Elementary School Residency: Cultural Unversals

January-April 2009. All 3rd grade classrooms in Scarsdale: 1)Quaker Ridge 1/5 - 1/16;  2)Fox Meadow 1/20 - 1/30;  3)Edgewood 2/2 - 2/13;  4) Greenacres 2/23 - 3/6;  5)Heathcote 3/9 - 3/27.

 

The elementary school residency program is by far the most monumental and most integrated work of my program here in Scarsdale Schools. It went through quite a long period of planning time, which happened in fall semester. After some initial consultation, I was advised that the best grade to do the elementary school residency is the 3rd grade. The reason is that lessons about Indonesia fit nicely to the "Cultural Universals" unit in the spring semester in 3rd grade. Consequently, Dr. Joan Weber arranged Amysue Kenney, District's Social Studies Helper, to assist me in building communications with the third grade and special teachers in each elementary school building. Both of us went through the dialogues with almost all related teachers, and made some necessary adjustments, because each school approached the general plan differently. 

All third grades took turn in learning about Indonesia. It started in Quaker Ridge at the beginning of the spring semester, then it went to Fox Meadow, Edgewood, Greenacres, and finally at Heathcote. The program started in January and ended in April 2009. Each classroom learned a lot about Indonesia, such as the climate, the islands, the population, the school life, the family life, children games, houses, government, economics, animals and plants. They also learned Indonesian art, songs, musical instruments, popular sport, and children stories.

Students were enthusiastic to learn many aspects of Indonesia, and towards the ends they were asked to analyze the similarities and differences between Indonesia and the USA.

Each lesson was structured around a specific theme, and filled with interactive, engaging, fun, meaningful, and reflective activities. The lessons were very well-received. It seems to me that students were full of excitement to learn about a country and culture that is different than theirs. They were encouraged to ask many questions, and they did. Throughout the reflection sheet after each lesson, it was made sure that each of their question was responded in a thorough way.