I'm excited about beginning with the Kindergarten classes this year! Please become a follower so you can keep updated on our drama adventures.
The drama for the Kindergarten classes is based on the story of Wangari Maathai, the winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for her work planting trees in Kenya. (Thanks to Finn's family for giving Georga's class the book, Wangari and the Trees of Kenya! You inspired Georga and myself to make this the focus of our drama exploration this year. Wangari's story is a perfect extension of the Kindergarteners tree study; weaving in environmental, social justice, and global themes. The drama will be based on the story line of the book and other research.)
Monday, we began the drama with a huge envelope addressed to "The Scientists, Earth Helpers, and World Travelers of Georga, David, Jeanine, and Yadir's classrooms". I told the students that it must have been addressed to the wrong place: "Where are the scientists in this room?" I said.
They all emphatically informed me that they were, indeed, scientists. They informed me that they studied animals, trees, and nature! They know that trees have trunks, branches, and leaves that change color. They know there are different kinds of trees. They know that baby trees are called saplings. They also informed me that they were earth helpers. They recycle, clean up trash, and Georga's class pointed out that one of their daily jobs is "animals and plant caretakers". What more proof did I need that they were the intended recipients of the letter?!
The letter was from Wangari Maathai. She sent pictures of herself planting trees and giving speeches. She is also a scientist and earth helper and had heard about the students tree study and wanted to meet them. She invited us all to Kenya! She said she wanted to show us the trees she loves and three special places in Kenya: a big city, Nairobi....a big park, Masai Mara....and a big mountain, Mt. Kenya!
On Tuesday, we flew in an airplane from New York City to
Nairobi, the largest city in Kenya.
We rode in a matatu through the huge city filled with tall buildings, buses, cars, and palm trees. Here is a real matatu, and here is an illustration of our ride through Nairobi.
Wednesday, we went to Masai Mara, one of the most famous game parks in Kenya. We rode in an open-air truck and spied many animals through our binoculars. We saw amazing pictures of elephants, lions, giraffes, warthogs, zebras, and hippos swimming in Mara River. In Yadir's class I held up big pictures and in Georga's class, we looked at pictures on the computer screen!
An elephant walked right up to our truck and sprayed us with water!
(See the lion next to the truck?)
That night, the scientists and their teachers gathered around a fire outside their tent and roasted marshmellows. They watched the sunset and the stars. I was "in role" as the tour guide of Masai Mara and I told them about Thigi, the peace tree. A long long time ago there were many thigi trees all over Kenya. When a village elder would break off a branch from the tree and place it between two people having a fight, it meant that they would have to find a way to reconcile. We listened to a lullaby and fell asleep.
Thursday was the day we were to climb Mt. Kenya and meet Wangari at the top. It was a tough climb, but with our ropes we all made it! I was in-role as Kaya, the tour guide, who was very scared of heights. The students told me that they weren't scared at all (except one, who was also scared of heights) and that they would help me to the top. Here is an illustration. Note the smiling faces and teamwork! We used our ropes to lasso a rock jutting out and then pulled ourselves up. When we got to the top, I went into role as Wangari. We had talked at the beginning about how I would be playing many different characters, so by now the students were used to accepting the different roles that myself, the teachers and they were playing (at one point, they were in role as lions and giraffes, and the sunrise).
When the students realized that I was representing Wangari, Yadir's class began handing me pretend pictures of the trees in New York City and books about trees from their classrooms (they had remembered that Wangari had asked for them in the letter!). They also spontaneously broke into song, singing "Jambo Bwana" to show Wangari that they knew a song of Kenya!
PS. At the airport, we saw a man with a black bag who asked the students about the skyscrapers in New York City. We saw him again at Masai Mara, talking to someone about plans for buildings. We're not sure what he's up to, but we're curious.
PSS. Feel free to leave comments!
Kelli! I had no idea you were doing this study with these classes. I've been to Kenya and have some great photos of the Masaii people and the Masaii Mara. Let me know if you want to use them. Can't wait for immigration. :)
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