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As students file in, the Chinook Middle School history and cultural studies teacher welcomes them with “hi” and “jambo,” a greeting in Swahili.
White’s classroom has been transformed into a place where students can sample the tastes, sounds, sights and feel of the world’s second-largest continent. Bright-colored zebra stripes are everywhere, covering one of White’s desks.
African studies is part of a two-year rotating curriculum about cultures around the world.
“I think it’s very cool; it’s my favorite class,” said eighth-grader Riley Campbell, 13. “I went to Africa twice, and it was really interesting.”
Last year, White taught Hispanic and Asian studies. This year, she’s teaching African studies in the fall, and Native American studies in the spring.
The courses are part of the school’s cultural enrichment program and are meant to be hands-on and interactive, White said. Eventually, the lessons will blend into discussion about African American identity and culture, she added.
North Thurston Public Schools is South Sound’s largest and most diverse district; about 55 percent of the students in the school system are white, according to the state Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
At Chinook Middle School in Lacey, about 60 percent of the students are white. Its largest minority groups are Hispanic, Pacific Islander and Asian.
So far, the class has featured units on geography, animals and music of Africa. White also plans to teach about the continent’s economy, political systems, food and culture, as well as other issues.
“We actually have quite a few teachers who have been to Africa, and they’re going to come in as guest speakers,” she said.
Last week, students used some traditional tools such as wood, rocks and rice and some nontraditional but convenient products such as paper cups and masking tape to create their African-style instruments.
“The most powerful musical instrument you can have is your body,” White said as she clapped.
The students practiced making short beats, long beats and cross beats – which are important parts of African music tradition, White said.
With tape, rope and imagination, the students created instruments that made distinctive sounds: Thump, thump, thump. Clink, clink, clink. Swish, swish, swish. Scratch, scratch, scratch.
And when they played the instruments together, they made beautiful music.
Lisa Pemberton: 360-754-5433
lpemberton@theolympian.com
