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

Field Trip #52: Karaoke Encore in Wheaton

OK I have already posted an entry dealing with Karaoke so I am not trying to beat a dead horse. This posting has more to do with logistics. This place is in the heart of Wheaton on University Boulevard so imagine doing a large scale Longitude/Latitude scavenger hunt around the strip malls and then head to Color Cafe to debrief.

The Color Cafe is great because I spoke with Eun and she said that they would be willing to open up early for a special occasion such as bringing students around in the middle of the day. She also mentioned that they serve food there but that we could bring in items and drinks. So imagine having a scavenger hunt that entailed picking up items from various markets and then you could eat them there. Also if you had students taking photos and videos think about downloading them directly to a laptop and bringing along a projector so you could debrief the day right then and there in one of their more spacious rooms.

But then end the day by cranking up the stereo system (which can be quite loud!) and have your students singing at the top of their lungs all the latest hits. This Korean establishment downloads all the new songs weekly so you are guaranteed a wide selection.

So think of this place as a pit stop on a field trip where you can debrief and also have some fun.

Contact Info:
Color Cafe

2403 University Blvd W

Wheaton, MD 20902-4509
(301) 962-3560
http://www.menusarang.com/xe/6354

Field Trip #51: Brazilian Kitty-Corner

I headed to Wheaton, MD today and I was blown away by how different cultures are in the strip malls just north of the Metro station. The same activity that I posted in Field Trip #50 could easily be done here too!

I want to focus on a country I have already had trip devoted to and that is Brazil. I was floored to find two distinct Brazilian markets basically kitty-corner to each other at the intersection of University Boulevard and Georgia Avenues. Each market has its differences but at the same time they serve and have similar items.

I'll start with "By Brazil" which is just south of University Boulevard. There is a mini market set up that boasts of cookies, snacks, beauty products and cooking items/spices. There is also a lunch counter and even seats and tables that could accommodate a group of students easily. I also spoke to Emmanuel about bringing a group by and he was very excited about the idea.

There are many different things to eat at the lunch counter but the cool thing is that there are small snacks such as Coxinha which are very typical Brazilian snack/street food. It is basically a tear=drop shaped croquet filled with shredded chicken and a fresh Brazilian cheese. It costs $2 and would be a great snack. There are many other things including Brazilian Coke (Which I am told is very different from Coke here in the USA) and Guarana Soft Drinks which are very typical.

The Brazilian Market is located north of University Boulevard on Granview Avenue and it offers a smaller selection of items from By Brazil but also boasts of a hot lunch time buffet which could be a great stop during a field trip. Speak to Jessica if you want to plan a field trip to include the Brazilian Market.

The great thing about both of these places is that they are frequented by local Brazilians. You will constantly here Portuguese being spoken which also lends itself to how you could best use these places. This would be a great opportunity to set up interview stations in which students could be seated at various tables, they could invite locals to join them for a few questions that relate to what you are studying in Brazil. You would want to definitely OK this with both places and also post signs like a week in advance so that customers would not be floored walking in. The nice thing is that since there are two establishments right near each other you could also separate your class with chaperons and get more people interviewed in a smaller amount of time. This is just an idea but since these places are very much a part of a community it would be worth a try.

Contact Info:
You can call but it also is worth it to go check them out.

By Brazil
11335 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20902-4619
(301) 962-6686


Brazilian Market
11425 Grandview Avenue
Wheaton, MD 20902

Field Trip #50: Around the World in One Parking Lot

The anchor to this shopping center is the GrandMart supermarket which is a combination Asian, Latino and African market. It has a wide variety of items and I was amazed by the variety of live fish for the purchasing. This is interesting to me from the standpoint of a teacher because fish are one of those things we eat in which there is little understanding what the particular breed of fish looks like. We know it is fish but could you tell the difference between Tilapia and Groper? Here is a great opportunity for students to explore another aspect of our food chain by looking at all the products throughout the entire store and more specifically the fresh fish swimming in tanks.

It is hard to create an entire field trip based on visiting the seafood counter of a supermarket but the good thing here is that there are other options that will take you around the world. There is an African supermarket in which you find fufu, spices and a wide selection of dried and smoked meats (whole chickens and fish). Then you will also find a Panaderia Latina where you can buy empanadas, galletas and the soggy milk cake so famous in Mexico (tres leches). There is a Peruvian Rotisserie Chicken place that advertizes itself in Chinese and a Korean restaurant around the corner from a Vietnamese Pho shop. So how would you use all of these places in one trip?

Imagine putting a scavenger hunt together in which you have an unfamiliar item coupled with the Latitude and Longitude of the place where it is from. Students would then need to figure out what part of the world it is from, go to that place, find the item and then shoot a short video about what it is. (Example: 37N, 127E = Bulgoki) This would be a great way to use a corner like this in any neighborhood. You would want to prep the different establishments since they will be barraged with the same questions and also remind students to stick to the sidewalks as it is a working parking lot they will be criss-crossing.

Where to go?
6255 Little River Tpke,
Alexandria, VA 22312

Field Trip #49: Indian Fusion in Alexandria

So today I headed in a different direction and was looking again for a supermarket to be the anchor of my trip. I found out about the Ginger & Spice Market online so I wanted to check it out. This market does not transport you to another place or time due to its conformity with the surrounding strip mall but it does have a ton of authentic Indian wares. This market again would be good for doing a scavenger hunt and for students to buy and taste new and different items that you feel are essential to learning about this part of the world.

Right next door is an interesting bakery called IndAroma and it is a great example of cultural fusion and cultural diffusion. Take for example the croissant filled wit chicken tikka. This is a great melding of European baking traditions with Indian cuisine. Items like this on the menu make this type of establishment conducive to units about culture change. Definitely check it out and enjoy the good food while you determine whether it would fit into your standards for the year. The nice thing here is since they are right next to each other you can have part of the trip focus on India and then the rest of the trip focus on cultural diffusion & adaptation.

Contact Info
Ginger & Spice Market
6548A Little River Turnpike
Alexandria, VA 22312
(703) 916-1818
http://www.gingerandspicemarket.com/


IndAroma Bakery & Cafe
6548 C Little River Tpke,
Alexandria, VA 22312
Main (703) 354-1812
Fax (703) 354-1813
http://www.indaroma.com/

Field Trip #48: Irish Dancing

The Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance in Silver Spring is a great example of how a local dance company can be taken advantage of for a cultural experience.

Irish Dancing is not an activity that can be mastered quickly but it can be an active field trip that can get students interested in learning more. In my experience, activities such as this give students a taste and also an appreciation for different art forms. At the end of a beginning class students not only understand how far they have to go in order to master Irish Dancing but more importantly they can watch an instructor or a video and truly be in awe of the level of skill they are watching.

The Culkin School for Traditional Irish Dance has many different levels of classes as well as different venues for them. You will want to call in order to set up an individualized class if you are going during a school day or just a one time deal and you will want to inquire about having an instructor come to you.

Contact Info
Culkin School for Traditional Irish Dance
PO Box 1866
Silver Spring, MD 20915
(301) 593-9600
culkin.school@verizon.net
http://www.culkinschool.com/

Field Trip # 47: It's Tea Time

Today I decided to follow up on info that I gleaned from the parenting resource guides I picked up at the library. I was intrigued by "Tea With Mrs. B" because I felt that this could be an affordable and authentic tea room that is used to having groups of students come by. So I thought that this would be an appropriate experience in conjunction with a unit of study on England or Ireland.

I called them up and I was pleased to find that they have done similar cultural programs in the past to highlight British high tea and even a Japanese tea ceremony. They also include some sort of craft activity that would connect to the culture in order to round out the hour and a half experience. I loved looking at the pictures online and I could tell that it would fit in nicely with a British style tea experience due to the furnishings and china. The cost of this program would be $35 a student and the ideal maximum would be 18 students. They have accommodated up to 40 students in the past but that would not be the ideal. Be sure to call weeks in advance to schedule a formal tea in this beautiful house.



Contact Info:
Tea With Mrs. B
7740 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
202-448-2930
http://teawithmrsb.com
B@TeaWithMrsB.com

Field Trip # 46: A World of Music

I found this place looking through all those parenting magazines you find for free in libraries. Bill Jenkins World of Music is a great resource that you can tap into when you are trying to bring different parts of the world alive.

Bill Jenkins has amassed a wide variety of musical instruments which he uses at his studio or when he visits schools to highlight Latin America, Asia, Africa, the Middle East and American Roots.

He also has created programs that can highlight instrumentation like "The Four Instrument Families" and "Making Musical Instruments," a program that highlights specific skills like "Using Drums and Rhythms to Teach Math" and programs that highlight specific regions like "Music of the Rainforest", "The Latin Rhythm Section" and "Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome." These programs are all hands on and they enable students to play as well as listen to new musical patterns, instruments and traditions.

Bill Jenkins would be a great resource to bring to your school or for you to add to an all day trip in which he adds the musical element for your day abroad.

Contact Info:
Bill Jenkins World of Music
PO Box 423
Mount Rainier, MD 20712
(301) 699-8704
http://www.billjenkinsmusic.com/

Field Trip # 45: Armchair Traveler

This posting is another type of field trip that you can do in your classroom. I went to Politics and Prose today and I loved the bulletin board that was to the right as I walked in. The staff had created a posting of 92 books and linked them to where they are from on a world map.

This is a great way to infuse geography and world cultures into a Reading or Language Arts class because it forces students to find out where books have come from. I also am highlighting this in my blog because this also represents how Social Studies teachers can emphasize reading in our classes by seeing each text connected to its time and place. If we did this across the board, students would understand the context of where their readings are coming from and ask questions that solicit deeper understanding like about historical, cultural and social contexts.

Definitely check out the bulletin board. It might even help you choose books for the upcoming year. If you start to plan books and readings based on geographic locations also don't hesitate to call up your local librarian who will be more than willing to put together a stack of books that will relate to the area you are studying.





Contact Info:
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20008-2024
(202) 364-1919
http://www.politics-prose.com/

Find your local Librarian:
http://www.dclibrary.org/

Field Trip # 44: Le Cinema for Bastille Day

Today is Bastille Day so I was feeling the need to do something French. I always keep my eyes open to La Maison Francaise to see what is going on at the French Embassy but it wasn't kid friendly this year and their upcoming programming did not scream "bring your students please." So I had to look elsewhere. Where should we go? How about the movies!

That's right, the French love their cinema so we should indulge. I found the best place to do so at the Avalon Theater on Connecticut Avenue. This theater has created what it is calling as the Wednesday Cultural Programs in which it highlights French, Czech and Greek films every Wednesday throughout the month.
Now, I am adding this posting not because there is a movie to see there at this moment but to think about the power that foreign cinema could have in the classroom/field trip.

The first thing to remember is that these movies will be subtitled which means that students will be reading the entire time. This may pose a challenge to your slower readers so definitely prep them and show clips throughout the year of foreign language films so that they will become used to watching subtitles. You may want to give summaries and preview the film as much as possible before watching and also remind students that if they miss a word here and there that it is ok. The main idea is to get the gist of the movie.

Foreign films also show aspects of culture that you will not see in and around the area. It would be good to point out misunderstandings, idiosyncrasies and significant cultural cues as a preview/follow up so that students get as much out of the movie as possible.

Once your students are used to reading subtitles and you have adequately prepped them for the movie you are about to watch, imagine how cool it would be to see it on the big screen! In the end you will have a cultural experience that satisfies social studies and reading content.

Contact Info:
Avalon Theater
5612 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20015
202-966-6000
http://www.theavalon.org/

Another theater that regularly plays foreign language films is:
Landmark's E Street Cinema
555 11th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20004-1300
(202) 452-7672
website

Field Trip # 43: A Menu of Options

I decided to duck into the Parthenon Restaurant on Connecticut Avenue to see about having students watch the making of Baklava or allowing students to light cheese on fire while screaming Opah!
Unfortunately these ideas were met with "we can serve you lunch." So instead of an anticipated hands-on experience I must realize that this would be simply a trip to eat at a restaurant which is hard to justify...unless it topped off a day of visiting St. Sophia's Greek Orthodox Cathedral on Massachusetts Avenue (see Field Trip #28). But the greeter insisted that I take a lunch menu so that I could go over it with my students at school before coming to the restaurant and this gave me an idea.

I realize that many of these trips may seem hard to do because you will need to think so much about logistics and costs. So here is a posting that enables you to connect your classes with the outside world without taking them outside of the building.

Why not bring in menus from area restaurants that relate to the area of the world you are studying? This will enable students to get a sense of all the different types of foods that are available and you could turn that into a mini research project. Students could look up dishes that are unfamiliar, they could research the history of famous dishes or they could use menus in class to choose what to eat and then go with their families on the weekends.

It is not a perfect way to do a field trip but consider it a resource that will enable students to think about the real world and maybe even look forward to doing their homework!




Contact Info:
Parthenon Restaurant
5510 Connecticut Ave. NW - Washington, DC 20015
TEL. (202) 966-7600 FAX (202) 244-2187
www.parthenon-restaurant.com

Field Trip # 42: Karaoke as Cultural Activity

Here is a cultural experience that might be used as a reward trip not necessarily an academic trip. In the United States when most people go out for Karaoke they are imagining a bar and a microphone where you will have to sing to a large crowd and embarrass yourself mercilessly (which might explain why so much alcohol is involved...to dull the pain). But in Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China Karaoke is done in Noraebang which are private rooms where you can gather with your friends, sing at the top of your lungs while getting drunk privately.

Well I am not condoning getting your students to drink but I am suggesting that the Noraebang is a great way in which you could host a private Karaoke party as a class. The reason why this would be less academic is because any Korean/Japanese/Chinese song on the machine would be indecipherable for students so they will need to be singing in English. So this trip would be mainly a parade of top 40 hits sung by your students at the top of their lungs. Sounds great!

You can generally order appetizers and at FM in Rockville you will have a hip menu which can heighten the cultural experience. Notice that the picture in this posting is taken from a Chinese language newspaper. There we go again. I have no business reading this thing but low and behold I am able to figure out that this is not only an add for Karaoke but also coupled with a 10% discount! Rock On!

This place is not too far from the Twinbrook Metro station and therefore only a stop south of where the dueling Chinese supermarkets are of Rockville. Why not cap the supermarket day off with a chorus sing along at FM Karaoke?

Contact Info:
FM Karaoke
2131 Veirs Mill Rd
Rockville, MD
(301) 545-1191
http://fmkaraoke.com/

Field Trip # 41: Russian Cultural Center

So After scouring the Russian Yellow Pages I was able to find some cool dance studios, plenty more supermarkets (mostly in Reisterstown, Maryland) and the Russian Cultural Center of Maryland.

This is a great resource because there is so much going on there that you will want to figure out how to get a group of students to take advantage of two things.

The first is the Chess Club. It looks like it could be pretty open to anybody and that there are all levels at play. This would be a great end to a unit in which you study how to play chess and some of the Russian masters...then go to the Russian Cultural Center and try your students minds and hands at a fun competition.

The other item on their website is "Birthday Parties in Russian Traditions." Now when I followed this link to find out what was there it was completely written in Russian so I could not make heads nor tales of it. But imagine calling them up and asking more info and planning a Russian Birthday Party. It could be pretty cool. In fact this makes me think about how teachers oftentimes have one birthday celebration a month for birthdays...why not celebrate each month in a different way. It could also be cool just to show up and request a birthday party even if it is no one's birthday. The experience would still be worth it.

Another program to check out is the Eminence Dance School which would be great to visit, schedule them to come to your school or even try to catch them as the perform in a local event. Last year they performed at the Russian Bazaar (See Field Trip #27 ).

It is surprising what you can find in a Yellow Page book when you still can't really read it!

Contact Info:
Russian Maryland Cultural Center
PO Box 55
Columbia, MD 21044
443-527-4375
www.myrmcc.com


Eminence Dance School
8810 Postoak Rd.
Potomac, MD 20854
410-935-0225 or 202-465-6465

Field Trip# 40: Research at Russian Gourmet

This posting is more of a process posting. I mean that I would not necessarily suggest that you take a group of students to Russian Gourmet in Rockville because it is small and does not offer much for a class to do. But the important thing is to think like a researcher when you come across places like this.

It is very unassuming on the outside and when you enter you are greeted by a few rows of dry goods. This is a good start where you can pick up some candies, bread or even pickles for your students to taste at school. You can use this place to gather supplies for a more involved trip. But that is not the point of this posting. Every little market becomes a clearinghouse of information for the community and Russian Gourmet is no different.

As I walked in the front door I noticed posters on the wall that highlighted cultural activities in the area. Then I saw the best resource of all...the Russian Yellow Pages! This small volume of Cyrillic advertisements was mainly useless to me but since every place offered a website I could manage to find some interesting places.

Take a look at this ad in the Yellow Pages for RussianDC.com, there are almost no explanations in English and the only thing I recognize is the title, the phone number and the fact that it is a website.

So I jumped on the website today to see what I could find and I was amazed that it led me to some cool sites that I would have never found on my own (mainly because they are in Russian). So I will post some cool places in the next few days but I just wanted to explain how useful it is to just hit the streets and look at local bulletin boards as a launching pad to figuring out some cool places to go.

Contact Info:
Russian Gourmet
11431 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
Tel.: (301) 816-0550
www.russiangourmet.com


Close by is also European Delight (which I found out using the Yellow Pages)

1488 Rockville Pike, Suite 1
Rockville, MD 20852

(866) 912-0798

Field Trip # 39: Pachanga at the Supermarket

Here is another supermarket field trip but a totally different experience. Head to Megamart Supermarket in Rockville with your students to get a feel for Central America. One of the things that strikes me as I walk into Megamart is that there are many products that are similar to Safeway or Giant so it is not as different as Kam Sam or Maxim so that means that you will need to take advantage of the truly Latin items in this market so that means two things: Pinatas and snack foods.

As you walk into the market you will first notice the music blasting merengue and cumbia music as well as the pinatas hanging from the ceiling. So here is my suggestion of how to use this supermarket: have your students first choose a pinata that connects to something that you are studying in class at that time and then have them shop for items that can be put inside. This means that you will want to bring their attention to items that are from specific countries so that you can bring their attention to interesting differences between cultures. You will find goat's milk caramel lollipops from Mexico at the check-out stand. You will also find a whole snack center boasting items from El Salvador like cinnamon gum, coconut bars, and peanut candies. There are also plenty of baked goods from the well known Mexican bakery called Bimbo.

You will want to really prep students so that they have a criteria for items to place in the pinata. So that will mean coming to the market beforehand and maybe taking pictures or buying items to take back to class so that students will understand what types of items will be allowed in the pinata.

So how does this make this an educationally viable trip? Once they have created a pinata with authentic Central American candies and goodies, bring it back to class break it open and then delve into writing essays that compare and contrast the snack foods with items that are regularly found here. You will be connecting to geography by asking why coconut, tamarind and chilis are common ingredients in candies from Central America. You could also have students research the history and significance of pinatas. These will be follow up activities but don't forget the significance of assigning students to walk into the doors of a place they would normally never walk in, to interact with communities with which they are not familiar and to rely on themsleves to navigate a language that they may not speak. These are the experiences that build self-reliance and awareness of what is outside their own communities. These are lessons worth teaching.

Contact Info:
Megamart Supermarket
11790 Parklawn Dr.
Rockville, MD 20852
Tel: 301-770-7400
www.megamartlatino.com
PS: If you go to the website there is a great video that gives you the specials for the week and it would be fun to watch it before going so that students get a sense of what is for sale.

Field Trip # 38: Compare Contrast Chinese Shopping

The point of this trip is to compare two big Chinese supermarkets that are right next to each other in Rockville. These supermarkets are huge in comparison to the smaller corner stores that you would find in DC which means that there are more products and also more room to fit a group of students. So why would you bring your students to a supermarket for a field trip?

Remember when you were in second grade and going to the post office or a local bakery was considered an acceptable field trip? Well think of this in the same manner but just as you were young and naive in second grade now you are a novice in another culture. So pack up your class and head to Maxim and Kam Sam markets which are basically across the street from each other.

You can structure this in so many different ways but I really think that you should try to use both of them in one day. First take it all in and check out the products that you may have never seen before.
These pictures give you a sense of the market and also Durian fruit and Shark Fin Soup which can be found in Kam Sam.

It is fun to check things out but lets start thinking about how this can be used academically. One idea is that you can compare prices at each market. The idea behind this is students could go to one market first to find and become familiar with items and then see how much better they can find items in the second store. They then can tabulate prices and make a decision of which market would make more sense. This would incoporate math skills and also get students familiar with new products that you can connect to a study of Chinese foodways.

A second idea could ease the numbers of your class and you could have a scavenger hunt in each market but split the numbers of students up so that you do not overwhelm one store. As always you will want to prep students so that they know how to act in an active supermarket so that they do not disturb other shoppers or offend shoppers through their behavior. You may want to come to each store and give them a heads up that you are coming but if your numbers are pretty low then you could just show up. Definitely go beforehand to get a sense of what things you would want your students to find.

Contact Info:
Kam Sam
300 North Washington St.
Rockville, MD 20850
301-315-9558

Maxim Supermarket

460 Hungerford Dr
Rockville, MD 20850

(301) 279-0110

Field Trip # 37: Cultural Mexico

Here is a place that I have walked by on a regular basis and never have gone in during all the years that I lived in Adams Morgan. But so is life, we don't tap into the richness around us unless we are pushed and I guess that is the point of this blog.

So as I was riding home today I stopped in to the Mexican Cultural Institute and I was AMAZED by how cool this place was. It also would be a great place to bring a group of students.

As you walk in you will notice the amazing murals that line the walls of the grand staircase. Roberto Cueva del Rio painted a series of murals that depict Mexican history, culture, geography, progress and independence. Each mural lines a staircase so they rise the entire height of this four story building. It would be great to prep students about each mural and also have them investigate the symbols and stories related to each mural as they walk up the stairs. I really believe that each level could be at least a 20 minute discussion or longer lesson if you create activities to connect to the imagery.

But the murals are only part of what makes this place so beautiful. The mansion in which the Mexican Cultural Institute is housed was bought in 1921 and decorated to reflect the grandeur and culural richness of old Mexico. You will find Talevera adorning a lightfilled kitchen area that has a glass ceiling. There are also other rooms that hint of colonial influences in painting and in furnishing. It is truly a beautiful building and definitely worth checking out even if you can't manage to bring a group of students here.



So what should you do once you have visited the Cultural Institute? Why not grab a bite to eat at Mixtec in Adams Morgan. This is a great little place that can house pretty big groups. You have a full Mexican menu along with a wide selection of Tortas which could be an economical lunch for around $10 each. Throw in a bottle of Jaritos and you are set to recap all that you learned at the Cultural Institute earlier that day. Always remember to contact restaurants before to make sure that all is ready for you. Enjoy!



Contact Info:
Mexican Cultural Institute
2829 16th Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20009-4204
(202) 728-1628
For group tours ask for Pilar Orozco


Mixtec Restaurant
1792 Columbia Road NW
Washington, DC 20009-2805 -
(202) 332-1011

Field Trip #36: Germany Downtown

Today's trip finds me in a similar dilemma to yesterday in that I am trying to recreate the feeling of being in Germany with limited opportunities downtown...but once I go exploring I realize that it is not necessarily the case!

I started my journey by going to the Goethe Institute on 7th street NW and I figured that this German Cultural Institute would be a great place to bring a class. It is not very conducive to bringing a class since there is little going on here. The education director told me that he has welcomed German language classes to the Institute and basically gave a tour in German. Unless you have a German class then this would not be the best. But the great thing about starting here is that you can ask questions and pick up pamphlets to see what else is going on. Just an aside, you will want to look at the Goethe Institute's calendar of events because they may have some cool films or activities that you could bring your students to see.

Just around the corner on 6th street you will now find the newly opened German American Heritage Museum. This little museum aims to show the rich cultural heritage of German immigrants and the contributions they have made to society. They are advertising Einstein and Babe Ruth to name a few. It is only open on Thursdays and Fridays during the week so you would want to make sure that you schedule a visit during those days. You can do your pre-visit research on Saturday or Sunday since they are also open then. Once you have visited here it is time to taste German culture!



A little bit of a walk away on G street you will come to Cafe Mozart which is probably the most unassuming cultural experience in the city. This Viennese cafe looks very unassuming from the street but as you walk in you will notice that there is a full service Vienna Coffee bar, German beers on tap, loads of German deli sandwiches to choose from,
a German/Austrian/Polish mini mart to marvel over and in the back a

full service German/Austrian restaurant with live accordion music once a week! This place blew me away with all the different things it had to offer. So have your students sip some coffee, taste some treats and even listen to live music if you are there at the right time! Definitely go by and pick up a music schedule and talk to the staff to see about scheduling a lunch and possibly private serenade.


Now it is off to another downtown German Gem. The United Church or the Die Vereinigte Kirche is one of the only German language congregations still in existance in downtown DC. It is a walk past the White House from Cafe Mozart but it could be worth it. You see in this sign that there is a German Children's Choir singing on July 16th. This choir is not from this church but a touring from Europe. It would be good to go check out the concert to get a feel for the congregation and to see if there is anyway to incorporate a school visit, like maybe a talk with the German Pastor about the history of the church or even staying in contact to see if there are any other German events happening at the church throughout the year. Who knew that there was so much German culture downtown?

Contact Info:
Goethe Institute
812 Seventh Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001-3718
USA
Tel. +1 (202) 289-1200
Fax +1 (202) 289-3535
www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/enindex.htm

German American Heritage Museum
719 6th Street NW Washington, DC 20001
P: 202 467-5000 • F: 202 467-5440 • Toll-free: (866) 868-8422
www.gahfusa.org/gahm/gahm.html

Cafe Mozart
1331 H Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20005-4729
(202) 347-5732

The United Church/Die Vereinigte Kirche
1920 G Street NW
Washington, DC 20006
Phone: (202) 331-1495
www.theunitedchurch.org