabrics and pottery exhilarated the children. They studied about the Mexican potter, Juan Quezada, and the brilliant methods he uses to craft his beautiful bowls.
Special thanks to Mrs. Sandra Pace (mother of Daniella, Preston, and Anabella) for sharing during Mrs. Holladay's class. She presented about her life growing up in Mexico and shared interesting facts about Mexican symbols, money, and jewelry. Pi単ata fun was had by children in both classes. Mrs. Ford's students each made their very own pi単atas. We had a great time of learning. Home Connection: Ask your children to share some Spanish words they learned. Have them locate Mexico on the map and describe the Mexican flag. What were their favorite memories from class?
The children are collecting crafts and special items as they study about each country in World Languages & Cultures this year. They will share their work with you at their portfolio conferences. Hasta Luego, Mrs. Christy Summey
CHINA Miss McGarry's class studied about China this quarter in World Languages & Cultures. Each week the students learned fun facts about China. I read the book The Story of Ping by Majorie Flack. This is a sweet story about a Chinese duck lost on the Yangtze River. The children also heard about the great Yellow River that is so important to the Chinese people. My students learned greetings in Mandarin, and they studied how the Chinese characters look in writing. Through learning centers the children expanded their knowledge of this beautiful country. They engaged in dramatic play with Chinese puppets and stuffed animals. They made wind catchers that looked like dragons at the arts and crafts center. They enjoyed a
video of Chinese dragons and lion dances that was filmed in Nashville. They colored pictures of dragon dancers. Books and pictures enticed the children as they studied about modern day and ancient China. As we concluded our study, each child dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, the sweetest part of our hands-on learning experience.
like rugs, toys, and clothing are referred to as Oriental. I look forward to hearing how this class has expanded your child’s learning! Mrs. Katie Jo Hollis
Home connection: Make plans to visit http:/ www.chineseartsalliance.org/ to read about local opportunities to learn about China. See if your children can tell you where China is on a map and have them trace their fingers from America over the North Pole into Asia. Ask what the primary language is in China (Mandarin). Remind them that these people are Asian or Chinese. Items
JAPAN Konnichi Wa! This quarter I taught students from Mrs. Herb's and Mrs. Burn's classes about Japan. The children were enthusiastic and so much fun! Each week the students learned numbers and introductory greetings in Japanese. The students also learned to locate Japan on a map. They made paper dolls as we learned about traditional Japanese dress. The students colored their own copies of the Japanese flag, and we studied about its significance and meaning. One important focus of our class time was the behavior expected in the Japanese culture. We talked a lot about etiquette in relation to visiting someone's home, including customs and rules about mealtime and other social expectations in Japan. We
studied about what life is like for Japanese children. We read a wonderfully engaging book called Where Are You Going? To See My Friend! by Eric Carle and Kazuo Iwamura. While reading this bilingual book, we talked about how polite it is in Japanese culture to bring a gift when visiting someone's home. At the end of the unit, the students discovered how to use chopsticks. They practiced picking up various items, such as rolled up paper and Q-tips. Home Connection: Ask your children to share some Japanese words that they learned. Ask them what language people speak in Japan. Ask them to describe what
the Japanese flag looks like and what special meaning the flag has. Ask them to share a favorite part of the class. Ask them to tell some of the rules of behavior in Japanese culture. Blessings, Mrs. Emily Carlton