A very international day

Suzie Harrison

Playing games, dancing, dressing up and making boomerangs may not

seem like typical classwork, but the offbeat assignments fit

perfectly as first-graders at Top of the World Elementary School

celebrated “International Day” on Tuesday.

During the past three months, the students had been learning about

cultures from around the world, and for this day the students got to

be a matador, a Viking, a cowboy or whatever they chose to be, and

engaged in hands-on activities indigenous to different parts of the

globe.

The students rotated from room to room, enjoying different

experiences in each. In Margaret Arnold’s classroom different games

were played.

“We’re playing international games, the first is a game from

Korea,” Arnold said. “They decorate the four sticks, using line

designs on one side and leaving the other side blank for the game to

work.”

The students then would drop the sticks, much like rolling dice,

and depending on how many colored sticks were facing up, they would

move forward across the board.

“If your partner lands in the same spot, they bump you back to

start,” Arnold said.

The premise is to make it around the board first.

Zachary Kluver, 7 and dressed as a cowboy, was intent on the

games.

“I’ve learned that different countries are really cool and playing

this fame is really fun,” Zachary said.

Austin Hall, 7, said he was dressed up like someone who does

karate would be in China.

“I’m learning about what people do at different times,” Austin

said. “I think the most interesting thing is how they eat.”

Sammy Kruger, 7, said he likes that he’s learning about different

countries, pointing out that he was representing Japan.

“I think it’s cool that people wear different clothes than we do

in California,” Sammy said.

The students moved on to the African stone game, Mancala, which is

thought to be the oldest game in the world.

In Patti Rabun’s room, the students were being tested on their

knowledge of the continents.

Sean Cunningham, 7, was all smiles, as were his classmates.

“Some countries have Vikings and bull fighters and China has

ninjas,” Sean said. “I’m a Viking -- I wore the shoes and helmet

because I just wanted to.”

Taylor Spring, 6, was dressed as a European but said that she

liked learning about Asia the most.

“It touches the Pacific and it touches the Indian Ocean,” Taylor

said.

Courtney Graham’s room was designated to teaching the students

stories and songs, while Carolyn Delino’s class was about learning

international music and dancing.

Delino noted the different costumes the students were wearing as

the students sat down and talked about which country they represented

and on what continent the country could be found.

Caitlin Johnson, 7, said she liked doing the limbo, among other

things.

“I’m learning that it’s fun -- I learned that it’s fun to be from

another country,” Caitlin said.

The Samba, the Mexican Hat Dance and the limbo were but a few of

the dances the kids enjoyed. The kids danced and giggled to the

music.

In Carol Nilsen’s class, students were intent on making

boomerangs.

While making her boomerang Carly Mooshian, 7, talked about what

she was wearing.

“It’s an Armenian outfit,” Carly said. “My daddy is from Armenia

and so is my grandma.”

Dustin Howard, 7, was dressed as a Scotsman and said his favorite

project was making a boomerang.

“It’s from Australia, boomerangs -- you throw them and they come

back to you,” he said.

“This is our second International Day,” Arnold said. “We used to

just do African day but now with the state standards -- we teach all

seven continents.”

Although the concept of moving from class to class, having

different themes, and having a feast, representing the different

continents has stayed the same.

The first-graders only had to go to five nearby classrooms to

travel around the globe.