G'day From Down Under
Mr. Levy's first grade class celebrated Australia Day on Monday, with a little help from Aussie mom Anne Gordon and her class-member-son Charles Eldridge.
Australia Day (Jan 26th) marks the arrival of the first settlers to this great, far away land 220 years ago. Visiting Australia was, of course, a wee bit impractical for these 1st graders and so the name of the game was to bring the sights, sounds and tastes of Australia to Brooklyn.
The 'show-and-tell' began with a look at some blow-up images of iconic Aussie scenes, inhabitants and activities, including The Great Barrier Reef; Sydney Opera House & The Harbor Bridge; Kangaroos & Koalas; Snakes and Spiders; The Outback; Flying Doctors; Boomerangs and Didgeridoos; and the nations obsession with sports like Cricket, Surfing and Aussie Rules Footie,
Meanwhile, with some assistance from a CD player, the children got a chance to listen to the unique sounds of the didgeridoo as well as the morning chorus in an Australian rainforest, featuring all manner of wildlife like the distinctive sounds of the Kookaburras. (Neither of which you're likely to hear on Hicks Street that often.)
And then there was a taste of Australia, in the form of the world-famous vegemite sandwich and its cousin, the sprinkles sandwich - both much loved by Aussie kids.
Finally each went home with a little goodie bag featuring an Aussie flag and a tiny Aussie animal of various sorts. (Not real ones.)
Now these 1st graders know why those who take up Australia's invitation to "Come And Say G'day" all come home with one question in mind: when can I go back?
Posted on: January 29, 2008
