Cultural Awareness Program continues at Grand Prairie

Grand Prairie Elementary School continues its year long pre-kindergarten through second grade multi-disciplinary program on cultural awareness.  During the month of March, students celebrated Greek and Irish culture. The celebration culminated with a character education assembly where students learned to say hello in different languages and the importance of accepting others despite their differences.

Each day, a fact about the culture of the month is read during the announcements so the entire school can learn about it. This is enhanced through student participation in projects in their various classes.  During March library time, librarian Nicole Fazekas read Irish folk tales and stories about Greece and Greek Mythology.  She also used an interactive map on the SmartBoard to teach facts about Ireland and Greece.  Students listened to Irish music while they selected a book to read and they also watched videos about Irish dancing and Greek Mythology. 

Art instructor Suzie Corkery incorporated Irish and Greek culture into her art lessons.  Students made Greek vases for Greek culture and decorated shamrocks using rip art and glitter for Irish culture. In physical education classes, students tried Irish dancing following a live demonstration performed by Hickory Creek Middle School seventh grade students Krista King and Sarah Corcoran. In music classes, instructor Shannon Diehl taught the students the song “Michael Finnegan.”  They also listened to Irish lullabies and a demonstration of the tin whistle by their teacher.   

After each lesson, students get a stamp on their passports.  In April the students will celebrate Russian and Polish culture and in May they will learn about Middle Eastern Culture.  Other cultures have been studied each month.  At the end of the school year the students will have “traveled” around the world!