Sharing family culture and traditions at Bow Island Elementary

Grade 3 students in Jennifer Tiffin’s class at Bow Island Elementary recently completed a project on oral storytelling to share the culture and/or traditions of each student’s family. Over a series of school days, time was set aside for three or four students to give their presentations. On Wednesday, October 9, the three students presenting were Lucas, Spencer and Braden.

Rather than have the students present in the classroom, Tiffin moved the class down the hallway to an open area so they could sit in a storytelling circle. Prior to lining up to leave the classroom, Tiffin and the class reviewed listening and presenting skills. “The person who is speaking is giving us a little bit of their heart and we want to be respectful of that,” explained Tiffin. Presenters were reminded to speak clearly, make eye contact, and engage their audience. Suggestions by the students on how to be a good listener included not talking during the presentation, watching the presenter, sitting still, and waiting until the end for questions along with asking good questions.

Tiffin recognized Lucas as being the one student who had asked each presenter thus far a great question. “I love that we are not only listening but are asking questions because that shows me that you are really listening,” Tiffin told her class.

Once the students were sitting in the storytelling circle, with pillows in the middle for the presenter to sit on, Tiffin asked the class to tell her why they had undertaken this project. One student said so they could learn how to listen and speak to an audience. “Listening for me is one of the hardest parts of this but also one of the most important parts because listening is tricky,” stated Tiffin. Additionally, sitting in a circle lets the presenter know the other classmates care about them and want to hear what they have to say.  

Lucas was the first presenter and told the circle that each Christmas Eve his grandpa makes yummy Rice Krispie Squares. His mom and dad invite all the family to their house for a gift exchange, which results in the house being full and boisterous. Answering questions from his audience, Lucas said his favourite part of the day was the gift exchange and then he explained how Rice Krispie Squares are made, opening the box he brought to show the class the treats he was planning to share with them.

Spencer brought a storybook of pictures to use his during his presentation and talked about the tradition of feeding their cows using heavy horses hitched to a large wagon load of hay. This tradition has been in his family since the 1980’s, long before Spencer was born. Since Spencer was old enough, a rope has been tied to the back of the wagon so Spencer, along with any friends who are over, can ride in a toboggan behind the wagon. The cows are only fed this way in the winter, Spencer explained, because they can graze in other seasons. When asked his favourite part, Spencer said it was going into the ditches, where the snow is the deepest, on the toboggan, although if he doesn’t manage to steer it onto the tracks, he often tips over.

Braden was the last presenter of the day and explained his family is Mexican Mennonite. One tradition his family practices is to take an annual visit to his grandparent’s house to help with butchering the cows and chickens then making sausages. Another one is travelling to Mexico each Christmas to spend time with family and friends. Braden brought some sausages his family made with him to class for sharing. When asked how difficult they are to make, Braden said he didn’t know because his grandma makes the sausages each year. His favourite part of these two traditions is the travelling.  

The class had briefly discussed earlier in the year that making connections is one way we can comprehend the world around us. Tiffin explained to her students that this project is about making connections through personal stories, highlighting how Braden and Spencer shared similarities in their stories. Another similarity is having large family get togethers at Christmas or making Rice Krispie Squares with a family member, which most students in the class could identify with. While the project examined what is unique for each student, it also showed each other what they have in common.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer