Dual Language Academy students learn about countries around the
world
Hollister Dual Language Academy celebrated the end of the school
year with an International Day showcase for family members and the
community May 26. Each grade
– kindergarten through fourth grade – studied a different
country.
The kindergarteners presented their findings on Costa Rica
first, with a trio taking the microphone while the rest of the
students waited on stage with small paper flags. The kids talked
about some of the facts of Central America, where Costa Rica is
found. Then the children read a poem in Spanish before singing
”
It’s a Small World
”
in English while waving their flags.
Dual Language Academy students learn about countries around the world
Hollister Dual Language Academy celebrated the end of the school year with an International Day showcase for family members and the community May 26. Each grade – kindergarten through fourth grade – studied a different country.
The kindergarteners presented their findings on Costa Rica first, with a trio taking the microphone while the rest of the students waited on stage with small paper flags. The kids talked about some of the facts of Central America, where Costa Rica is found. Then the children read a poem in Spanish before singing “It’s a Small World” in English while waving their flags.
After the presentation, Principal Delia Gomez took the microphone.
“How many countries are in Central America?” she asked the audience. “That’s right, seven. Now we will travel to the island to learn about Polynesian culture.”
The first-grade students presented their research on the Polynesian islands, such as New Zealand. They wore grass paper skirts in yellow and green, as well as paper leis around their necks.
“There are seven islands in New Zealand,” one of the students said, as others held up pictures of animals. “The native bird is a kiwi, a bird with no wings and a long beak.”
The kids sang the song “Pearly shells,” as they hula danced to the music.
“There are a lot of islands,” Gomez said. “The kids were able to learn bits and pieces about all of them.”
The second-grade class studied Japan. The kids gathered in groups at the microphone to share facts – in English and in Spanish – about the island nation.
“It’s near the ocean so the Japanese eat a lot of fish and seaweed,” one group read.
The kids did two dance numbers to traditional Japanese music. For the second number, the boys wore red paper hats while the girls held up paper fans decorated with cherry blossoms.
“Now we’re going to go to the European continent,” Gomez said. “We are going go to go Italy when the third-grade class presents the country of Italy.”
For their presentation, each student wore a white T-shirt decorated with the Italian flag. The kids took turns at the microphone individually, where they read out postcards they had made. Each postcard was like a little note written home to family and friends. The kids read in English or Spanish about traveling to the many different cities in Italy such as Rome and Venice. Each postcard was packed with tidbits about the culture.
After the last postcard had been read, the students gathered on the gymnasium floor to perform a dance with red, green and white ribbons.
The last class to present were the fourth-grade students. They took the audience members to Portugal. The kids talked about the country, and held up props, such as a map of the world that shows where Portugal and the Azores Islands are located.
“We want to give them a big round of applause,” Gomez said as the presentations ended.
The Hollister Dual Language Academy instructs students in English and Spanish and is open to students in kindergarten to fourth grade.
