by Karl Schaefer
February 10, 2005
Page 6 : 3rd Annual Workshop is a Success
Editor's Note: The images that are being used were taken last year by Karl Schaefer when he was a participating NC teacher. We have yet to transmit any images this year. January 31, 2005
Message from Juliette Jones of Carolina International School
"It's hot in Africa," a UNITE teacher exclaimed! Yes it is. :) Today we went on a field experience exploring natural caves and crater lakes. It was a great opportunity to investigate the beautiful (but hot) Ugandan countryside. The workshop has been very successful. I was surprised and encouraged by the excitement of the Ugandan teachers. They have embraced the ideas of conservation presented at the workshop. Many teachers have already been incorporating the concept encouraged by UNITE; students have planted trees and one school is working to preserve wetlands near their school. NC Teachers shared an Earth Education curriculum with the Ugandan teachers. The curriculum centers around five secrets of the earth. The Ugandan teachers learned these secrets and then worked in small groups to create lessons so that they could teach these secrets to their class of 100 students. Wow! We enjoyed the role-playing of lions eating a giraffe, a dramatization of deforestation, and songs about mother earth. I was also happy to hear that the teachers here can use all the lessons that I taught about air, water, and soil cycles as the concepts of cycling have just been introduced to their curriculum.
NC teachers also learned much from the Ugandans. I think that we all have a better understanding of and love for Uganda. We have much to share with our students at home. School supplies bought with donated monies were also distributed as well as pen pal letters. Sister schools will be created and students will have a pen pal to communicate with so that our connection to these Ugandan schools continues to grow. The fifth secret of the workshop was: You can make a difference. Ugandan teachers discussed how student groups such as their Wildlife Clubs could help to clean up around the schools and educate the community about conservation. How can YOU make a difference at home in America as well as here in Uganda?
Personal Note: Happy early Birthday to my brother Aaron. I will bring you back something fancy from Africa! I also send my love to my family, friends and especially my students in the states. P.S. I enjoyed the world's best avocado and pineapple, today. Yummy!
Message from Lib Keeter of Randleman Middle School
Today we all dressed in our U.N.I.T.E. T-shirts, loaded in the vans and took a fieldtrip to the caves. There I learned yet another source of calcium to build strong bones and teeth. We walked deep into the forest floor and came upon a cave of stalagmites (which grow up from the ground. they "mite" reach the roof of the cave) and the stalactites (which grow down from the roof of the caved). When the two meet this produces a single column. There is a constant trickle of white liquid that drops from the stalagtite, this liquid is calcium. There is an African story that goes along with this of which I will share in the African oral tradition when I see you all again! To the left of the cave we came upon a big water fall.... several Ugandans and I climbed behind the water and caught the water in bottles, we got wonderfully wet in the process...and guess what, this water contains natural calcium pouring directly from our Mother Earth. My new friend, Kakai (which means the small calabash for porridge to be stored in at the time of her birth there was a great harvest of millet and sorghum to make the porridge and that is how she got her name) and I were the ones who collected the water.... we laughed a lot as we gathered and drank the water. Kakai is taking some for her children to drink as a supplement to build strong bones and teeth.
The most amazing cultural education I've come upon is that of the bicycle. They carry everything upon this bodaboda...today I saw a bed frame being tied on one, seven banana bunches (3 feet long and 1 and a half feet wide) and notebooks for schools (school began today for the students in Uganda). I met a young boy named David, he has a bike, and he let me ride down the good red dirt roads. I smiled the whole time! Love to you all and Namaste!
Message from Fran Hamilton of Randleman Middle School
News flash!! The power's out and I'm typing this message from the moonlight!! Mr. Fitz, Ms. Brown, and Ms. Enloe.... your soccer balls will be delivered tomorrow, and you can look forward to a surprise in return!! Fitz, you get something personal for yourself!! To my family and friends in the USA and Australia...I miss you and love you all. Be safe, and I'll be home soon!
Message from Sarah McCorcle of Cape Fear Center of Inquiry
Hello again everyone! To the sixth graders- I have learned so much about Ugandan culture in the past two days. Yesterday, the Ugandan teachers taught us about the naming ceremony that every person has when they are born. They are given names according to what is going on during the time of their birth. Some of the names meant: on the way, be patient, thank God, and Gods mercy, not yet, you get what you ask for, and everything will be all right. I wrote them all down and will share them with you when I return. Also, they shared folktales (remember we learned about these???) that they tell to teach lessons. Guess what, you will be learning about them in RWW when I get back!!!
To my family- I took a look at the stars last night and thought of all of you- we are far away, but under the same sky. All my love. Justin- keep your phone with you the next few days! Faculty. We miss you, and are brining back a special surprise for our clan. You WILL be weirded out.
Message from Beth Carter at CFCI
Hello, all dolphins, my family, and special greetings to first grade at CFCI. Brian, er uh, Brain...you would have been proud of Sarah and me as we presented Day 1 of the workshop. I thought of you as we guided discussion. The Ugandan teachers did role-plays, visual charts and flow maps, charades, and wrote in their journals in reflection quite a bit. Your spirit is here. They want to meet Grayson and Joanne. To my class: I am trusting that you are working hard on the animal books and are making Clarissa and Ms. Raddack proud of you, and that you are proud of yourselves! Today, we walked through a herd of about 20 cows on our hike. One calf had no hair, and the Ugandans told us that when a calf is born with no hair, it is descended from the King's cows. A l2 year old boy was herding them with a piece of a machete...I think he had the job of herding and cutting bushes at the same time. We see funny monkeys each day in the trees near dark. J, K, and R, I hope you are having a good week...I miss you and the pups.
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