Shy Mama on the Web: More Activity Ideas

There are two pages of discussion ideas for parents and teaqchers at the back of Shy Mama's Halloween. Here are some additional suggestions, which we couldn't quite squeeze onto those pages, and some suggestions for further reading.

• Find Russia, Anya's old home on a globe or world map. Research former USSR territories to see how it has changed. Point out that Anya could have come from different countries. Look up New York, Anya's new home, to trace her journey. How many miles? How long might that take by ship?
  
  
• Have children imagine they have moved to a country in another part of the world. The class can do a research project on this country's people: their appearance, dress, customs, schools, etc. Have children analyze how they might be seen as different in this country and explore how they would like to be treated by their new peers. (From The Spirit That Moves Us, Volume I. Tilbury House, Publishers)
  
  
• Have students research their own countries of origin. Ask them to choose one of them and then find a folktale from that country and bring it to class to share. Your library should have a number of folktale anthologies available.
  
  
• Immigrants (refugees) couldn't bring much on a boat (could reference the B&W photo of Anya's family). What would you bring? Ask students to number their papers vertically, from one to ten, and list ten things they would need to take on the ship. Have students work alone. Prioritize the list—you can show how to prioritize by using a "dummy" list, but don't show them the list until after their lists are made. Example: books, dishes, clothes, photographs, quilt/blanket, toiletries (toothbrush, hairbrush, soap, etc.). What if you could only bring five things? Part of this activity might be to then research and see what immigrants actually did choose to bring. (Adapted from the Teacher's Guide to Who Belongs Here? Tilbury House, Publishers)
  
  
• Have your students conduct a survey on the number of languages spoken in their classroom, school, town or city, county, state, and region. High school students may want to help your class with this project. If you live near a college or university, use the people there as a resource. (From the Teacher's Guide to Who Belongs Here? Tilbury House, Publishers)
  
  
• Have children collect examples of their family traditions. Ask them to describe where their traditions came from and why their families follow them. Children with parents from different cultures and traditions can explore how their families have accommodated their different traditions; for example, eating vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals, celebrating both Hanukkah and Christmas. (From The Spirit That Moves Us, Volume I. Tilbury House, Publishers)
  
  
• Discuss with your class the significance of taking pride in one's ethnocultural heritage. How do people's different heritages contribute to the quality of life in America and Canada? What are some of the ways people express their culture (through foods they eat, the language they speak, and the religion they practice)? Is "melting pot" an outdated image for cultural diversity? Some people have suggested a salad bowl as a better analogy. What do your students think? Have your students draw pictures or make collages of their analogies. (From the Teacher's Guide to Who Belongs Here? Tilbury House, Publishers)
  
  
• Have children draw a picture of an object, using their imaginations and different art supplies to create whatever they want. Tack the pictures on the wall. Now, draw a picture on the blackboard, telling children to draw exactly the same picture. Tack these up too. Lead a discussion on which picture was more interesting to draw, having children analyze the value of diversity in art. (From The Spirit That Moves Us, Volume I. Tilbury House, Publishers)
  
  
• Extend the lesson by showing children pictures of paintings using different cultural and artistic styles. Have them analyze how the styles are different, what pictures they personally like, and what it would be like if all artists could only paint in one style. Have children paint a picture in the style of their choice.