To Bloom or not to Bloom

“This is for you,” she announced as she handed me a ruby red leaf.

“Why thank you, Cara,” I exclaimed as I received it. “Do you know what kind of leaf this is?”

“An autumn leaf!” was the reply.

“You’re right, it is a lovely autumn leaf, but it’s also a maple leaf.” I informed her. “I’ll place it in this vase on my desk and it’ll remind me of you when I look at it.”

 

When you teach in a primary classroom, you’re frequently presented with special, seasonal gifts and surprises and you never know what stories will transpire out of them!  In autumn, you might receive a pretty leaf or caterpillar.  Winter wonders can include frosty pine cones, or perhaps a sparkling row of icicles might be pointed out during a walk across the yard with your class.  Spring, with new buds and blossoms bursting forth, could bring any number of plants!  

Fistfuls of brilliant blossoms presented by beaming youngsters are as common in my classroom each spring as robins tweeting on boughs and branches.  This year is no exception!  As usual, I stuff the dandelions into a vase, jar or whatever container is available.   We enjoy the blooms for a few days and once they start drooping, we discard them, and they’re soon replaced by yet another bright bouquet plucked by one of my precocious primary pupils. 

Before school let out for the summer, one such posy graced our staff room table; several blooms had sadly hung their tired heads. 

As usual, at the end of the day, my students pick a library book for their home-reading and were now lined up and waiting for me to sign out their selections.  “Oh,” one loquacious lass exclaimed as she gazed at the bouquet, “Your bloomers are down.”

Before I had time to give her the definition of said garment, a young lad peered at her somewhat appalled and sternly stated, “Those are underwear!”

What could I do but shake my head and enjoy a chuckle as I started planning for another school day; perhaps wondering what underthings will be brought to light next.

No Cats

 

Aunt Susie does not like cats!

“The neighbours got rid of their cats’ house,” Aunt Susie announces, “Now their cats have moved to our front porch! What are we to do?  They’ll be underfoot whenever we cross the porch.” 

 

Die Sanna Basl will kanna Katzlen!

“These cats look hungry,” she murmurs, watching from her living room window.

“There’s left-over chicken in the fridge,” Linda says. “Shall I set it out for them?”

“Yes, but let’s warm it up first, they can’t consume cold cuisine.”

Aunt Susie does not care about cats.

“I wonder where the cats spent the night,” Aunt Susie worries. “They weren’t on the porch this morning.”

Aunt Susie is not concerned about kittens.

“Those poor things seem hungry again,” laments Sanna Basl, “and we’ve just enjoyed a delicious dinner.” 

“Here’s a bit of roast duck,” Elma exclaims, “I’ll take it out for them,”

“No, let it cool off a bit,” Aunt Susie cautions. “They might burn their tender
tongues.”

Die Sanna Basl gleicht kanna Kotzen!

“It’s getting chilly during the night,” Sanna Basl states, “We’ll put out a cushion and a cardboard box.”

Aunt Susie is not fond of felines.

 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Who does not like cats?

Hutterite Immigration Learning Sequence

 

One of the units Manitoba students study in grade 2 Social Studies, is Canadian Communities.  It is here that students learn about the first Canadians and people who immigrated to Canada.  One of the outcomes from this unit states that “students will recognize that many people came to Canada from other parts of the world to establish communities.”  For me this is the ideal opportunity to give my students their first introduction to Hutterite immigration! 

 Following are activities I’ve used to teach this outcome:

Introduction

I have several picture books on immigration which I’ve listed at the end of this post.  My favourite one however, is When Jessie Came Across the Sea by Amy Hest.  I use this as a spin-off to discuss the concept of immigration and Hutterites coming to America.

Mapping

To trace back from where their local colony originated, I use the Hutterite Members App or a Hutterite phone book.  The Members App has a “Colony Tree” feature where we traced Elm River’s origin all the way back to Alvinz, Transylvania.  I created cards where I recorded each colony’s name, country, flag and years of existence.  Some of these communities are extinct, while others continue to thrive. 

On a world map mounted on a bulletin board, the students used string to connect the cards, which are stapled above the map, to the places on the map.  Next, they complete the BLM: Hutterite Immigration, recording the country names and drew and coloured the flags.

Suitcase Project

Discussion: What would Hutterites have brought along when they came to America.  What would they not be able to bring along?  Brainstorm what students would pack in their own suitcases if they had to move to a different country.  Send home a copy of the letter explaining the project to their parents.  At home, they make a display of their chosen items and email the photo to their teacher to print.  Create a suitcase out of construction paper.  Fill in BLM: Traveling to a New Land  by listing the items they would take along.  Draw the items or glue the photo inside the “suitcase.”  Attach a name tag with students’ full name and address. Students can decorate their suitcase with travel related stickers. 

Hutterite Soup Beans

One item that someone, perhaps a gardener, had the foresight of bringing to America are Hutterite Soup Beans.  These can be purchased / ordered from the Heirloom section of seed stores / catalogs.   To tie in science, (parts of plants, needs of plants, etc.) plant them with the students and have them take care of them. 
If possible, make bean soup.  An article about beans can be found at Manitoba Co-operator website: An Heirloom Harvest Spurs memories by Linda Maendel.  To read it click here.

Story Telling

Invite Dora Maendel from Fairholme to come (or on ITV) tell the Maendel Story and/or Sonn Ankela Story

Music Connection

A song is currently being composed by Butch Wipf and Dora Maendel about Hutterite immigration.  Once it’s completed, a recording of it will be added here.

 

Books

• A Light Kindled by Tracy M Leininger (a pilgrim story of home)
• Anna’s Goats by Janice Kulyk Keefer (a story of hope and memories)
• Spoken memories by Aliki (immigration memories)
• Thank You Canada by Andrea Lynn Beck (celebrating our country’s strengths)
• Hutterites in Canada by Frances Purslow (history of Hutterite communities in Canada)
• The Whispering Cloth by Pegi Deitz Shea (a refugee story)
• Gleam and Glow by Eve Bunting (finding hope)
• When Jessie came across the sea by Amy Hest (immigration memories)