Charter school parents go on a world tour
Forrest M. Bird Charter School students created a booth on the Amazon Rainforest. —Photo by LYNNE HALEY
-- Photo by LYNNE HALEY Josh, left, and Gabe, right, fifth-graders at Forrest M. Bird Charter School, told tales of Jerusalem and Ireland at the recent World's Fair.
-- Photo by LYNNE HALEY Julia C., right, a student at Forrest M. Bird Middle School, created a display about Australian aborigines. A classmate stands in the background.
SANDPOINT — Some whirlwind world tours take a matter of mere days, but they do not allow travelers much time to learn about any one country. In contrast, the World's Fair held at Forrest M. Bird Middle School Thursday offered a wealth of information about many countries across the globe.
Sixth- and seventh-graders provided information about each country's geography, customs and culture. Eighth-grade students specialized in the natural disasters particular to each region. Together, they provided parents, siblings, grandparents and friends with the kind of in-depth understanding of other lands that is impossible to get on a speeding tour bus.
Emma helped create a display about the Amazon region, complete with neatly drawn maps, toy creatures and vines. Alexie Garcia and Landon Steel worked together on a display about Native Americans. They wore costumes they had made and offered visitors the chance to try their skill on a miniature bowling lane.
"When they (Native Americans) got bored, they invented things to do, like bowling," said Garcia.
Julia, wearing aboriginal face paint, created a display on the natives of Australia, complete with an didgeridoo and a recording of what the instrument sounds like.
"If my dad were here, he could play it for you," she said.
Josh and Gabe shared a space, with Josh specializing in the history of Jerusalem, and Gabe speaking about Ireland. Josh wore real chain mail — "It's heavy," he said — while Gabe wore a kilt and sporran. He had made Irish soda bread and potatoes, favorites of the Emerald Isle.
The students had the chance to practice their culinary skills at home prior to the event, making samples of food from their countries to offer fair-goers. Baked goods, coconut fudge and native fruits were some of the dainties on offer.
Middle School Principal Jennifer Greve met visitors at the door with blank passport booklets. She requested that each person ask students about their countries and the associated natural disasters to test their knowledge. At each booth, a student signed the booklet next to the name of his or her country, and once their tours were finished, those attending turned the passports in.
The students can look at the booklets later and see how they did, Greve said.