Classroom Displays reader Michaele has more about this lovely January display over at her blog Kindergarten’s 3 R’s:. Her kindergarten students were curious about her ethnic origins and spent some time over November and December exploring Eskimo culture. I think this display is a wonderful example of using positive images and information to undermine stereotyping. It’s exactly the sort of thing my NCFE2 teaching assistant students have just been looking for examples of for their Unit 2 assignment. It also shows that even the youngest pupils can benefit from this sort of project work.
“Walking in a winter wonderland…”
My students learned about parkas, mukluks, mittens, and fur ruffs, then colored their own characters, decorating the parka’s qupaks (fancy trim or embellishments), and gluing cotton balls around the coat hood. I left the trees up from December’s display as background, and added white streamer runs of “snow” upon which the Eskimos could play..
She adds that the kindergarten children enjoyed making their own Eskimos and adding them to the display.