Schools
Governor Chafee Visits Cranston Elementary School
Reading Week at Arlington Elementary School began Monday morning with a special guest, Rhode Island Governor Lincoln Chafee.
Governor Lincoln Chafee visited Arlington Elementary School in Cranston Monday, May 16 to help students, faculty and staff celebrate the first day of Reading Week, 2011.
The governor read aloud from a children’s book, then briefly discussed geography and history with Arlington’s fourth-graders, weaving the Reading Week theme, “Travel the World Inside a Book,” into his presentation.
He mentioned Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese explorer famous for his voyage from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Magellan died before he could return to Europe, but his ship became the first to circumnavigate the globe, opening formerly unknown lands to exploration.
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From May 16–May 20, students at Arlington Elementary School will study international history and culture with books like Mummies in the Morning, from Mary Pope Osborne's Magic Tree House series.
They will read and learn about unfamiliar countries in Europe, Asia and Africa, and before the week ends, the students will share “souvenirs” from the countries they’ve “explored.”
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Kindergartners will learn about Japan and first-graders will look toward Ireland and Australia. Second-graders will focus on Mexico and Italy, third-graders will examine Scotland and fourth-graders will read about Egypt.
Fifth-graders will enjoy Peru and sixth-graders will tour Germany, China, Greece and India.
The “traveling” learners will be accompanied by teachers and a few special guests, including Cranston Mayor Allan Fung.
Fung will read to third-graders Tuesday. Also, students in Kindergarten, first grade and second grade will get to hear from members of Cranston’s police and fire departments on Thursday.
On, Wednesday, Arlington Elementary will host renowned storyteller and Cranston resident Len Cabral.
Arlington wraps up Reading Week Friday, May 20, with a ceremony to commemorate the annual, five-day celebration of literature.
During the week, students will also have opportunities to purchase books from an on-site fair. Proceeds from the book fair will go to Arlington Elementary School.
