Celebrating diversity

Students from Judy Kozora’s first grade class wear paper hats with flags that reflect their family heritage.

Aquebogue Elementary School first-grade students are celebrating American cultural diversity this month.

The hallway of the first grade wing is lined with paper dolls dressed in costumes that reflect the familial heritage of these young students. Hanging above each of the dolls is the story of this young person’s family heritage complete with pictures, research, and family stories. Inside the classrooms, the mood is festive, small tables in each of the first grade classrooms are laden with a variety of delicious looking foods. Small first grader’s heads are adorned with paper hats bearing flags from Australia, Mexico, Spain, Greece, Germany, Thailand, Moroco, Ghana, China. Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Afghanistan, Hungary, India, Bolivia, Italy, Iceland, Lebanon, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, Sweden, Poland, Holland, and the United States of America. These are just a few of the countries that are represented in one of the classrooms. This list reflects the diverse cultural heritage of first grade students at the Aquebogue Elementary School in Riverhead.

“I’m from Iceland,” one little blonde girl shares as she points to her hat.

As part of their social studies curriculum, first graders study families and communities.

Through their studies, stories, folktales, oral history, research, and nonfiction sources, the students begin to recognize that culture is “learned behavior that includes customs, beliefs, rules, language, food and clothing.” They also learn to appreciate the diversity of their classmates and the beliefs, customs and traditions they bring into the classroom and into their communities that enriches them all. In addition, the students learn to “get along” and to respect all the traditions that are embraced by being a citizen of the United States of America.

Their studies in social studies, geography, civics, citizenship and government culminate with an “International Buffet” that includes foods brought to the table by the families represented in each classroom. Room 33’s luncheon menu included: a rasberry streusel bar from Germany, Irish soda bread from Ireland, pita bread with dip from Greece, mangoes from Africa, spaghetti and meatballs from Italy, Babka from Poland, Italian cookies, and cornbread from the USA. It is a tasty treat to be an American!

-Submitted by Sandra Kolbo, Riverhead Central School District