Our Families
12/5/2020
To me, Thanksgiving is not only a time to reflect on what we are thankful for, but also a time to be with family, and (for a teacher) the perfect time for students to do a project that focuses on family. So, over Thanksgiving break, students worked from home with their loved ones to create a doll that represents one of their ancestors from a country their family originated from, and I have to say that I was so presently surprised and awed by the results. This year in social studies, students have been studying geography and comparing life and perspectives in the past to those in the present. As part of the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) standards for first grade, students are also “working to understand the perspectives and cultures of others.” This project had students identify their country of origin on a map, record facts about their country, and learn where their classmates’ families originated. As the dolls came in, our excitement grew, and my heart was overjoyed as I heard and witnessed the power of family support, which we have in our class! Students shared that they spoke with grandparents, brainstormed, and researched with parents & siblings, and all the things they had learned about their ancestors and family origin. However, the best part was seeing the pride in each student as they shared their doll, knowing that it represented who they are and the love and support that went into the whole project. To start our sharing off, students added a sticker to our classroom map to see how far some of our families have to come to get to Alaska and know that we have families that originated from all around the world right here in our classroom. We learned that we have families from Russia, Taiwan, Mexico, Iceland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Ireland, England, and Alaska. Students then presented their research--what their doll represents and facts about the country of origin. After presenting to their peers, audience members asked questions and shared compliments. Students demonstrated respect and appreciation for where each of their classmates came from and for what they created. They shared excitement for many of the facts that were presented, like how Ireland has 30,000 castles. They also showed an interest in learning more about their peers’ country of origin and an appreciation for the creativity, skill, and materials that went into making the clothing, hair, and props added to the dolls. This week, students also began learning about terms like past, present, and future. They made a calendar of the month and added holidays that they and their classmates celebrate. They also sorted out objects between past and present, reflected on their own lives--past, present, and future-- and learned that what they did yesterday is already part of history (minds blown!). As we move forward, we will look at timelines and holidays while respecting the similarities and differences that each of us has and brings to our amazing classroom community.
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Hali TuomiMs. Tuomi has over five years experience in ASD, where she taught first and fifth grade classrooms. An avid skier, Ms. Tuomi is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Alaska Pacific University’s Bachelor of Arts in K-8 Education. Archives
April 2021
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