It's been a feast of fun and culture in Denise Collier's second-grade class at Skyline as they explore different family traditions! To start the unit, Mrs. Collier read aloud two fantastic books: The Big Red Lollipop by Rukhsana Kahn and How My Parents Learned to Eat by Ina R. Friedman.
Inspired by these stories, students aren't just reading about other cultures—they're diving in! Mrs. Collier, who earned a Fulbright scholarship and studied in Japan, brought out her special Japanese bento box and, of course, chopsticks for everyone. After a little practice (with popcorn!), the second graders are now masters of the sticks! Their next mission? Sending in a photo of themselves using their new skills at home.
The impact is real: Mrs. Collier shared a lovely story of a former student, years later, giving her a “chopstick salute” while expertly eating at an Asian restaurant. What a wonderful way to use literature to teach about the world!
