During the last three weeks of school, the students and staff at Knollwood Elementary School traveled “Around the World.”
The activity culminated the year-long library theme, “Reading Around the World in 180 Days.” Each grade level participated in the school-wide project and was assigned a continent to explore. The students studied the people, customs, languages, food, entertainment, music, culture and traditions of the different continents.
Office staff and administrators kicked off the “Around the World” project by decorating the office area. When the students arrived, they were issued passports and given a tour of Antarctica. As the students exited Antarctica, their passports were stamped and they were sent to explore the other continents.
Fifth-graders presented South America, where students dressed in traditional Colombian clothing and danced to Colombian beats. On the tour of South America, students had the opportunity to incorporate physical education by playing “Toss the Penny.” That’s a traditional math game, estimating the number of Colombian coffee beans in a container. They used social studies by learning map skills and science by touring a tropical rain forest.
A kangaroo with a pouch full of Australian facts greeted tourists at the beginning of the third-graders’ Australian exhibit. Integrated into the Australian jungles were vocabulary activities, art and technology. The students used a laptop computer to present a concert of all third graders singing the Aussie childhood song, “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.”
At the entrance to Europe, tourists walked through what resembled castle walls. Once inside, Europe came to life. Large models of the Parthenon, Stonehenge and the Eiffel Tower were on display. There was even a large Viking ship on display in the room adorned with the flags of the different countries of Europe. Every station was accompanied by a classroom-created i-Movie that displayed the children singing European songs, sharing information about the animals and wildlife, and playing games that represent life in and the history of Europe.
Continuing their journey, the students visited Asia, Africa and North America. Fourth-graders shared customs and traditions in Asia. First-graders created African animal artwork and a presentation. North America was presented by the kindergarten students. The kindergarten students used technology to display the different flags and facts for all 50 states.
Teachers incorporated many components of the curriculum in the project. Students were excited as they prepared their presentations, and they were excited about the other continents as they toured “Around the World.”