AFRICA

Our next stop this year was Africa.  We discussed the geographical features of Africa, such as the Sahara Desert, and the rainforests and grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa.   Here's what we created:

K - We learned about the Djembe, a traditional African drum.  The students drew line designs on a printout of a djembe, then we learned about mixing primary colors to create secondary colors.  The students mixed paint to complete their Djembe drawings.  In music, we a follow the leader game with a  African djembe to practice echoing simple rhythms.   We also moved our bodies to traditional African music.

1 - We designed and cut out African masks using a crayon resist method.  We then painted over them with a brown wash to make them look aged.   In music, we learned about African villages, sang the song Nampaya Omame, a song about mothers bringing children treats from the market.  We also played a circle game with the song to help the students understand AB form.  

                         

2 - Our students learned about "Kangas", traditional African dresses.  The students designed their own Kangas by using glue and chalk on a black background.  We became composers by composing our own rhythm songs, using Kangas to represent the beats.  We even gave the songs titles and performed them for the rest of the class.

                                            

3 - Our third graders listened to many types of African music, such as the Kenyan Boys Choir, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and Papa Wemba.  We learned a traditional Ghanian song called "Sansaw Akroma" and performed it in the Fanti language of Ghana.  Then we played a stone passing song that kids in Ghana play.  In art, we learned about silhouettes and warm colors to create an African sunset.

4 - Our fourth graders learned about art from Ancient Egypt.  We learned how Ancient Egyptians embalmed their dead and decorated their mummy cases and tombs with elaborate artwork, gold, and silver.  We designed and painted our own mummy cases made out of clay.  

5 -  Our fifth graders created Kente cloths, a traditional type of African weaving.  In music, we learned about the importance of drums in African culture, and Mr. Thornton taught the students to play a simple beat on the drum set, and melodies on the steel drum.

Australia and New Zealand

We began the year with a visit to Australia and New Zealand!   We begin each unit by visiting our continent on Google Maps, Google Street View, and Google Tre

ks.  Here's what our students performed and created:

K - Boomerangs from Australia - we worked on our line designs and painting.   In music, we moved our bodies like Kangaroos to "staccato" music.

1  -  Aboriginal dot paintings -  We traced our hands and created lines of dots as the Aboriginals do.

2  -  We did a step-by-step drawing of a Koala hanging on a tree and painted it with Aboriginal dots.

3  -  Aboriginal Fiber Sculptures using tin foil and yarn.  We sang an Australian song called "Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport" to help learn the difference between a Verse and a Refrain.

4  -  We studied the Maori people of New Zealand and designed traditional Maori tattoos on pictures of ourselves.  In music, we learned the "Haka" a traditional Maori war dance still performed by the All Blacks (NZ National Rugby Team).

5  - We took a virtual visit to the Sydney Opera House before doing a linear line drawing of it.  We traced and covered with tissue paper for the final product.  We learned Australian slang by singing Waltzing Matilda, the unofficial Aussie anthem.