Over the last two weeks of our very first Inquiry Unit, K3 classrooms have been reviewing what they learned in preparation for their Communication Event! We looked backed at the various traditions and festivals introduced during September and October, discussing their different reasons and meanings.
K3 classrooms utilized various learning tools to aid in understanding their differences and similarities.
When identifying the different elements of the festivals, we utilized Mind Maps. This has the name of the festival in the middle, and the different elements branching out like a tree. To compare and contrast the festivals, some K3 classes utilized Venn diagrams. Classes voted on the festival they liked the most, and then created a collage of hand drawn art displaying these favorites. These collages, maps and diagrams were displayed for viewing outside of the Preschool gate.
This led us into the preparation of our “Festival of Learning”, a created culmination of everything we learned this unit about celebrations. In preparation for this day, K3 decided to create a ceremonial campfire! Students collected and painted sticks yellow and red to look like the fire, then placed them into decorated tires to aid in the structures stability. The final product was astonishing! Our students did a wonderful job helping in putting it together!
On our festival day, the children dressed as an element of a celebration or tradition they found interesting. They paraded to the campfire, and then danced around it to a song written by a German musician called Carl Orff .
Afterwards there was a wonderful fashion show where each student was able to show off their unique and beautiful clothing.
The overall experience was a very memorable one, where both students and teachers connected in learning and exploring this interesting subject. We all have truly gained more knowledge and understanding of our cultures and cultures from around the world!
