Paint and Pages

Last week, preschoolers explored several countries in Africa. We started our tour in Zanzibar. We introduced the region with a video of two young children exploring the area. I noticed my students were very engaged during this tour and wondered if it was because children were leading the tour. Kids Tour Zanzibar

After watching the tour, we read, “Room For Everyone” by Naaz Khan and illustrated by Merce Lopez. Before reading this book aloud, I researched the pronunciation of many of the words and penciled them into the book. I love learning new words to share with my students.

This book is entertaining as more and more people ride the daladala. Just when you think they can’t fit another person, another group of people hop on the daladala. It’s a delightful story and students enjoyed it.

After reading, we sang our version of , “The Wheels on the Bus” but made it, “The Wheels on the Daladala”. We retold the story by singing about the “chickens on the daladala” and the “milk on the daladala” and the “scuba divers on the daladala”. Students really enjoyed the scuba divers as I showed them how to rub your lips while talking to make it sound like you’re underwater.

We then traveled North to the Masai Mara in Kenya. My friend, author and photographer Berkley Bedell wrote, “The Pastoralist Life” in 2012. This was also the year I married my husband, whom I’m forever grateful Berkley was spending game day with in September of 2007 as this was the day we met. Berkley and I also attended grade school together.

Berkley’s book features beautiful, soulful pictures of a way of life very different from our own. While showing these images to students, we discussed all the differences: clothing, food, homes, school, and roads. Then we discussed the similarities: raising cattle, parents taking care of their children, students going to school, and people working together.

After reading and singing, we explored slideshow I made of African necklaces with color patterns. The students discussed color patterns and ones they’d like to use. We then used markers, string, cardboard, and paper plates to make African necklaces.

Students became so engrossed in this creation, that we went over the allotted time! A substitute paraprofessional said she had to leave early, but she was having so much creating with students that she decided to stay an extra fifteen minutes. Everyone enjoyed making their necklace!

When everyone was finished creating their necklace, we took a group picture. What a joyful experience paper plates, string and cardboard can provide!

While the paraprofessionals set up for snack, we admired the art of another resourceful artist: Ashley Bryan. Ashley uses items he finds on the beach or discarded items to make puppets. His puppets are beautiful and interesting. Students enjoyed looking at the photos and trying to name what was used in the puppet’s creation.

I love teaching and exploring the world with my students. I received a positive compliment from a parent of one of my students this week who said her son is always so excited to go to school each day and see his teacher. I told her I feel the exact same way about school and her son! It is a good feeling knowing your students are excited to come to school each day.