Field Trip #59: Flamenco Dancing

Here's yet another possibility for bringing the world into your classroom. Carmen de Vicente hosts Flamenco/Spanish Dance classes for children throughout the summer and this bodes well for finding someone who would be able to work well with kids. She comes highly qualified to teach since she studied in the most prestigious dance schools in Spain and has a professional resume that would be the envy of most up and coming dancers.

I think there are a couple of ways to approach this which would be either a dance workshop/class or strictly a presentation with a short discussion and explanation afterward. I think this decision will mainly be made based on the costs associated with each possibility. I prefer to have my students actively involved so a class would work best. Be sure to contact her very far in advance so that you can be sure to schedule her for when you would like to study about Spain and the Arab influences of Spain.

Contact Info:
Carmen de Vicente Spanish Dance Academy
3700 S. Four Mile Run Dr.
Arlington, VA 22206
Phone: (703) 684-1949
requiebros123@gmail.com
www.carmendevicente.com

Field Trip #58: Belly Dancing = Cultural Exercise

Right now I feel like I am focused on more opportunities that can be brought to the school as opposed to taking students out of the building. Part of this thinking comes from the fact that I have already started to plan our International Week at Paul PCS which will take place from November 15-19th. So I have not abandoned the idea of getting students out of the building but I am just building up a reservoir of resources that I am trying to tap into for an amazing week at school.

So why not Belly Dancing? Here is yet another example of how a sport, music and now dance can be intricately linked to cultural history. This North African and Middle Eastern dance does not have a specific origin but it is intricately linked to the music, history and culture of that area. Students could research the background of this dance and also explain the outfit and musical instrumentation that accompanies such a dance. Students should not only learn the basic moves but also the cultural context of the dance.

So where do I go to find a Belly Dance teacher? I picked up a flier at Dance Place for an instructor named Moonira. I have since contacted her and hope that we can work something out for international week at school.

Contact Info:
www.moonira.com

Field Trip #57: Chinese Medicine

Culture pervades all aspects of life and I have posted many things about music and sports but I think it is time to focus on medicine. Tracking down a very good Chinese Herbalist and Acupuncturist who is good at presenting to kids could prove to be difficult but I think it will be worth my while because of what it would offer to the students.

There is a small Chinese herbal pharmacy on 7th street just north of H street and I have taken my students there before. I even tried to schedule a talk with anyone who could explain the pharmacy to my students but there were language barriers. I even went through the Chinatown Cultural Community Center with no luck to orchestrate such a meeting. But in a pinch it is worth it to have students walk in there to see all of the teas and also the bins of Chinese herbs that are sometimes being packaged for a remedy right before your eyes. This little shop is called DA HSIN Trading Company right across the street from Fados on 7th street.

But I think it would be really cool to have a certified herbalist/acupuncturist to talk to students and even have a demonstration on their teacher! OK that might not work out but who knows. So I will start my hunt right now for someone who can present Chinese medicine to middle school students. I started my search at the George Washington Center for Integrative Medicine. I'll let you know if I find someone who I think is a good fit for talking to kids about Chinese Medicine.

Contact Info:
GW Center for Integrative Medicine
908 New Hampshire Ave., NW
Suite #200
Washington DC 20037
Phone: 202-833-5055
Fax: 202-833-5755
EM: info@integrativemedicinedc.com
http://www.integrativemedicinedc.com/

Field Trip #56: To the Panyard!

In keeping with yesterday's posting I will add another type of music that is unique and also a cultural lesson. Why not bring a steel band to your school?

The steel drum or steelpan originated in Trinidad & Tobago and evolved from a combination of African and Indian cultural influences as well as historical influences such as the abandonment US Navy oil barrels in the Caribbean. This instrument fits right into a study of culture change, geography, cultural diffusion and also a strong connection to Carnival which in itself touches upon many geography standards.

We are fortunate to be living in Washington, DC because one of the most preeminent steel bands is a short drive away in Brentwood, MD. Pan Masters has been entertaining audiences at carnivals, parties, concerts and events as well as educating kids with visits to schools for years. Contact them to see if you can highlight them aspart of a study of Caribbean culture at your school.

Contact Info:
Pan Masters Steel Orchestra
4559 Rhode Island Avene
North Brentwood, MD 20722
Phone: (301) 864-2610
fax: (301) 864-0212
bookings@panmasters.com
http://www.panmasters.com/

Field Trip #55: Bagpipe Clinic

When you hear the unique drone of the bagpipe it is easy to think of the British Isles and that is where we will go today. The Washington DC Regional Police Pipe Band is a local institution that marches at Scottish and Celtic events around the metropolitan area. This is yet another example how something so different can open up students' eyes to cultural, historical and geographic influences on the way people live in different areas. The bagpipe was perhaps a cultural relic of the Roman Empire that was brought to Scotland or should we say just south of Hadrian's Wall. Once the Scots developed the bagpipe into a more sophisticated instrument it became a hallmark on the battle field due to the fact that it could be heard over the din of war. In fact the bagpipe was considered an instrument of war and outlawed by the British Crown at one point as a way to suppress Scottish independence sympathies.

So there you have a little cultural history based on one instrument! So now how do you make this into a field trip? Well one way is to have the bagpipe come to you. Contact the Police Pipe Band and schedule a band, mini band or an individual to come to your school for an assembly or classroom presentation. Students would not only be able to listen to the bagpipes but also ask questions and maybe even get to touch the bagpipe.

Contact Info:
Email Chris Jackson
wdcrppb@gmail.com

Field Trip #54: Scotch-Canadian Tradition

I am a huge fan of learning about cultures through sports and arts. I think this is very accessible for students at the middle school level because it makes things very hands-on and it also allows students to practice something new that they may just get interested in.

So with that introduction I invite you to take your class to the Potomac Curling Club's main headquarters in Laurel, MD. I went with a group of friends years ago and I remember that it was a very easy introduction to a difficult and exacting sport. You put on a teflon slipper on one shoe if you are to send the stone down the ice while your partner uses the broom to sweep as you go. This sport originated in Scotland and you could spend time learning about the history of the sport and Scotland. You can also connect it to life in Canada as Scottish immigrants brought it to the New World and spread throughout Canada (As well as how it came to the USA). According to the Potomac Curling Club website, 90% of all curlers today live in Canada! So here is yet another example of how multicultural we are as a society and how ideas can diffuse across the world.

It is a fun outing and I highly recommend it!

Contact Info:

Potomac Curling Club
13810 Old Gunpowder Road
Laurel, MD 20707
301-362-1116
http://www.curldc.org/index.php

Field Trip #53: Judaica of Wheaton

Wheaton boasts of many different cultures in and around all the strip malls but I want to focus on a cluster of stores that could really enhance a study of Judaism. In the 6th grade social studies curriculum we are tasked with studying religions and more specifically the architectural aspects of religions (seems a little too specific) and one trip that we have done in the past has always been to visit synagogues when studying about Judaism. Well I want to continue that tradition but also add in that a visit to Max's Kosher Cafe to speak with the Rabbinical supervisor on duty could be just as insightful about Judaism and more importantly insight into daily life.

The great thing about Max's cafe is that it is right next to the Shalom Strictly Kosher market that students could visit to see how some of their favorite snack foods have been altered to be Kosher or also to document the absence of items that they would find in a Safeway. Right next door is also Elli-Chai's One Stop Judaica shop which has books and gift items to celebrate major Jewish events such as weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvah etc. This would be a great shop to visit to talk to the owner about what they carry and also to highlight some specific items in the store that relate to what you want to emphasize in your classes.

Contact Info:
Max's Kosher Cafe & Market
2319 University Blvd. West
Wheaton. Maryland 20902
P: 301.949.6297 (MAXS)
F. 240.290.5133
Maxwebsite

Shalom Strictly Kosher Market

2307 University Blvd. West Wheaton. Maryland 20902 P: 301.946.6500 F. 301.946.1041 Shalomwebsite

Elli-Chai's One Stop Judaica Shop

2305 University Blvd W Silver Spring, MD 20902
301-933-1800