Physcial Education Fridays

Last Friday was much too wet for PE outside while this Friday was much too hot. SO, P.E. often takes the form of a game in the classroom. The current rage at Salapwuk is a variety of games involving spinning an empty Heineken bottle. In on version, students who are chosen by the fateful spin act out an animal and the others guess. Another version--the students favorite--is truth or dare, but the questions from what I can glean with my limited Pohnpeien abilities are of a fairly innocent sort and the dares almost always involve singing and dancing, the latter of which involves much sawying og the hips for both boys and girls in the traditional style of dance akin to the hula. My favorite version is where the chosen person becomes a sort of leader and everyone else must imitate them. More fun dance moves ensue or else the shy student giggles and hides behind her hands--and everyone else imitates her shyness, causing more giggles.

I was rather pleased with my exhibition of "the funky chicken" which all my students had to mimic, and then applauded for me.

Some of you have asked what you can send me for Christmas, and what I'd really love is for these students to have some good books in their library! New or used, anything is better than the limited selection they have, from most of which termites have feasted. (I'm also looking for ideas on how to better protect books in a school with screens and no windows and a very wet climate - ideas?) The most useful books are ones that are relevant to Pohnpeien culture--of which there are admittedly very few! However, here is a description of topics that micht be helpful and a list of Pohnpeien "things":

Family is central to the Pohnpeien life, and this includes grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Food is next important. Every time someone goes by your house, you should invite them to eat. Everything occurs over a meal or sakau--known as kava in other parts of the world.

I find fairytales and folktales--particularly those set near the sea--to transcend culture and be relevant. My students have also been really excited by books about dragons and knights on horses rescuing princesses lately. Who isn't, really?

I'm primarily interested in picture books with a second - fourth grade reading level and low level novels--these might be trickier to select--that do not assume a knowledge of the American lifestyle. I'd love them to learn about America and other countries through books, but just keep in mind that these kids have never seen a city, a building taller than three or four stories, ridden a train, heard of a zoo, or experienced a change of seasons.

Some lists relevant to Pohnpei:

Things kids do:
Baseball
Volleyball
Basketball
Dancing & Singing
Swimming in the River
Track & Field
Farming
Fishing
Environmentalism
Health and Nutrition

Places:
The ocean
The jungle
Islands

Animals:
Fish
Dogs
Cats
Pigs
Goats
Deer
Caribou
Chickens/Roosters
Lizards
Geckos
Spiders
Ants
Birds
Owls

Foods:
Coconut
Breadfruit
Banana
Taro
Yam
Mango
Lime
Pumpkin
Cumcuber
Pandanus
Pineapple
Carrot
Apple
Tapioca
Papaya
Sugar Cane
Rice
Fish
Chicken
Pig
Dog


Thanks to all for your interest in Salapwuk!