First graders learn about Ukraine at book club

Published 12:00 am Thursday, January 19, 2017

SALISBURY — Ron Turbyfill, Communities In Schools’ new executive director, was the guest reader at Hanford-Dole Elementary’s quarterly First Grade Book Club.

Turbyfill shared the book,”The Mitten,” a Ukrainian folktale. As an introduction, Turbyfill shared some authentic Ukrainian music with the students to show them how Ukrainian music was different from the music usually heard in our country.

Students were able to share critical thinking skills and to explain how the animals would need to work together to fit into the mitten to keep warm. The first grade students even learned where the European country of Ukraine is located.

Hanford-Dole’s Book Club is sponsored by grants from Target Stores, Schneider Electric and CIS-Rowan. Fran Simpson, Communities In Schools site support specialist, did a parent presentation on reading and writing to the parents as a follow-up on the book that was read.