Culture Fest at Parkway’s Carman Trails School

At Parkway’s Carman Trails Elementary school, teaching children to value diversity and to be proud of themselves and their family traditions is part of the curriculum.  The third grade and kindergarten classes hosted a Culture Fest in order to learn about nine different ways of life from around the world: Mexico, South Korea, Bosnia, India, Germany, Finland, China, Native American, and American Cowboy.  Parents and teachers brought in traditional costumes, foods, books, games, pictures and unique pieces to display at their tables for the children to explore.  Parents were on hand to explain the uniqueness of the different cultures, to tell stories and reveal customs. 

Picture #1:.  Boni Stevenson tells students about German Christmas traditions such as the Advent calendar and pickle ornament which both originated in Germany.

Picture #2: Many students wouldn’t try the German food sauerkraut because of the strong smell. Kindergarteners Ben Cameron and Jeff Day try it and like it!

Picture #3: Third grader Alex Robinson with his family at the South Korea table.  His younger sister, Magdalyn, is dressed in South Korean formal dress that children wear for their first birthday.  The child’s first birthday is very important in South Korea and the traditional dress complements their mother’s wedding dress.  To the right of Alex are his Grandma Hyon Sun Jung Robinson and Grandpa Jerry Robinson.  Hyon was born is South Korea and came to America in 1967.  Next to Magdalyn is her and Alex’s other Grandma Bernadine Ponder.

Picture #4: Ajdin Turnadzic at the Bosnia table examines the beautiful hand sewn fabric with detailed fringe worn by Bosnia woman around their head called hijab.

Picture #5 Carman Trails ESL teacher Chetana Shah (left) and Meghna Kadam share with students at the India table the old, rich and mysterious Indian culture.  Shah said, “The myths and stories are mesmerizing, the clothes are dazzling and the culture can be conflicting!”  Shah’s parents came to North America 30 years ago and raised their children with both the Indian and American values.

Picture #6  Michael Dowdle with his grandmother Elane Dowdle (otherwise known as Mama Jama to her grandchildren) pose with a picture of her father who was a Cherokee Indian.  She shared many great tales of her father who left the reservation as a young man.

Picture #7: Kathryn Wallace shows off a beautiful Chinese fan.  She spent 5 years in China.

Picture #8 Carman Trails staff and Mom, Genoveva Mendez, shares the Mexican tradition of making tortillas with students.

Picture #9 Corey Truesdell and Mitchell Gray roll the dough into balls as the first step for making the Mexican tortillas.

Picture #10 Finland born, Tanja Kasten, shows students Finland comic and children books from her childhood.

Picture #11 Roger Collins describes the American cowboy way of life for Samantha Edwards.  He’s diplaying a branding tool from his grandfather, William Aaron Collins, who was a cow herder in Southern Colorado at his father's ranch, the Mule Shoe Bar.