It’s been a month that I’ve been giving presentations about the Canary Islands in different schools in the town of Kroméříž. And my next post will be dedicated to all of those experiences bu,t in the present one, I’ll focus on what was the biggest and most challenging one for me at Základní škola Zachar.
The seminar was divided into four parts:
To start with, during the first hour I gave a presentation on the Canary Islands. We located them in the map and learned its seven names; we also talked about its flag, typical food and fauna, vulcanos, and the most outstanding traditions for each island (dance of the dwarves, carnival, giant lizard, tajinastes, goat cheese, whistling language, etc). Students had already made a research on the topic, so the presentation was very interactive, with lots of questions.
Two consecutive days of a four-hour program with two groups between 10 and 12 years old. Two boxes of materials, and a cocktail of both nerves and hope. Lights on, action!The seminar was divided into four parts:
To start with, during the first hour I gave a presentation on the Canary Islands. We located them in the map and learned its seven names; we also talked about its flag, typical food and fauna, vulcanos, and the most outstanding traditions for each island (dance of the dwarves, carnival, giant lizard, tajinastes, goat cheese, whistling language, etc). Students had already made a research on the topic, so the presentation was very interactive, with lots of questions.
The morning was full of funny anecdotes, this one is my favourite: While watching the video of the dance of the dwarves in La Palma, some girls jumped out of their desks spontaneously and started to do the dancing, in a minute, the whole class was standing in a line jumping and dancing at the rythm of the traditional melody of the dwarves dance, that all canarians know so well. Check the surprise face of the teacher when she entered into the classroom.
After a break, we continued with the second part of the program. Now it was time for working in pairs on a worksheet with some activities connected to the presentation. They learned some Canarian Spanish words like: guagua (bus), cholas (flip-flops), cotufas (popcorn), etc.
What is this? In groups, they were given pictures with just a detail from different images and they had to guess what it was. Later they could match them with the complete original pictures and label them with their names. They really enjoy it!
Gofio versus Mouka.
Each group received two bowls: one containing normal white flour and a second one with gofio, an ancestral flour from the islands made from roasted grains (normally wheat or corn) and very common in the Canary cuisine. The task was identify which one was gofio, so all of them could smell and taste both flours and also try some small balls of gofio amasado with honey I made. Gofio was everywhere: all over their faces, clothes, tables, the whole classroom smelt of gofio!
Each group received two bowls: one containing normal white flour and a second one with gofio, an ancestral flour from the islands made from roasted grains (normally wheat or corn) and very common in the Canary cuisine. The task was identify which one was gofio, so all of them could smell and taste both flours and also try some small balls of gofio amasado with honey I made. Gofio was everywhere: all over their faces, clothes, tables, the whole classroom smelt of gofio!
After recharging our energy with gofio, it was time for a little bit of history and art. We talked about the Guanches, the aboriginal inhabitants of the islands before the Spanish conquest, and their pintaderas, stamps made from clay decorated with geometric shapes. After the presentation, students made some free artcraft inpired by pintaderas and the guanche alphabet. I promised their works would be taken to the Canary islands to be exhibited in Tenerife.
We were about to finish, but there was still some fun to come. After collecting their pintaderas, children could taste dates and were ready to go out of the classroom. I was waiting for them in the hall with a Czech fairytale they know very well: Dlouhý, široký a bystrozraký by Jaromír Erben. They were sitting in a circle, expeting me to read the story for them: I orn English? or maybe in Czech? They got really surprised when they heard me reading in Spanish. They couldn’t understand a word but they loved it! who wants to try?
Pass the banana
Canary bananas or plátanos are quite famous and a symbol of the islands. That’s why they couldn't miss in the seminar. For our last game, the class was divided into two teams. They lied on the floor in two lines and had to pass a banana backwards with the only help of their feet. It was great fun! Are you reaaady?? GOOO!!
Canary bananas or plátanos are quite famous and a symbol of the islands. That’s why they couldn't miss in the seminar. For our last game, the class was divided into two teams. They lied on the floor in two lines and had to pass a banana backwards with the only help of their feet. It was great fun! Are you reaaady?? GOOO!!
Certificates and farewell
The four hours passed quickly, and it was time to say goodbye. I gave each of them a guanche certificate, flags and a banana thanking them for their participation in the seminar. I called them one by one by their Czech names (this was my last minute challenge!) Both groups worked really enthusiastically and were very grateful.
The four hours passed quickly, and it was time to say goodbye. I gave each of them a guanche certificate, flags and a banana thanking them for their participation in the seminar. I called them one by one by their Czech names (this was my last minute challenge!) Both groups worked really enthusiastically and were very grateful.
I have no words to thank all your signs of affection, guys!! You made it was a GREAT experience for me!! I also want to extend my special thanks to my fantastic coordinator Nataly, for all of her support during these days!! It hadn't been the same without your help! We were crowned as the best and the favourite teachers! ;-)
Some pictures speak for words....your smiles are mine :)