Mandarin Chinese
Martin Luther King Jr. K-8 School, Cambridge
Prior to implementing an expanded school day, the Martin Luther King Jr. School offered Mandarin Chinese to students in grades preK-8. Now with an expanded day, all students study Mandarin and the school’s study of Chinese language and culture is much more comprehensive. Students work with the school’s three Chinese teachers for 30 minutes daily, beginning with songs and poetry in Junior Kindergarten and continuing through 8th grade to learn Chinese characters, spoken vocabulary, and Chinese culture. Starting in the fourth grade, students write to pen pals in China. In June 2007, a King School delegation of six 8th graders and four teacher chaperones went on a trip to China as a culminating event in their 10 years of Chinese studies at King. Click here to read more about their trip!
Portuguese Language and Culture
Frank M. Silvia Elementary School, Fall River
Fall River has the largest percentage of Portuguese-American residents of any city—approximately 45% of residents claim Portuguese ancestry. The Silvia School has used part of its expanded day redesign to embrace and explore its population’s cultural history by offering classes in Portuguese language and culture. These classes include students across multiple grades and from diverse linguistic and ethnic backgrounds. Taught by Silvia teachers with Portuguese backgrounds, are designed to expose students to the language and culture of their community through speaking, reading, writing, and listening to children’s literature. The classes also build students Portuguese vocabulary by learning colors, body parts, days of the week, animals, and seasons. One second-grade class created their own Portuguese-English picture books as a way to reinforce new vocabulary.
Life in Japan
Jacob Hiatt Magnet School, Worcester
The entire 6th grade (44 students in two classes) participated in this 8-week enrichment module, taught by a team of partners including the Japanese Consulate-General of Boston, The Worcester Art Museum and Odaiko New England. The Consulate Educator came in for four 1-hour lessons focused on the themes of geography and modern life is in Japan. The Worcester Art Museum sent a Sumi brush painting artist, who discussed art and technique; then the children had a Sumi Art workshop. Odaiko New England came in for a Japanese “taiko” drum performance; they spoke of the performing arts and culture in Japan, and students participated in the performances. One Hiatt student takes Judo lessons with The Worcester Judo Club, and his instructors came in to teach about that martial art and its history and ended in a demonstration. The 6th grade’s art work from this module was put on display at the “Hiatt Museum” at the end of the term. And lastly, when the Consulate Educator went to Japan, he collected lots of Japanese "artifacts" and sent a care package to the 6th grade classes.
