One World, One World, Many Stories, Many Stories, Endless IdeasEndless IdeasSpicing Up Your Multicultural Spicing Up Your Multicultural

ProgramsPrograms

A Successful Multicultural Program

Will……share basic facts/info without resorting to

stereotypes

AND

…relate children’s lives here with children’s lives there – what is similar and what is different [food, clothing, houses, schools, surroundings]

…encourage interaction

AND

…appeal to the senses – have props that bring the culture’s/country’s smells, tastes, textures, sounds to the kids

A Successful Multicultural Program

Will…

…leave children with:

• an awareness that there are kids growing up in different countries/ cultures/ circumstances who are essentially like them

• a sense of wonder at the differences in landscapes, foods, houses, languages, etc., to be found around the world

A Successful Multicultural Program

Will…

Unbiased, Relatable Info…

• Use multiple perspectives

• Use trusted sources– CultureGrams, Facts on File, CAMIO– CIA: The World Factbook– National Geographic Kids

• Look for nonfiction series written from kid perspectives

• Explain statistics concretely

Interactive, Sensory Fun…

• Wasabi peas and pickled ginger (Japan)

• Tabasco sauce (Cajun)• Moon cakes (China)• Mut (Vietnam)• Pan de Muerto (Mexico)• Smoked salmon &

blueberries (Tlingit)

Taste – if you’re allowed food, it can really open up fun, memorable discussion & experiences

Interactive, Sensory Fun…

Sights & Sounds – between iTunes,

YouTube and other file-sharing sites, it is amazing what you

can find

• Wodaabe faces

Interactive, Sensory Fun…

• Wodaabe faces• Maasai jumping• Hmong ball tossing • Languages• Puerto Rican coqui• Muslim call to prayer• Traditional music

Sights & Sounds – between iTunes,

YouTube and other file-sharing sites, it is amazing what you

can find

Textures/Touch – this can involve some serious networking!

• Llama wool

Interactive, Sensory Fun…

Textures/Touch – this can involve some serious networking!

• Llama wool• Embroidered

Guatemalan fabrics• Indian silk saris • Handmade

Indonesian shadow puppet

Interactive, Sensory Fun…

Interactive Active Fun…

• Shadow puppet theater

Interactive Active Fun…

• Shadow puppet theater

• Parade w/masks – Mardi Gras & Tet

Interactive Active Fun…

• Shadow puppet theater

• Parade w/masks – Mardi Gras & Tet

• Chinese calligraphy

Interactive Active Fun…

• Shadow puppet theater

• Parade w/masks – Mardi Gras & Tet

• Chinese calligraphy

• Yoga

Interactive Active Fun…

• Shadow puppet theater• Parade w/masks – Mardi Gras & Tet• Chinese calligraphy• Yoga• Chopstick races• How to bow properly as a Japanese girl

or boy• Mehndi• How to wrap a sari

Interactive Crafty Fun…

• Adinkra stamping

Interactive Crafty Fun…

• Adinkra stamping

• Indonesian Shadow puppets

Interactive Crafty Fun…

• Adinkra stamping

• Indonesian Shadow puppets

• Masks – calavera mask for El Día, dragon mask for Tet/Moon Festival, Mardi Gras, Vejigantes of Puerto Rico

Interactive Crafty Fun…

• Adinkra stamping• Indonesian Shadow puppets• Masks – calavera mask for El Día, dragon

mask for Tet/Moon Festival, etc/Mardi Gras, Vejigantes of Puerto Rico

• Aborigine dot paintings• Maze designs [Hmong stitchery]• Kamishibai story pictures• Firework paintings for Chinese New Year

BOOK-based Programming

Why Folktales

• Folktales come from the oral tradition & are usually easy and appropriate to read & share aloud

• Folktales come from the traditional cultures of a place/people and are usually authentic

• Folktales usually convey a moral or message or story that the kids will find familiar and easy to understand or relate to because of their own literary repertoire

General Program Format

• Theme/topic

• Map /globe

• Book

• Cultural/historic information

• Mood Setters [music, food, realia, videos, photographs]

• Craft/activity

Brandon BensleyChildren’s Specialist

Glenwood BranchGreensboro Public Library

brandon.bensley@greensboro-nc.gov

  ANANSE NTONTAN "spider's web"

• Symbol of wisdom, creativity and the complexities of life

• Ananse, the spider, is a well-known character in African folktales.

AKOKO NAN = hen’s foot• symbol of nurturing and discipline

• Proverb – the hen treads on her chicks, but she does not kill them.