Greenland Elementary School 3rd graders are AWESOME
Sarah is a 3rd grader at Greenland Elementary School in Oconomowoc. When we approached her teacher with the idea to involve her class in an initiative to order books through Scholastic that could be donated to our library project in Guatemala, the response was enthusiastic and very supportive. In fact, the other two 3rd grade classrooms at Greenland pitched in as well.
Miss Acker was able to get a Spanish version of the Scholastic Book Order form, called Club Leo, so that kids could pick out Spanish titles and order the the ones they thought the kids in Guatemala might like!
In all, exactly 100 books were ordered and donated! In addition, some families donated medical supplies, school supplies, vitamins, toiletries and even a pair of eyeglasses — a real treat since that was not even an item that I had considered collecting! All of these wonderful books and supplies will be packed in our checked luggage and taken to the needy in Guatemala.
The Greenland students also had an opportunity to engage in a cultural exchange with the 3rd graders in Rio Camanibal, Guatemala, the recipients of the donations. I thought you, our loyal blog readers, might enjoy hearing what each group shared. The question is in column one. The initial answers from the students in Guatemala are in the middle column, and then Sarah’s class replied with their answers on the right:
| QUESTION | GUATEMALA | UNITED STATES |
|---|---|---|
| Do the students learn addition and subtraction? | Yes, of three digits or more. | We learn how to add and subtract three or more digits as well. |
| What kind of subjects do they have? | In math, we study addition, subtraction, and multiplication. We study how similar items can be grouped by characteristic into sets, write stories, and learn about the various organs of the human body. We are taught indigenous musical instruments of Guatemala (drums, flutes, marimbas, percussion, etc.) and physical fitness. | In the classroom we study math, reading, writing, science, and social studies. In science we learned about the human body too, but our main focus was bones. We have similar subjects. |
| What do they do for fun? | We play soccer and hide and seek. | We play football, soccer, and basketball games like lightning. We do flips and play tag on the playground equipment. |
| What kind of food do they eat? | We eat rice, eggs, cheese, refried beans, beef, chicken, fish, (two kinds of) sausage, eggs in tomato sauce – all of these things are always eaten with tortillas or little tamales. | We eat pizza, mini corn dogs, beefy nachos, sandwiches, mac n cheese, chicken, pizza dippers, and spaghetti. |
| What specials do they have (P.E./Music)? | We have many elements of artistic expression (poetry, folk dance, children’s songs, modern dance and drawings) | Our specials are physical education (P.E), music, guidance, library/computer lab, and art. |
| What do they drink? | We drink lemonade, orange juice, coffee, tea, soda, chocolate, and watermelon juice (NOTE: there were a few others they listed but because my Spanish wasn’t good enough to translate them, I couldn’t say for sure… but they are wheat germ, flax seed and corn based protein drinks I think.) | We drink milk, chocolate milk, lemonade, grape juice, Gatorade, orange juice, soda, and water. |
| What do they eat for lunch? | We eat eggs with tomato sauce, baked chicken with rice, beans with cheese, meatloaf, beans with sausage, salad greens, and noodle soup. | We eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, pizza, burgers, fries, tacos, ham and cheese sandwiches, and nachos. |
A very hearty “Thank You!” to Miss Acker, Mrs. O’Leary, Mr. Showen, and all the 3rd graders and their families for their kindness and generosity!
The “right” opportunity arose when I learned about a travel opportunity for adoptive families which would include volunteer work and cultural sightseeing. Being members of that team had a profound impact on me, Lillian and Andrew. Not only were we able to make a real connection to our son’s birthplace, but we met incredibly warm and generous people, all of whom we now consider to be a part of our “family.” In addition to the volunteer work I shared with the Team, I also was able to “give back” by performing as my alter ego, “Farfel the Clown” at a barbecue for children of The Backyard School. It will remain one the proudest and happiest memories of my life.