First up: Halloween. My school was supposed to do this big Halloween event that evening. Usually, they do it during the day. But this year there was supposed to be trick-or-treating in the neighborhood, as well. The PTA determined, however, that they did not think it was a good use of our time or money, and therefore we would not be doing it. Needless to say, I was slightly disappointed. Not only had we planned the whole thing (they canceled the event 2 days before it was scheduled), but I was really looking forward to it. Halloween was something all of our co-schools had talked about doing- it's really one of the American holidays that translates over here.
Anne and I decided to do Halloween with our classes anyway (subsequently, I did Halloween activities for 3rd-5th grade, too). We did a mini-event with some of the same activities we were going to do on Halloween night, including eating donuts suspended in the air, bobbing for oranges, fishing for Halloween words, and pin the hat on the witch. All the students dressed up, and for those who didn't, we supplied face paint.
Donuts waiting.
They all thought it was really easy. "TEEEACCCHER, this is so EEEASSSSY." But then they couldn't do it.
Somehow the whole aspect of blindfolding the kids didn't get across...
Fish a "witch."
My 1-B class. I had devil horns on. They all thought I was an ant. Or a goat. At least they're putting the vocabulary words that they know to good use (G-G, guh-guh, G, guh GOAT!). I suppose we shouldn't teach them the word "devil" just yet.
1-A. Note the Harry Potter, Scream mask and... Zorro without a mask in the back?
Always need one (or twelve) princes(ses).
My self-made "In a Dark, Dark Wood" big book.I think the students really loved it- they certainly liked the costume aspect. The biggest hit this year: the scream mask that dripped blood.
We've been rehearsing for this big English competition (English Easy Go) since September. All of our schools are involved, as well as many other schools in the area. There are two portions: the song/dance competition and the Reader's Theater competition. I was only supposed to be working on the song/dance portion, but somehow got involved with our school's Reader's Theater kids as well. While it involves students in grades 1-6, Anne decided that we'd get "cute points" if we had our younger students do the song/dance. 15 students in 1st-4th grade. Singing. Dancing. Practicing 3 times a week. At least the Reader's Theater portion was the older students. Both groups were judged on creativity, costume, pronunciation, overall performance, etc. The competition was this past Saturday. Apparently, all of our rehearsals must have paid off, because we came in 2nd place in the song/dance competition. I was so proud of my kids!
Reader's Theater students with some dads and the principal (on the far right).
OBVIOUSLY to sing "Good day, Sunshine," "Twinkle, twinkle little star," and "I can sing a rainbow," we'd dress our kids in glitter and reflective tape. I mean, what else would they wear?
This is exactly how I felt when English Easy Go was over.
