| By Tasha Gorman Moapa Valley Progress Published June 2, 2010
Walking through the halls of Grant Bowler Elementary School last week was like stepping into another country, literally. That’s because it was that exciting time of year when fourth-grade students don their international duds and show what they’ve learned while studying different countries. Every year, each fourth-grade student chooses a country on which to do an extensive report. Using class time, students write to embassies asking for information, research a variety of topics related to their country, draw maps, flags and clothing, and prepare a final draft of their report. |
 Brooklyn Brown, left, and Macy Morgan sit with their country displays on Thursday at Bowler Elementary. Both girls did their reports on Brazil. |
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| Students begin their work shortly after Spring Break and work hard to have it completed in time for the “Around the World” presentations. In addition to using a part of their regular class time for research gathering and writing, the fourth-graders created artwork specific to their country in art class. |
 Fourth-grade students sample foods from around the world on Friday during the Around the World food day at Bowler Elementary School. |
On Wednesday, May 26, the students presented the “Around the World in Song and Dance” program for parents and other students. Under the direction of Bowler music teacher Trish Anderson, each class performed a song and dance. The theme song for the program was “The Bridge,” which Anderson explained is a song that helps connect many countries of the world together through song and dance. Tunes from Canada, England, Jamaica, Australia and America were sung. Dances from Russia, Israel, Ireland, Italy and Mexico were performed.
The students spent many weeks learning the songs in music class and their dance steps during P.E. classes |
| On Thursday, the hallways were lined with students and their displays. In addition to the report, students also had to create a project at home, such as a fabric flag or simple native home. Each student also displayed items from their country like money, jewelry, stamps, dolls and more. Students sat with their displays as parents and fellow Bowler students filed past, asking questions or admiring their hard work.
Friday was a day for the students to sample the flavors of the world during Around the World food day. Students brought food from their country to share with their fellow fourth-graders. International delights such as Boxty (Irish potato pancakes), Rigatoni (Italy), Aletria (Portugal) and Jamaican coconut cookies were just some of the many delicious offerings that the students tried. |
 Kessa Evans sits with her country display on Thursday at Bowler Elementary. Kessa chose to do her report on India. |
The fourth-graders worked hard in doing their research, but they all learned about their country and others. Sara Goodrich chose Greece for her country report and was amazed to learn that there are more than 2,000 islands that belong to the country. Brooklyn Leavitt learned something new about her country, Brazil. “They love soccer, but they call it Futbol there.”
This is the fourteenth year that Bowler fourth-grade students have participated in the Around the World program. Fourth-grade teacher Stephanie Newman brought the idea to Bowler after doing country reports with her students as a teacher in Las Vegas. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! Comment on this story. Send a letter to the editor by email, click here: EMAIL US |
