Each winter, Grace Lutheran Preschool and Kindergarten students explore another country during their International Week.
The project introduces children to art, music, language, landscapes, landmarks and culture of places yet unknown to them. From the time they hear boarding announcements over the public announcement system in the host country’s language (as well as in English) and subsequently board their flight — complete with tickets, passports, sound effects of a plane ride and an in-flight video about their destination — they are immersed in another world. Each day they “travel” to a different room using “local” transport methods and engage in activities representative of the country’s culture.
This year some students have had a foretaste of the place they are visiting: Nicaragua. The destination was chosen since Grace Lutheran is sending a medical mission team there in March. Already students’ families have collected children’s vitamins and ibuprofen for the mission trip. The junior kindergarten class also contributed hand-decorated placemats for the mission team’s spaghetti dinner fundraiser. By participating, children and their parents learn that little hands can make a big difference.
The idea for International Week began more than a decade ago. Since that time, the school has ‘traveled’ to many countries, including Thailand, Germany, Australia, and most recently England in 2012, the year the summer Olympics were held in London. Education director Teri Statham organizes the annual trip. Teachers with expertise in the various units serve as tour guides during the week, including the school’s Spanish teacher, who is handling the language components.
It’s often said that travel changes a person by broadening one’s horizons. Even though our little travelers’ passports, boarding passes, flight, and trip are imaginary, their experiences during International Week help them to learn that the world is a big, diverse, colorful and exciting place. Through the eyes of a child it is especially so.
