A TASTE OF EAST AFRICA
I bring a lively language arts/social studies presentation to schools, full of the sounds, tastes, smells and sights of East Africa. I love to share my photographs and experiences from East Africa that helped shape the story of Fatuma’s New Cloth.
During my program, students can try on kanga cloth, learn kiswahili greeting words and a song and make East African chai in their classroom.
Pre-k and K: 30-45 minutes
1-3: 45-50 minutes
Students in grades 4-6 can see how an idea becomes a book, discuss proverbs, try on kanga cloth, and learn about East Africa while they enjoy a taste of East African chai. 4-6: 50-60 minutes
Making chai is a wonderful classroom extension activity for any grade. My chai materials fee is approximately $3.00 per class. Please see the bottom of this page for more extension activity suggestions for Fatuma's New Cloth
DETAILS DETAILS MAKE WRITING COME ALIVE!
How is a story like a motor? Based on a metaphor from my brand new middle grade adventure novel,UNCHARTED WATERS, students in this language arts workshop learn how to create writings that sparkle with rich sensory detail and their own life experiences. I will tailor this one or two visit workshop to the needs and interests of students and their teachers in grades 3-5. 45-55 minutes.
BOOK CHAT
*****I am available to speak to larger groups of students about experiences that shape my books, with plenty of time for students' questions. Language arts and science connections.
SCIENCE IS PURE POETRY! grades 3-5
This integrated multidisciplinary program connects science, language arts and even visual arts. The process is based on my own science poetry in Hey There, Stink Bug! Students create their own science-based poetry in conjunction with their classroom science curriculum in a four-visit program. The program includes an additional pre-residency session with teachers where we'll choose science content. An optional illustration component can be added in cooperation with the school's art specialist.
INSECTS ARE PURE POETRY!
An integrated multidisciplinary program for third through fifth graders, connecting science, language arts and visual arts. Students create their own insect poetry in a four week, four visit program. For schools outside Connecticut, I can adapt this program to a two day introduction with materials for teachers to use in their classrooms.
Fees:
I have a full-day fee of $720 (three or four presentations),
and a half-day fee of $580 (up to two presentations).
Please contact me for pricing on multi-visit workshops.
Travel expenses are added to visits outside of Connecticut.
If you are a CT school, I am a Young Audiences Artist. Please call 203 230 8101 to arrange my visit.
Click here to learn how to transform a school author visit from an hour of entertainment into a life-long connection to reading and writing. Find tips for teachers, administrators, and library media specialists plus more resources for great author visits!
Here are suggestions for enrichment activities you can do in your classroom.
I hope you will send me your ideas so I can add them to this page for other teachers to try!
What is a Proverb?
Define and discuss proverbs. In the classroom, we often define a proverb as a saying people use over and over again to pass along knowledge or wisdom about how to get along in life. Children can brainstorm proverbs they’ve heard and ask family members about other proverbs they know.
Children are also wonderful at making up their own proverbs.
East African Cooking
Use the recipe in Fatuma’s New Cloth to make chai in your classroom! See if children can come up with other spices that might be tasty in chai. Use an
African cookbook like Africa News Cookbook or The Tanzania Cookbook to find other East African recipes. If you can’t find a recipe, please contact me!
Design Kanga Cloth
Discuss the basic nature of the kanga: the border, the repetitive design, the color scheme (one or two colors, plus black and/or white), the proverb.
Children can design a kanga cloth based on a motif that has a specific meaning to them, whether it is geometric, floral or a specific item such as
Mama’s teapots or even robots! This can be done on paper or on cloth. One second grade class made laminated placemats for a luncheon feast! (Thanks, Mrs. Colone's class! It was yummy!)
Africa Study
Africa is a big continent. Each children's book about Africa paints a picture. Teachers have a great opportunity to share more than one picture and show students other cultures in all of their variety and complexity. In other words, I try to make sure kids know that all African people don't live with zebras!
Here are some other picture books about Africa:
Faraway Home by Jane Kurtz.
This lovely story ties young Desta's American family to her father's Ethiopian family of origin.
Boundless Grace by Mary Hoffman.
In this sequel to Amazing Grace, Grace visits her father and his new family in Namibia.
Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams.
This is the story of young Kondi, who wants to make himself a toy just like the big boys. Set in Malawi, it's universal theme speaks to kids everywhere.
Elizabeti's Doll by Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen.
Elizabeti learns about responsibility and caring for her new doll just like Mama cares for her new baby. Set in Tanzania.
I am Eyes - Ni Macho by Leila Ward.
The poetic language in this story introduces children to the Kenyan bush.
The following is a guide to internet resources on
Africa put out by the University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center.
