WebCelebrating your traditions is perhaps most important if you have expat kids growing up in another culture (the so-called 3 rd culture kids). The fourth-grade classes create one-minute morning announcements based on their country report projects. This is a both/and proposition. During the Chinese spring festival, we had a school-wide celebration. All content in this article, including any advice or commentary from Southwest Human Development staff and/or others, should be considered an opinion and is provided for informational purposes only. They may not agree with them, but understanding these feelings will help educators to connect with these families. For more, see why cultural exchange is a two-way enrichment experience. We created a lot of Chinese activities for students that included making dumplings and Chinese noodles, trying on traditional clothing and learning about one of the most important Chinese characters, Fu. This process is especially important for white educators, since research suggests people of color will commonly begin developing their racial identity before white people. Celebration of Cultural Diversity Day. A cultural appreciation club is a club dedicated to spreading awareness, understanding, and appreciation of a particular culture, its people, diversity, and values. How is that affecting the student population that the school serves. In order for classrooms to be inclusive and equitable, educators need to understand the larger sociopolitical context that shapes individual experiences. Your cultural appreciation club might also hold public events aimed at welcoming and educating the general public. Celebrating events and festivals in our school has become an integral part of learning and building a strong cultural belief. There are varying levels of formality involved in forming a clubs leadership. Another approach is to have your event area set up with stations for different regions (for example, an area for each continent), and then look for ways for all students to contribute something to each region. Many stage performances, dramas and speech competitions remain a part of the celebration in schools. Later in the day, students solved Scottish fraction word problems as they participated in a Highland game treasure hunt. The fetistivals are major platforms through which kenyan communities celebrate their unique cultures. For more information about culture or starting a club in high school, check out these posts: Your Comprehensive Guide to Extracurriculars, How to Choose the Right Extracurriculars in High School, Writing the Common App 2016-17 Essay Prompt #5 Childhood to Adulthood Transition. Paula is a Senior Product Marketing Strategist at Participate Learning. Students dress up in traditional attires and perform folk songs. In the morning, students created fabulous artwork, inspired by the landscapes and famous artists of Scotland. 3. Collaborate with other educators to share ideas and implement new techniques in the classroom. The second part of the program was done by grade level. What If? Appropriation often takes and uses the sacred history, traditions, or styles of another culture for aesthetic or entertainment purposes without knowledge of their significance. The objective was to involve parents, students, staff, and the community in the world of different countries cultures. Usually, students are self-motivated to start a cultural appreciation group as a means of connecting with a side of their culture that they either dont feel is represented at school or that they want to learn more about. Exhibits have included examples of learning in art, music, social studies, language arts, and math. Digital Resources for The Paperless Google Classroom. For InterNations member Iveta, joining InterNations events in Tel Aviv was the beginning of a great journey that resulted in lots of fun and life-long friendships that last to this day. Some of the days celebrated in most of the schools are Independence Day, Republic day, teachers day, parents day, etc. 1-min read. "Every year we try to add a new element as our school and the event evolve," says faculty coordinator and music teacher Robi Davidson. Unfortunately, differences in social and cultural backgrounds can make it harder for students to trust teachers. Remember to start your planning by looking first to the resources that already exist within your community focus on that and build from there. 1-min read. In 1978, a school district in Sonoma, California, started Women's History Week. World Tuberculosis (TB) Day. or download the Birth to Five Helpline app! Its important for students to recognize that culture is not something that only exists in far-away places we all have culture right in our own community. In 1978, a school district in Sonoma, California, started Women's History Week. Achieve personal and professional growth. Along with fun and enjoyment, students learn about the struggle and pain our freedom fighter took to make our nation free from British rule. But how does this annual celebration impact children and Pi Day. The school taps families in the community to host the food and craft tables. Parents can help teach children about a range of holidays and traditions to help them build an understanding that their personal traditions may be different than their friends at school. How does the community celebrate special holidays? You dont have to start a school-sanctioned club, though. Magazine For the Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival, our daughter invited all her friends over to parade through our neighbourhood holding lanterns and to eat moon cake back at our place. At the root of developing a culturally responsive classroom lies the belief that students diverse cultural practices and ethnic backgrounds are assets in the learning process, that should be celebrated and incorporated into academic content and pedagogy. Doing so through a community center or your local library are two possible options. Birth to Five Helpline specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 2850 N. 24th Street Phoenix, AZ 85008. WebBenefits of cultural activities in schools. Science Center One of the main benefits of celebrating national festivals in schools is that it helps students learn about their country's history and culture. Teachers and administrators know that they have to reach out in a multitude of ways. These celebrations bring the students 2)Welcome address. It also offers a great opportunity to deepen social awareness and However, schools can reduce this stage fear of students by encouraging them to participate in cultural activities. These relationships can be established when educators take the time to know their students individually; learning about students historical roots, ethnic group, home language, religion, or immigration story can provide teachers with valuable information. The chief Guest presents the honour trophies for their achievements. Creativity was important because they were assigned a table they had to decorate with posters, tri-fold boards, flags, and other cultural items that represented the country. These celebrations bring the students closer to each others traditions and cultural beliefs and develop respect and understanding for each others customs and traditions. There are a variety of ways to encourage acceptance and education of new cultures. Food is a feature of just about every Culture Night, but here they invite the district's food services to join in on the excitement. It's easy for kids to fall into the trap of thinking that only people from countries outside the United States have culture. Ideally this will be someone with whom youve worked closely in the past and who also shares an appreciation for or connection with this particular culture. Five Ways to Celebrate Your Students Cultures - Greater Good Teachers can shape childrens growth and development in constructive ways through the power of relationships. This is an extension of knowing students and their families. If educators notice they only see the deficits in the community, while having a difficult time seeing the assets, that can be an indicator that additional exploration and reflection is needed. Its important to avoid stereotypes or generalizing a culture, so always bear in mind that members of a culture each choose their own ways of connecting with that culture. You can talk to your adviser or another mentor to get a better idea of what your school requires, but generally there will be an application process and a prescribed timeline for completing it. No matter what, a great starting point for deciding what cultures to highlight is to draw from your community. On this day students perform and participate in activities, receive awards, the teachers and the head of the school announces annual reports, performance of the students, share some lighter moments and there is more. Where they found turkeys in the middle of the Mekong Delta I will never know! Invite your friends, involve the kids, and create your own lasting memories. I dont think this question would have arisen in her British curriculum school classroom! 2024 is the Lunar Year of the Dragon / Dragon lizard. All rights reserved. It is important when incorporating celebrations into the child care program to consider the diverse perspectives of both children and adults. Yes, all was well with the world. The Importance of World Book Day by Martha Wilson, Davison High School (Image: Freddie Marriage) World Book Day has It is an occasion of celebration where students present and performances cultural programs. WebLittle is needed for a celebration; a small achievement each day can be a reason to celebrate. Having a better understanding of family can help children be confident in their identity. As we were preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner, our seven year old daughter was quizzing me on the differences between the American and Canadian Thanksgiving, and why one was observed later in the year than the other. She met other spouses through InterNations, though. To cast a spotlight on the richness of their wonderfully diverse community, this school has hosted a Culture Night every May for the past 16 years. Disney Elementary addresses this at its Culture Night by ensuring that the U.S.A. is a highlighted region. The Importance of World Book Day by Martha Wilson, Davison High School (Image: Freddie Marriage) World Book Day has been celebrated for over 25 years by over 100 countries ever since it was first established on 23rd April 1995 by UNESCO. Can I Self Study a Language in High School? World Sleep Day. Your email address will not be published. InterNations is present in 420 cities worldwide. Celebrating our differences, as well as our common interests, helps unite and educate us. Are some of the parents facing unemployment or housing challenges? Cultural celebrations foster respect and open-mindedness for other cultures. Allow participants the opportunity to enter into a prize drawing as long as they earn a required number of activity stamps. Although the month-long celebration did not start until later, a week-long celebration took place prior to 1987. WebCommunity cultural festivals happen annually at specific periods of the year that concide with productive cycles of the life of communities. World Theatre Day. The celebration was held at the Shanti Devi Mittal Auditorium, where students, faculty members of the School of Chemical Engineering & Physical Sciences, and NSS volunteers participated in the event. Cultural Day, Multi-Cultural Fair, International Night no matter what you call it, for many schools an event like this is an annual tradition that everyone looks forward to. I had befriended some Europeans working for Medicines Sans Frontieres who invited me to go to the seaside with them for a few days over the holidays. The Chinese classes and the entire first grade gave a performance to all the teachers and students, as well as the potential parents who would like to join the Mandarin dual language program next year. etc. World Poetry Day: March 21st is World Poetry Day, a day to celebrate poetry and its contributions to cultural and linguistic diversity. Did you know that celebrating culture, seasons,diversity and holidays in your classroom will improve student engagement and participation? As our rather large group of parents and children wandered along the local roads, drivers stopped to watch, ask questions, and even take pictures. Last year, the ESL specialist interviewed the school's ELLs and made a video that ran in a loop all evening. You might incorporate a fundraising element to benefit a cause thats important to your culture, or you may fundraise to help sustain your club itself. Here a few easy ways to help bring all these things to your classroom! When students are able to bring what they already know into their classrooms, deeper connections can be made with new academic content. Sign up for your CollegeVine account today to get a boost on your college journey. We also had the grade-level rotation to introduce Chinese New Year culture and customs. Your email address will not be published. Most students find that they are able to participate in extracurricular activities that reflect their existing interests and values, but what happens when you cant find a club that reflects an important part of who you are? In these clubs, youll reaffirm your own identify while sharing your unique traditions and values with others. Republic day and Independence days are not only the holidays but an important day to celebrate the freedom for which we fought for 150 years. Leaders Teach-Go Pennants (Influential Women, Influential Hispanic Leaders and Influential Black Leaders and More). 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