Young Students Cross Cultures To Learn Of Languages, Traditions
‘Do you want to say one, two, three, four, five in Japanese?” Minako Harada asked a room full of elementary school students.
“Yeah,” the students chorused back.
By the lesson’s end, the McDonald Elementary students could chant “ichi, ni, san, shi, go” in unison.
“Some day I’m going to teach you up to 100,” Harada said. “But not today.”
Harada was a presenter at McDonald’s multicultural day last week. She was joined by a woman from Mexico and Laotian Hmong dancers.
“It’s pretty cool,” said fifth-grader Steven Johnson, 11. “We learn about different cultures and stuff.”
Johnson, who learned that the Japanese flag represents the sun, said he enjoyed Harada’s presentation the most, because he’d already studied Mexico.
The Hmong dancers from Grant Elementary and Chase Middle School performed in long white pleated skirts, black turbans and velvet blouses decorated with colorful sashes.
Margarita Jane, a Mexican, talked about her country and its culture. When she encouraged the students to count aloud in Spanish as she lifted Mexican objects from her table, they sped right past 20 and went on to 21 before Jane could stop them.
“I like how they’re telling us how to talk in their languages,” said fifthgrader Scott Kreiger, 11.
Mountain men visit school
Inside a 20-foot canvas teepee, a man dressed in buckskin reclined on a rough hand-crafted wooden chair as a wild game stew slowly cooked over a fire.
The man was Bob O’Neel, a custodian with the Central Valley School District by day, and a mountain man in his free time.
He, Stewart Nelson and Shaun Ramsey gave Greenacres Junior High School students lessons on the fur trapping and trading era of American history by building the teepee and laying out artifacts.
The men all belong to the Black Powder Club, a Spokane Valley organization.
Eighth-grader Melanie Lewis, 14, learned that trappers and traders had three requirements for setting up camp: they needed water, fuel and someone to trade with.
Students going to sports practice peaked their heads inside the teepee, crowding inside when they felt the fire’s warmth.
“We never got to come out here,” complained seventh-grader Marlaina Kramer, 13.
This is the first year the men have set up the teepee. O’Neel said school officials have invited them back for next year.
Students learn car safety
Using a mangled car as a prop, a Washington State Patrol trooper instructed a West Valley High School class on traffic safety.
About 40 driver’s education students lounged in the sun in front of the high school and learned about the dangers of speeding, drinking and driving and not wearing a seat belt.
This type of presentation is especially important considering end-of-the-year festivities that accompany proms and graduation, said Cathy Wolfrum, West Valley’s activities director.
“Sound of Music” performed
The final three performances of East Valley High School’s “The Sound of Music” will be tonight through Saturday at Trent Auditorium.
Tickets are $3.50 for a student, senior or child, $15 for a family and $3 per person for a group of 10 or more. For information, call 927-3200.
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