Multi-Cultural Day 2011

Each year at the conclusion of the Holiday Musical, the second-graders at Chets Creek spend a day digging deeper into the actual celebrations that were discussed while preparing for their musical.  The Resource Team runs various centers throughout the day, each one covering one of the holiday traditions.

Yesterday, I spent the day in Israel teaching about Hanukkah.  Yes...the Arab in Israel, speaking Hebrew and sharing the story of the Maccabees and their miraculous victory in battle over King Antiochus and his Syrian army over 2000 years ago.  The people of Judah were outnumbered 100 to 1.  (Not a great ratio, unless your god is the God of Israel.)  Long story short, God worked several miracles on their behalf, one of which was multiplying the oil in their lamps when they returned home from the war.  They had enough oil for one night, but God miraculously re-filled the oil for the next eight days.  Hence, the "Festival of Lights" celebration we know as Hanukkah was born.

Take a peek into my center and see what transpired....



"Eight Days of Hanukkah" was playing while they entered the room.  They couldn't see my laptop screen, but could hear the story of the Maccabees re-told through the song.  Senator Orrin Hatch (Utah) wrote the song and had it recorded.

The story of Hanukkah

Dreidels

Playing the dreidel game

We concluded our time together with a

story entitled, "Light the Lights"

The other centers included the celebration of Kwanzaa, Parranda and the Christian Christmas story.

Until next time...

Once on a Housetop 2011

'Tis the Season for Holiday Musicals and Performances!!

Tonight at 6:00 p.m., we conclude our holiday programming with "Once on a Housetop" performed by the classes of Mrs. Walag, Mrs. VanAlstyne, Mrs. Morgan, Mrs. Tsengas and Miss Evanko.  They have worked very hard to provide you with a performance that is sure to delight!

This multi-cultural holiday musical written by Roger Emerson and John Jacobson takes place on several different housetops.  Various holiday traditions are being celebrated and viewed through the eyes of a group of chimney-sweeps who are up on the rooftops cleaning chimneys.  While they are taking care of business, they discover that not everyone celebrates the holidays in the same manner and it is an eye-popping experience for each of them.

"Once on a Housetop" 2011 on PhotoPeach


 
 
Last Thursday, the same musical was presented by the classes of Mrs. Metzger, Mrs. Morris, Miss Thomson and Mrs. McLeod. This Thursday, the entire grade level will celebrate "Multi-Cultural Day" as a culminating event for this unit of study.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation for all of the hard work that went into this production.  You guys never cease to amaze me!!

Mr. Brooks, it was absolutely fantastic having you back in the house!!  Thank you, Ms. Bailey for allowing him to come!!

Until next time...