Week of November 16th, 2015

LEARNING ABOUT THE IVORY COAST

This week, students continued to learn about West Africa as we explored the Ivory Coast--Côte d’Ivoire. Once again, we reviewed what we have learned about Africa thus far--from the geography (grasslands to jungle to deserts), the animals (elephants, hippos, rhinos, monkeys and more) and storytelling with the djembe and conga drums.

The Ivory Coast has a French-Colonial legacy and beautiful beaches as well as all of the other features I mentioned about Africa, making it an excellent location for export prospering, but also turmoil and the oppression of colonial explorers.

Did you know that the Ivory Coast produces up to 70% of the world's cocoa? Our music students learned all about what the cocoa tree and pods look like, and the process of making chocolate. We explored a bag of cocoa powder and enjoyed the scent of it. We even got to taste some chocolate chips--yum!

Check out the fun videos, pictures and questions below to extend the learning for your child!

A special note from your teacher...

Though chocolate is a wonderful treat that we all enjoy, when I partake in its sweetness I can't help but think of all the strife and hard work that goes in to each pound of cocoa powder. Though we did not discuss it in class, the cocoa industry is, unfortunately, full of slave labor, including youth. It may not be the most pleasant thing to think about as you enjoy the delicious treat that has been around 3,000 years, but you can read some more about the struggle of West African's Ivory Coast slave labor here. There are a few ways that you can become involved in the solution, but I think a great start is by recognizing the privilege and comfort we have in our first-world nation, and trying to impart some of that knowledge to our children. =)

OUR AFRICA POEM IN ACTION!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1. Did you learn about the Ivory Coast today? Where is the Ivory Coast? In Africa! (Specifically, West Africa)

2. How does cocoa or chocolate grow? In pods on trees! The beans are inside the pods.

3. Did you taste chocolate? Tell me about it!

Week of November 2nd, 2015

Introduction to African Storytelling

This week in music class we said hello to West Africa! Comprised of many different countries from Ghana to the Ivory Coast (Cote d'Ivoire), West Africa offers a rich tapestry of culture and beautiful geography, including everything from deserts to grasslands to rain forests.

The three year old class is pictured above moving their bodies to a large motor poem that I put together to help us remember some of those amazing African details. We learned it today through "echoing" or "call and response", and we will continue to work on it throughout the month of November. All of the students learned the poem this week, and also looked at pictures of African dress and 

Watch the blog throughout the month for more neat storytelling videos to be posted!

I Want to go to Africa 

I want to go to Africa (point to self)

Where the elephant trunks swing (swing arm in front of nose like an elephant trunk and trumpet like an elephant)

Where the land is so big (Arms stretched overhead as if holding a globe)

There are rainforests (Fingers and hands "raining down")

And grasslands (Hands wave from side to side, making a "shhhh" sound as the grass waves in the wind)

Tall mountains (Hands overhead to form a peak)

And HOT sand! ("Phew" for hot weather with hand to forehead)

We also had fun with the lollipop drum and I told the children a funny story about a princess and a magic frog--it doesn't turn out the way you think!

Additionally, because of this BEAUTIFUL fall weather we've had this week, I had to throw "Mr.Sun" in to our song rotation this week with the ukulele. Students had fun trying to whistle. 

Check out an mp3 of us singing it in the infant room HERE: Mr. Sun.

Overall we really enjoyed our introduction to Africa and storytelling. Make sure to read the extender questions below, and have a great week!

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CHILD

1) What new place are you learning about right now? Africa!

2) Did you learn a poem about Africa? Can you tell me about it?

3) Can you tell me a story about a princess and a frog? This could be fun! What will your child come up with? It may be their own version. ;)