In this article, five different traditional activities from Chile, Japan, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and South Korea will be shared. For each traditional activity, the following four questions will be addressed: (1) What is the culture and language background of the activity? (2) How is it played? (3) What modifications can be made to be inclusive of…

Changes to the New Zealand Ministry of Education's funding for access to specialist education services in museums and art galleries in Aotearoa New Zealand (enriching local curriculum) has created the potential for an increase in visits to these institutions by young learners, and particularly those in the early childhood education (ECE) sector. A…

One way to approach the improvement of instruction is for educators to learn from student interactions in cultural events that fully engage students' motivation and curiosity. In such a context, educators get to know students in new ways and to connect student strengths to classroom instruction. This can be especially powerful when the learning…

This performance guide is designed for teachers to use with students before and after a performance of "Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile," a musical based on the books by Bernard Waber, with book by Michael Slade, music by David Evans, and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. The guide, called a "Cuesheet," contains four activity sheets for use in…

Presents a collection of holiday-related winter activities for elementary students. November activities celebrate the Great American Smokeout, National Children's Book Week, National Geography Awareness Week, and Thanksgiving. December activities celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the coming of snow. Hands-on activities include cooking,…

Cold February weather and pancakes are a traditional pairing. Pancake Day began as a way to eat up the foods that were abstained from in Lent--traditionally meat, fat, eggs and dairy products. The best-known pancake event is The Pancake Day Race in Buckinghamshire, England, which has been run since 1445. This column describes pairs of books that…

To provide both an enriching theatre experience for students and faculty and new opportunities for women artists, the Department of Theatre Arts and Speech at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey at Newark held a competition for new plays by New Jersey women playwrights. The winning play, Leni Hamilton's "The Fortress," a story of…

This performance guide is designed for teachers to use with students before and after a performance of the one-act musical based on Lucy Maud Montgomery's novel, "Anne of Green Gables," with music by Richard DeRosa and book and lyrics by Greg Gunning. The guide is designed to help teachers foster students' appreciation of theatre, dance,…

This workshop presentation offers an introduction to and suggestions for a multicultural approach to teaching through music experiences. Experiences presented include: (1) "Funga Alafia," a welcome song from Liberia; (2) "Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree," an American traditional game song; (3) a Japanese version of…

This 1989 activity calendar, developed to commemorate the "Year of the Young Reader," is divided into three sections. The first contains a calendar that lists authors' birthdays, special commemorations, anniversaries, and events. The second includes descriptions of book-related activities that complement monthly themes, weekly themes, or…

Saint Patrick's Day can be a day to honor the Irish for the contributions they have made to American life. Important historical figures of Irish descent and Irish folk customs are discussed. (DF)

Highlights the benefits of a cultural arts program for elementary schools, using as resources artists, performers, and artists from every discipline. Focuses on program administration, keys to success (e.g., variety and matching artist ability to school interest), financial requirements, and benefits. (DMM)

Kentucky Mountain Square Dancing is appropriate for all ages because it is easy to learn and fun to do. A brief overview of square dancing is presented in this article. An example is given that offers calls and directions to be used. (DF)

This performance guide is designed to help teachers prepare students to see the Sogolon Marionettes performing one of two stories from the West African country of Mali. The guide, called a "Cuesheet," contains four activity sheets for use in class, addressing: (1) About the Performance (offering a performance overview of the stories, and…

This article describes a poetry workshop to create a snapshot of unique moments in family history during the holidays. The workshop includes a working on a family photo poetry poster and participating in extension activities (e.g., writing personal poetry notebooks). A reproducible offers a holiday album of poetry snapshots. (SM)