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WEEK of January 3, 2005
@BFS! archives

Toyland!

by Jeffrey Stanley

Holidays here and around the world were explored in an exciting way in the green and orange rooms (4- and 5-year-olds) this December when PS 4s Head Teacher Maura Eden oversaw the annual creation of the “toy museum” along with teacher Jennifer Leu and assistant teachers Niamh Dolan and Camille Fobbs. The museum is a temporary exhibit in her classroom celebrating winter holidays here and across the globe. This class project is accompanied by engaging classroom activities during the weeks leading up to the BFS winter vacation.

“We do it at this time because we learn about celebrations around the world and include those that we celebrate with our own families. These include Diwali (from India), Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukah and Three Kings (South America and France), among others. It helps us be aware that there are special days all over the world. We notice that candles and lights are part of many winter holidays. We talk about the early pagan beliefs and also how people have light within and this helps us brighten dark days.”

To emphasize the latter, Eden and her assistant teachers turn out the lights and tell stories with candles, then discuss how tales can be told without picture books. They point out to the students that for years people passed on stories in this very way, “a dying art for many of our children and they love it.”

“We also talk about how many holidays have a gift sharing aspect and often toys for children. That’s where the toy museum comes in.” The exhibit includes not only handmade playthings from around the world but costumes and instruments as well. Many BFS parents get involved in creating the museum, sharing songs from their home countries and lending toys and artifacts to the hands-on display.

The activities culminate in each child choosing a favorite toy to draw and discuss with classmates.

For further reading, Eden recommends the children’s book Celebrations! (DK Publishing, 1997), a colorfully photographed directory of holidays and festivals from major religions and cultures around the world, with a preface written by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Harry Belafonte. The publisher also donates a portion of the book’s proceeds to UNICEF.

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