What We Learned This Year

Akiva students share around-the-world knowledge.

Shelli Liebman Dorfman

Senior Writer

Images by Ei lee n Harned p hotog raphy

s summer nears, elemen-
t ary and middle school
A tudents at Akiva Hebrew
Day School in Southfield have been
immersed in the preparation and
excitement of showcasing some of
their newfound knowledge.
After delving into studies of
numerous countries, the seventh-
grade social studies class hosted an
international food fair organized
by teacher Lesli Tishkowski. After
spending the school year learning
about regions within the Eastern
Hemisphere, induding Africa, Asia
and the Middle East, students each
researched specific sub-regions.
"They were also required to find
traditional recipes that would be
easy to make and prepare hands-on
activities that pertained to the region
they selected," Tishkowski said.
Following weeks of researching,
collecting information and brain-
storming ideas, volunteer parents
came to help the students prepare
their recipes for the food fair. Along
with teacher Dana Markowitz, they
set up booths featuring their cuisine.

"Foods at the fair included falafel
and sweet and spicy nuts from the
Middle East, Iraqi rice-stuffed toma-
toes and Moroccan fried eggplant;'
Tishkowski said. "Activities included
African pottery making, a medita-
tion corner and lantern making in
honor of the Chinese New Year."
Studies of the state of Michigan
were a highlight of the fourth-
grade curriculum.
"In April, the students toured
the Capitol building in Lansing
and became geography and his-
tory experts:' said Lisa Parshan,
director of Akiva's early childhood
department.
Each student also wrote a report
and constructed a model of a
Michigan lighthouse.
"The students did an amaz-
ing job and were very creative
when designing their lighthouses:'
Parshan said. "They used clay,
wood, paint, cardboard, foam
board, ice cream sticks and even
cake mix. Some of the lighthouses
even were wired with batteries or
electricity and lit up"
In a fifth-grade "wax museum:'
students posed as Americans they
deemed to be important, ranging

from automobile manufacturer
Henry Ford, film producer George
Lucas and chef Julia Child to
Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps,
Detroit Tigers player Magglio
Ordonez and American Idol judge
Simon Cowell.
"Standing still until their 'but-
ton was pressed, they proceeded to
recite important facts and relevant
information about their character','
Parshan said. "The students dressed
as their subject, spoke as their sub-
ject and presented their oral speech
in first person fashion"
Students composed an essay
on their character and created an
oral presentation summarizing
significant and interesting facts
about them.
Even the younger students dem-
onstrated some of what they've
learned this year as Avigayil Ishalds'
first-grade class sang, danced and
acted out the play, Life in a Beehive.
"Along with a 'queen bee: the stu-
dents entertained guests with their
costumes and their songs': Parshan
said. "Visitors to the play could also
see how the first-grade curriculum
integrated science, math, social
studies and language arts:'

'Cat in the Hat' David Kresch, 11, of Southfield displays his
project on Dr. Seuss.

Shira Schon and Yaeli Keys,

Gabriella Katz, 12, of

both 6 of West Bloomfield, act
like bees in their class play.

Southfield is dressed in
garb from the United Arab
Emirates during her class'

international food fair.

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