Another Assignment

[Heidi]

I need some ideas!

I have to plan (but not actually put on, although I may) an event for my daycare families that supports anti-bias. It doesn't have to be "armenian history month" or anything like that, it just has to be culturally sensitive in my food, decorations, and such.

The event I have chosen is an art show. Basically, we will clear out the livingroom, play classical or other soothing music (there's an opportunity right there..I could play something in Italian or French), and the children can display their works of art.

My son can walk around with appetizers and my daughter can serve "champagne" in fake glasses.

So...I need ideas for making it more culturally diverse. Does anyone have any ideas on a few art projects? I was thinking maybe some sort of calligraphy...like asian writing (it would have to be simple),

Also, what about some different culture foods for the appetizers?


I did this art show years ago, and it was a big hit, so I may actually do it (at the end of the summer). For now, though, I am looking for ideas on the culturally sensitive area of it...


ps: I did not mean to be culturally sensitive to our armenian friends here. It was just the most random thing I could come up with....

[Heidi]

you knoww....

Now that I think about it, this would be a cool spring board for a curriculum for the summer!
A

Around-the-world in 12 weeks! We could have a different country every week. Learn some words, find out what they eat... Yeah...

I need 12 countries...

[Blackcat31]

Art ideas that come to mind are petroglyphs and pictographs from the Native American cultures. They have lots of images on the internet of simple animals and everyday words you could use. Perhaps printing them on something that represents an animal skin much like they did in real life...

You could have the kids photograph themselves using ASL letters and simple words.

Some more craft/art ideas.....

Unity Wreath
A unity wreath is symbolic of all cultures uniting. You'll need hand shapes cut from different colors of construction paper to represent different colors. Choose different shades of brown, beige, peach and other colors that could represent skin tones. Layer and glue the hands together in a wreath shape. You can add a white dove in the middle to symbolize peace or a picture of the Earth.

World Instruments
Focusing on homemade instruments from different countries adds a multicultural twist to the craft project. Bongo drums from Latin American can be made by connecting two cans with lids. Children can create African drums by gluing together two paper cups and covering them with masking tape. Maracas made from yogurt containers filled with beans incorporate the Mexican culture. The children can create a pretend bagpipe from a paper bag and old paper towel tubes. Musical instruments often play a big role in different cultures, so this craft is also educational.


Multicultural Collage
A collage is a simple way to represent many different cultures in one work of art. Collect a variety of magazines that will allow the children to find pictures of people and artifacts from different cultures. The pictures are cut out and glued to the collage. The children can also add their own drawings to the collages.



Foods: I would try incorporating things like Wild Rice (Native American), Crab puffs and tempura prawns make for yummy finger-food appetizers (called puupuus in Hawaiian), mini tacos or a taco bar, hummus from India, strudel from Germany, Irish Soda Bread, French eclairs, egg rolls from Chinese cuisine, ...that's all I got off the top of my head....