5th Graders take a Trip Around the World

Haya Awad shows how to make a German craft.

BY KARIMA ABOUELKHIR

At the Rooted in Culture Trip Around the World event on February 10, character ambassadors from each Old Bridge elementary school visited OBHS and learned about different cultures. 13 clubs set up posters and activities, such as dances and games, to share their diverse identities with the fifth graders.

The presenters wanted to introduce the youngsters to the diverse cultures in Old Bridge. “I’m someone who has a strong belief that cultures should be appreciated and exposed especially early,” said Haya Awad, who helped with the German Club stand. “It enables such a strong sense of community beyond the ones we are familiar with.”

To prepare, club members gathered items from their cultures and decorated their stands. “My board members helped me include things like tablecloths, traditional clothing, and old pictures and stories of Poland’s geography to look at,” said Izabela Morgan, a member of Polish Club.

Jayden Junaid demonstrates an Afrobeats dance.

Clubs members also shared information about the events they run at OBHS. “We talked about the black diaspora mainly…and how we help to educate others on the diaspora through field trips, and events like Soul Food that help celebrate African American Culture,” said Joshua Kelly from the Black Student Union Club.

Members explained their cultural dishes and traditions. “Some things we talked about were the traditional and most famous polish foods and the different fasting that occurs around holidays. The most famous few [dishes] I would say are Pierogi (potato and cheese kind, or meat, or fruit), gołąbki (stuffed cabbage), and bigos (hunters stew),” said Morgan.

Jolie Vasfailo and Sophia Pavon explain the rules to a game.

Students also used dances to immerse the children in their culture. “Jayden [Junaid] also prepared some moves as the Captain of Step and Afrobeats, which we taught to the kids,” said Kelly.

“I remembered doing Culture Day in third grade and to this day it stuck with me because we got to learn about so many cultures and dances and foods and languages,” said Kelly. The Trip Around the World allowed the fifth graders to celebrate the variety of cultures in Old Bridge. “Getting to participate in the teaching side of an event like that now feels like a full circle moment, where I get to “pass on” a little about my culture and the club I’m proud to be a part of.”

Yousef Dimes holds up chart of hieroglyphics and their corresponding English letters.
Esha Mehta teaches Dandiya Raas, an Indian dance where dance partners hit wooden sticks against each other.
Smrithi Vaddamani holds up a Hindu figure.