Students create maasaii necklaces in the art room during African Arts Night April 15 at Aspen Elementary School. Courtesy photo
Examples of the African art created by Aspen students this year. Courtesy photoLAPS News:
More than 150 families attended Aspen Elementary School’s African Arts Night April 15.
Six teachers have been collaborating to immerse their students in a hands-on and multidisciplinary study of African traditions and culture. The African Arts Team included Britt Williams, the art teacher; Ándrea Dowdy, the music teacher; Jeff Lloyd, the librarian; Marcie Johnson, the physical education teacher; Sharon Allen, a first grade teacher; and Karen Fortson, an instructional assistant in reading.
Their work putting together this great event began last January. The students started working on their art projects last January. In library, they researched and created informative pamphlets. In PE they learned African dances. In music they learned African songs.
On the night of the event, the kids:
- made maasaii necklaces in the art room;
- made African instruments (the kalimba and the sistrum) in the music room;
- played mancala, an African game, in the library; and
- did gumboot dancing in the gym.
Last year Aspen had a South American Arts Night and next year students voted to have an Australian Arts Night.
“It was a huge success,” Williams said. “It was a great experience for the kids to choose an overarching topic and study it in depth.”