CIS program opens world to students
The boys and girls who joined a Communities in Schools (CIS) summer program researched the particulars, listened to the music, tasted the food and dabbled in arts and crafts representing 11 countries. The United States was the final destination Friday for the conclusion of “Around the World in Four Weeks.”
Music helped introduce each new destination, and the music Friday included patriotic songs.
“The best part was the music, because I would play it as they came in and they would listen and ask, ‘What is that?'” said program coordinator and teacher Sandra Baugh.
The group of 23 third- through fifth-graders, who hailed from a variety of Fayette County schools, got together July 8 and spent four weeks of Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon at Communities in Schools of Southwest Pennsylvania Inc.’s Success Academy in the Uniontown Mall.
They focused each day on a different country, exploring Jamaica, China, Ireland, Kenya, India, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Italy, Saudi Arabia and Australia.
Alex Cavinee, a fourth-grade student at St. Mary School, said he was most interested in China.
The activities related to China featured Chinese flute music and won ton soup.
The students made hand-painted fans, an activity that Michelle El-Ayzra listed as her favorite.
She will be an eighth-grade student this fall at Laurel Highlands Junior High School, and she helped out with the art projects as a young assistant to Baugh and teacher Diane Russell.
“I would come back,” El-Ayzra said.
Sarah Honsaker, who will be in sixth grade at Hatfield Elementary School, said this was her last year as a regular participant, but she would like to return as an assistant.
Honsaker said she liked learning about Italy.
The music was Italian instrumental, the food was polenta and sauce and the craft of the day was making tambourines for dancing.
Among other highlights was polka-dancing from the Czech Republic, which Baugh said even the boys enjoyed.
The children used the Internet and worksheets to gather specific information on the countries that they also located on a globe and map.
Several of the days included a speaker with personal knowledge of the country they studied. The students further learned about the countries through videos and games.
Baugh said this enrichment program was meant to introduce the children to cultural activities.
She pointed out the goal was “to increase the knowledge of foreign countries and to encourage appreciation, understanding and tolerance of other nationalities.”
For example, she said Saudi Arabia was selected in particular because of the continuing conflicts in the Middle East.
“I think the overall experience of finding out the difference in cultures of countries is wonderful for the kids,” said Russell.
“It’s made them think that kids are kids everywhere and you have similarities.”
Russell said the program was both educational and fun in one package.
“They don’t realize they are learning,” she said.
“Around the World in Four Weeks” was sponsored through a Community Foundation of Fayette County grant.
This was the third summer for the program.
Baugh said she knew the program was a success with the children, many of whom she said had perfect attendance and want to come back next year if it is offered again.
She took a telephone call from a mother who was trying to plan a family trip to an amusement park but her child would not go until the program was ended.
“That is saying something,” she said.