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Printer-Friendly ModeElementary students get taste of the world at ELP event
April 10, 2006 —
The Multi-purpose Room went global Thursday for "Passport to the World."
Three hundred students from three area elementary schools had "passports" to discover and learn about various countries including Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Nepal, Japan, and Iraq. Each country had its own individual table, which included pictures, candies, jewelry, and face paintings. Every time students visited one of the countries, they checked it off in their passports, which also included fun facts and quizzes.
In addition to the individual tables, "Passport to the World" also featured writing and language areas where students were shown how to write their names and taught such common sayings as "hello" and "I love you."
A music area was also available, with cassettes and CDs for students to listen to Arabic dances or songs from Japan and Korea. This year's event also featured origami and a new storytelling corner, which both seemed popular amongst the children.
"Passport to the World" was initiated seven years ago by Judy Youngquist, an ESL specialist in the English Language Program. Youngquist said she wanted students to not only learn about a variety of cultures but also learn about the University and the museum. Many elementary students, she said, do not even know the University exists, so she thought it was important that they get a tour of both the campus and the museum.
Jacquie Osborn, also an ESL specialist in the English Language Program, said that the event was also a learning experience for the international students. They organized almost everything, including what to put on their tables, which varied in size, depending on how many students from that country attend SVSU. The project was actually a required part of the international students' class, so they were only able to speak in English to the children and teachers.