By Rebecca Kensil, Contributing Writer
Westborough – The sixth-grade students on the Fireflies team at the Mill Pond School cafeteria presented to the community their final interdisciplinary projects about an African country for Africa United Day April 11. The students worked on the project in every subject for two months. The purpose, their teachers said, was to teach the students and town members about these countries and their current issues.
The students” presentations included a poster board featuring a drawn map, important historical events, a field guide of the wildlife, economic graphs comparing the United States and the African country, and a cultural folktale written by the student, according to Miles Henderson, 12. Students also prepared samples of common foods in their represented country in addition to a speech written and recited about an influential person from that country.
Some students wore costumes, such as Nicole Alcock, 11, who dressed up like military commander Hannibal Barca (247 – 183/182?BC) from Ancient Carthage, (now located in modern-day Tunisia), who was recognized for his victories during the Second Punic War.
Community members were also asked to donate money, single-bed sheets, dresses, long skirts, black shoes, and rulers to the Connect-Africa Foundation, which supports Ugandan children who have been orphaned because of AIDS. The monetary donations go directly to sponsoring Emma Kawuki, whom the school has sponsored the last six years, so she can go to school in Uganda. Visit connect-africa.org to learn more about the foundation.
Photos/Rebecca Kensil.
