MAKE SOME NOISE – OUR BWS WORLD TOUR GOES TO ASIA
The BWS readers exited Africa through Egypt and headed to Jerusalem in time for Easter celebrations. We studied the map of the area and followed in Jesus’ steps during Holy Week. Of course, Bible stories gave richness to the holiday. And we read about why 3 religions find sacred meaning there: Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Older scholars were asked to choose one Middle Eastern country book and report back to the class. Younger boys loved The Catman of Aleppo, a true Syrian story.
Then we headed east, over mountains and desert, to a city along the ancient Silk Road for trading with China: Kabul, Afghanistan. Lucky for us, we have in-house expert Ms. Atmar who teaches in the 3rd grade. She and her family left her home due to war and oppression. Her new home in the USA welcomed her with work and her sons found new friends at BWS. Ms. Atmar spoke about the Koran and that she was in the midst of the season of Ramadan. Although she would not break her daytime fast, she shared her family’s favorite dessert: A custard spiced up with cardamon: Firni. Yes, please!
We ventured into the highest mountains on earth-the Himalayas- and found the home of the Dali Lama. His biography was inspirational, as was his friendship with Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. They collaborated on a book about finding Joy. Meditative music led us to calming thoughts.
Moving south we came to the birthplace of Buddha, aka Siddhartha aka Little Sid who is featured in a clever picture book that shows the dangers of caring too much about things rather than people. Throughout our World Tour younger students have learned how to find the inner message of folktales-universal themes that cross the continents. A special book has a boy from India describe his way of life to an American and see what’s The Same and What’s Different. Travel always helps you see yourself in others as you reflect on your own culture. Indian spices and food like samosas, naan and Masala sauce gave us a new flavor. And learning about the Hindu religion with it many gods and heroes opened our eyes to the lives of children in India.
Now for a musical interlude. As we moved around the world we collected percussion instruments from each region. We listened to typical songs, either old or new, from Go-Go to Bossa Nova to Hugh Masekela to an Irish Reel to Ravi Shankar to Buddhist bells to Japanese Anime tunes to Waltzing Matilda to WipeOut.
By early May, Chris Schmidtt returned for another Piano Concert. He introduced jazz with Take the “A” Train by Duke Ellington and told the life of Beethoven before playing Moonlight Sonata. He was delighted when our own 5th grader Zion played that piece to the whole school at the Community Gathering.
After a study of Space, the 3rd Graders focused on the Environment with a special focus on the crusaders who fought to save our Earth. Earth Day was celebrated, as were Greta Thunberg, Jane Goodall, Teddy Roosevelt and John Muir. Our library has a vast selection of biographies ,with over 40 in the series “Who Was…” which are small books at a 4th-5th grade reading level that give rich biographies of historic, pop and sport figures. And the 3rd graders discovered percussion.
The 4th Grade spent the spring with an award-winning novel called Freewater by Amina Luqman-Dawson. Mrs Ochmanek helmed this project by reading from the book every week. The class was split into 4 groups and had to take turns making notes on the characters and setting. This tale speaks of a brother and a sister before the Civil War who escape slavery on a plantation and follow their mother’s brief directions to find a community of free African Americans deep inside the Dismal Swamp of Virginia. Based on true historical facts, the author creates a world of danger and wonder. The following pictures show the progress each group made in describing, mapping and then creating their own view of Freewater using sticks and moss from our own woods and other simple materials. Behold!
At the end of May, the author visited the school and spoke about her process of research and writing. 24 drafts! This is her first novel and she won every literature award possible in 2023.
Now back to our World Tour. The Dragons appeared as we read about the Lunar New Year Celebrations all over Asia. The BWS library has a huge collection of books about this beast. Back in Covid days, boys were sent Dragon books-every grade, every reading level-and craft projects followed. Dragons are symbolic in many cultures and historic periods. So the grades got to dive into Chinese culture through dragons. Tasting dumplings, too.
Spring rolls followed with a journey into Southeast Asia. Older students learned of the war in Vietnam and an amazing story about Thai boys on a soccer team who get trapped in a cave during a typhoon.
Continuing with a tasting journey, the boys tried seaweed to get a feel for what a Japanese boy might have for a snack. Jordan Carrington (Mr. C’s daughter) taught the boys how to fold a paper dragon and crane in special origami paper. We pulled many books about Japan off the shelves in areas of geography (900’s), art and design (700’s), technology (600’s), folklore (398’s) and fiction at all levels. How did one boy survive a tsunami? What was a Ninja? How did a peach turn into a boy? What is a Haiku poem? (800’s), How do you write Japanese? (400’s), What is a Komodo Dragon? (500’s).
Australia was our last continent before heading home. Our focus was on the animals and the language. Although English is spoken there, the Aussie’s borrowed words and phrases from native Aboriginal people who lived on the large island long before the British. The Embassy offered booklets to the school to define Aussie Lingo. We decoded the famous song Walzting Matilda and learned that a billabong is a watering hole in the Outback and Waltzing is wondering by foot and Matilda is a backpack. Younger boys learned all about marsupials, especially the wombat. Although cute and furry, it is the size of a black bear!
Then we returned to the USA by landing on an island in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean. Surfing was the theme as we listened to Wipe Out and strummed the Ukelele, an instrument brought to the islands by Portuguese plantation workers.
We made it home with all our memories and musical instruments as souvenirs. We covered thousands of miles, learned about other cultures and read hundreds of books about our World and its people. Make a Joyful Noise!
As we close out the year in the BWS Library, we give thanks to the hearty team of volunteers who work behind the scenes to make all this magic happen: Barbara Ochmanek, Heather Florance, Olivia Hilton, Margie Ware, and Anne Forster. A new Dewey Decimal rug was brought to the Library in honor of all that Mrs. O did to lift the Library into a more professional space. And a stack of shelves have a new sign: “Mrs. Florance’s Favorites” in gratitude for all the time and dedication she gave to our library over 7 years.
Marking ten years in the BWS Library…
I am Cheerfully yours,
Catherine Marquardt
Comments