c18gi

This year, we have learned so much about Forced Immigration. Whether reading about Sarah Margru Kinson’s dramatic perils, or about the Ancient Gullah people, who originated from Sierra Leone,  I think my whole class can agree that this unit was an incredible learning experience.

In this blog post, I am going to wrap up all that we have learned so far in our Forced Immigration Unit, and incorporate all of that into this post.

THE GULLAH:

Of the very many different types of Sierra Leoneans, The Gullah people were unique in numerous ways. For instance, in the books that we read about African Slavery, it typically says that the slave masters would order their slaves around, and constantly nag and be very much on top of them. That’s not the case of the Gullah people! The Gullah slaves masters would constantly go on business trips, which gave the Gullah an opportunity to still practice their religious beliefs and culture, including basket weaving, fishnet making, and their creative stories, such as Brer Rabbit and Greedy Spider. The other African American slaves, had to give up all of their culture, and beliefs just to be ordered around by some white man!

Though it is true that the Gullah people originated in Sierra Leone, over the centuries they made their way to South Carolina and Georgia.

The Gullah Language is a type of Krio, and sounds like broken English.

THE AMISTAD, SARAH MARGRU KINSON:

Another example of forced immigration is The Amistad Ship, the slave ship that brought the poor slaves from Sierra Leone to America. Translated in Spanish, Amistad means “friendship” though this ship was the complete opposite.

The Amistad was a terrible and dark ship. This was an illegal ship. At the time, it was against the law to kidnap Africans and enslave them. But the Spaniards who were running the ship did not care. They knew that many people in America would gladly pay tons of money for African slaves. You see, the Africans had a lot of knowledge on how to grow rice, and that was in high demand at the time. Plus, the Africans were very immune to sickness, as the Native Americans, who were enslaved before, were not. This is why the Africans cost so much.

On the ship, the Spaniards treated the Africans as just another piece of cargo, not as human beings. Just practically cargo. They affected the Africans through malnutrition, they chained and shackled them, they mistreated them so so badly that during that cursed trip, many a man died. And to make it even worse, the experience was shared by four kids, no older then nine.

SIERRA LEONE:

In this unit, Sierra Leone played a big role. Home to the Africans, Sierra Leone was often nick-named “The Door Of No Return”

It was called this because so many Africans never ever got to see their beloved Sierra Leone again. These white men took them, and basically cut the Sierra Leone out of them. They could never ever return. And to make it even worse, they knew that.

But Sierra Leone was an amazing home. The culture was beautiful. Basket weaving, (similar to the Gullah’s), and especially the stories. Stories of the brave spider Anansi, is what the children would go to bed to. Sierra Leone was beautiful. But the white ghosts (Europeans) ruined it.

Cinderpotter

By c18gi

Not long ago in an old cobblestone mansion was the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Jon Lou. On this night, Mrs. Lou said her final words to her young daughter, Cindy.

“But how will I remember you mother?”

The woman laughed for the last time and handed her daughter a silver glazed bowl, which shone like moonbeams.

“Whenever you are in need of anything, just ask me through the bowl.”

“Mother? Mother?”

“My little turtledove, I don’t—“ And that was her final breath. Suddenly, a strange but harmonious glow came from her mother’s bed as she started to rise up, up, up.

“Remember the bowl daughter!”

The little girl reached for her mother in agony.

“No! No! Please, don’t leave me! No! No!”

The little girl burst out sobbing at her mother’s bedside.

Soon after, the woman’s husband, Jon Lou, a well-known potter, remarried a woman named Ethel Arthur who had two daughters of her own, Kiara (kee-ya-ra) and Nevara (Ne-var-a).

At first, Kiara, Nevara, and Ethel appeared to be sweet and very kind, but heaven knew better. Soon after the wedding, the stepmother and her daughters revealed their true nature.

Jon’s daughter Cindy was the complete opposite.

Cindy was beautiful, sweet, kind, gentle, and loving. Jon loved his daughter more than anything and had felt that she needed a mother. This was the true reason for his marriage.

“CINDY!” yelled Ethel.

“CINDY!” shrieked Kiara.

“CINDY!” screamed Nevara.

“I want my nails done!” chanted Nevara.

“I want my newspaper!” shouted Ethel.

“I need my hair fixed!” whined Kiara.

Poor Cindy never had a break. When she did, she would go down into the basement, and make beautiful pottery, which outshone the best pottery on earth. At night Cindy would be banished to sleep in the cinders. So Kiara and Nevara called her Cinderpotter

One afternoon, when Cinderpotter was in the middle of sculpting a magnificent cup for her sisters, she heard three knocks on the big front door.

“CINDERPOTTER! GET THE DOOR!” yelled Ethel from the breakfast room.

Cinderpotter ran to get the door.

“Hello?” she said sweetly.

The man had a British accent.

“Greetings, on behalf of Prince Ronald the Great! I would like to cordially invite you and the other maidens of this household to the annual Art Gala tonight. You will need to display a form of art, such as, paintings, pottery, sculptures, and more. After everyone has presented their art, there will be a dance, in which his majesty will be picking a bride.”

Cindy gasped, thanked the man, offered him some tea, and ran to go tell her stepsisters.

“An art Gala? And you’re invited?” Ethel choked on her toast.

“Tonight? What will I bring? What will I wear?” chanted the two sisters excitedly.

“My first Gala!” exclaimed Cinderpotter.

“I’m afraid you cannot go Cinderpotter. We have too much to worry about anyway, like what Kiara and Nevara have to offer at the Art Gala, and what they will be wearing!” said Ethel nastily.

“ Cinderpotter, go and make us some art! Afterwards you may sew our outfits!” said Nevara happily.

So Cinderpotter went off to make her sisters’ art. In less than an hour, Cindy made two magnificent cups, one as silver as the stars, and one golden like the sun.

“Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” shouted Kiara and Nevara.

Kiara took the silver glazed one and Nevara took the gold glazed one.

“The Prince will marry me for sure!” they argued.

After Cindy got their dresses ready, Ethel, Kiara and Nevara Arthur were off to the Gala.

“Smell ya later Cinderpotter!” laughed Nevara, while throwing the dried clay on Cindy’s head.

After her stepfamily left, Cindy began to sob.

“Why so glum, Sugarplum?” asked a voice coming from the little silver bowl her mother had given her.

“Mother?” Cindy cried looking at the face in the tiny bowl.

“Nopedy do Cindy Lou! Just my love turtledove!”

Cindy returned to sobbing.

“You say there is a Gala tonight? And you’re not going? That’s just not right!,” exclaimed the bowl.

“My sisters say I’m filthy, ugly, and worthless.” The bowl shook her vision.

“Fetch me a paintbrush, a rag, and a mop! Get up Cindy Lou! You’re going to rise to the top!”

So Cindy, not very sure of what she was doing, grabbed the vision of her mother what she wanted and with a flick of a hand, right in front of the bowl appeared a carriage, a horse, and a very nice coachman.

“But little bowl,” Cindy exclaimed, “I have nothing to wear! And nothing to bring!”

The bowl thought.

“The dress is an easy little thing. Now, I must figure out what you must bring!”

Then the bowl smiled.

“I’ll whip up a spell!”

And with the flick of her hand, a magnificent silver dress, diamond earrings, a diamond necklace, and an even more magnificent bowl appeared. Cindy was off to the Gala.

“Oh! And one more thing! Don’t forget to be back before the midnight bells ring!”

“Thank you!” yelled Cindy from her coach.

At the Gala there were many magnificent forms of art, cups, plates, knives, paintings, beautiful girls, and handsome men.

Once Cindy made an entrance and showed her bowl to the judges, everyone gasped and whispered, “Who is that beautiful girl? She must be a queen!” She stepped out of her coach so gently and sweetly, that the prince could not help but drool over her. She was elegant, beautiful, talented and gentle all at the same time!

Well of course the two stepsisters began to gape and gawk as soon as they saw the prince take her hand and dance with her! And what was worse, the judges were amazed by her bowl!

Suddenly the prince made the announcement.

“Tonight, many beauties and talents have come, but the winner of the most talented artist is the maker of this magnificent bowl! This young person has made the most magnificent silver bowl of all time, glazed like moonbeams, stars, and silver linings. Therefore, I must keep my promise and marry this winner!” he said while he looked around for Cindy.

Ethel groaned, moaned, and clenched her teeth.

The prince looked around, but Cindy was nowhere to be found. A passerby reported to have only seen a lady in a potter’s smock rushing out of the palace.

The prince broke down on his throne and Kiara came up to him. Running her fingers through his hair she said, “I guess you can marry me then, right?” The prince shoved her away and noticed Cindy had left her bowl behind in her rush.

“Aha! Whoever makes an identical bowl like this one shall be my bride!”

So the announcement was made. Far and wide, the prince had maidens trying to remake Cindy’s bowl. Although some came close, nobody’s was as perfect. Finally, the prince reached the Lou’s mansion.

Kiara and Nevara tried to make the bowl, but Kiara’s was too mushy, and Nevara’s was… Well let’s just say a disgrace!

“Your majesty, I assure you this is my daughter’s bowl!” Ethel said coldly.

The prince shook his head and was almost about to give up. “Are you sure there are no more maidens in this household?”

“Yes!” all three shouted quickly.

Then Jon came out of hiding. “There is my humble young potter, Cindy Lou.

Ethel screamed like somebody had just kicked her, which Nevara just had.

So Cindy came out, and in less than three minutes, made a bowl which was exactly identical to the one the prince held. “Its a match!” cried the prince.

Suddenly a harmonious glow came from the window, and Cindy was in the gown she wore to the Gala. The prince asked her to marry him, but she politely refused. See, Cindy had wanted a normal life, not a royal one. Cindy passed down an amazing offer and after two years, she married a potter, had two children Allegra and Wyatt, owned a potter shop (the best in town), and got what she had wanted all of her life- — a kiln.

And as for Kiara and Nevara… Well, that’s another story!

I just finished reading The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman and it is now my all-time favorite book.

So, today I have decided to make a Nursery Golden Compass, inspired by The Nursery Alice by Lewis Carroll (we have been studying his work). Link to Ms. Edinger (my teacher)’s blog for more information about why I have done this. Note- this material is suitable for ages from Nought to 5.  With my apologies to Mr. Pullman, here’s the beginning.

The Nursery Golden Compass

Once Upon a time there lived a little girl,

Would you like to know what that little girl’s name was?

Her little name was Lyra.

Now isn’t that pretty?

This little girl lived in a big important grownup school.

I’m sure you want to know the name of that pretty little school.

The school’s name was the Jordan College.

The school’s students were big important grownups.

They called the students “scholars.”

Now isn’t that a funny name?

Anyway,

Little Lyra was walking along one day, when she came across a room.

What was that room’s name?

Oh, that little room’s name was the Relaxing Room.

The relaxing room was not for little girls.

Now bad little Lyra, went into this little room, but that was not smart at all.

No no no! that was not smart!

Oh dear! I forgot to mention her little pet, Pan!

Pan was not really a pet, Pan was Lyra’s thoughts.

Pan knew everything that Lyra was thinking,and feeling.

Now isn’t that just lovely!

Pan knew that Lyra was being a bad bad little girl when she entered the Relaxing Room, and told her not to do it.

But Lyra did not listen to her little pet.

Instead, she went and touched every little thing in sight.

What a bad little girl!

So Pan had to trot closely behind little Lyra, explaining to her why little girls cannot go into the Relaxing Room.

Did little Lyra listen?

Oh no she did not!

Then a knock came on the door.

Little Lyra was very scared, because she was not allowed to be in the Relaxing room.

So Lyra did a very smart thing.

She hid in the closet.

She could see everything that was in the Relaxing room, including the man who knocked.

Would you like to know who that was?

I’m sure you would!
It was the biggest, most important grownup that was in the school! His name was Master.

Lyra very much loved Master and knew that he was very nice.

But she had been a very bad girl and very bad girl’s have to get time out’s.

Little Lyra didn’t want to get a time out.

So she stayed hidden.

Lyra could see Master, and Master was being a very very bad grownup.

You see, Little Lyra’s uncle, Asriel was coming to visit his very good friend Master.

Do you know where Uncle Asriel was visiting?

Why, it was the Relaxing Room!

So Master, when he was supposed to be making everything in the school neat and tidy for Uncle Asriel, was doing a very bad thing.

Oh yes! It was a very very bad thing!
Would you like to know what it was?

Well, Master was putting yucky things into Uncle Asriel’s juice!

Letters From Rifka, a recipient of the National Jewish Book Award by Karen Hesse is a historical fiction phenomenon.

Karen Hesse has exlained her readers very carefully about what it was like to be a Jew in Berdichev, Russia in the early 1900’s. In 1919 Rifka and her family had to flee Russia, because the Russian Army was to take Rifka’s brother, Saul into war. The event’s that occurred in Letters From Rifka actually did happen in 1919 all around Russia.

Karen Hesse, has made a fine historical fiction book, and I could imagine how hard it must have been to be Jewish at the time. But Rifka and her family stuck to their beliefs no matter how hard it was.

With Pushkin’s poetry to guide her along the way, Rifka has to go through obstacles, such as the Typhus, and finally the ring worms, that keeps her from coming to America, with her family. Hesse has researched diligently about these events that would have happened. I think that this is a very witty example of historical fiction.

On January 12^th, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital. Haiti was already a poor country, so damage to a city that lacks technology and support is all the more devastating. Additionally, the country is still recovering from landslides from a 2005 hurricane that flooded the town of Gonaives. Now, Haitians must recover from both disasters. Immediate needs include healthcare, money, food, water, shelter, and supplies. This has been difficult to provide since people were cut off from transportation and aide because docks and airports were reduced to rubble. Fortunately, the whole world is coming together in support of disaster relief. Haitians are people who don’t have that much and really need our help now more than ever.

People all over the world are donating to help Haiti. Two weeks ago, the Dalton 4th grade classes created a hot chocolate stand and raised over $1,000 dollars!

Michele Viard came to Edinger House last week to discuss the disaster in Haiti. We learned that many houses were damaged, but we also learned about one particular important school that was damaged.

Notre Dame du Perpetuel Secour school played a major role in many school girls and boys lives. Notre Dame du Peerpetuel Secour was made for children that were so poor that they had to work from 6:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon. Of course this was much to late to go to school, because the school’s in Haiti start when the children are already in work and closing when the kids get out of work. So this school, starts at 1:00 in the afternoon and ends at 5:00.

These children thought that they had for once gotten lucky, until the earthquake hit.

Many many Haitians were killed, wounded, and crying on January 12th 2010. Dalton and many other schools have helped Haiti, and so can you. Remember every penny counts.

My godfather Barton Brooks is currently in Haiti helping as a volunteer. He has made a organization called “Global Colors” aiming to go across the world, helping those in need. His journey was stopped about a year ago, due to a near fatal accident. To learn more about what Barton is doing with Haiti, click on the link above.

Remember, every penny counts.

Fiction and Historical Fiction are completely different types of books. In this blog post I will make a list of what makes a good work of historical fiction.

A good work of historical fiction usually includes:

• authentic language and might even include words in a foreign language
• referring to real places/people
• references to real items the character might have had
• specific dates
• quotes from people who lived at the time

Parts that are Fiction

• Dialogue that would have been somewhat close to what the character might have said
• What the author believes the character might have thought
• point of view- second, third and first person
• might include some made up characters and names
• metaphors, simile, alliteration etc.

These are some elements that make a good historical fiction book.

Africa Is My Home by Monica Edinger, is a historical fiction phenomenon.

Young Sarah Margru, only nine, goes on a journey of a lifetime. First kidnapped by a black owner, Margru soon learns that not everything in life is as sweet as her little village. As the days pass by, Margru learns that she is to board the Amistad, one of the biggest slave ships in the world. Scared, alone, confused, and hungry, Margru’s hope is slimmer then she, until she meets a man named Cinque.

Cinque knows what the white men are to do with them, and he will not let it happen. He hatches a plan of mutiny and though it works, the white men have their own plans…

Travel back to the year of the Amistad, freedom, and courage in Africa Is My Home by Monica Edinger

Tiffany Aching, a young witch is about to go on an adventure of a lifetime.

When she first leaves her hometown with Miss Tick, to go be an apprentice for Miss Level,Tiffany is happy and exited. But once she gets there, she feels strange feelings. First its something like a punch in the stomach, and then as time progresses, it gets more serious.

Tiffany must battle this form of darkness with only the help of the Nac Mac Feegle; little men.

Will Tiffany conquer this evil, or will she go down with it?

Find out, and learn about Tiffany’s adventures in the sequel to “The Wee Free Men” A Hat Full of Sky By Terry Pratchett.

Bound for Glory, The 2010 Dalton MS play was a hit! This action packed musical is a must see.

Bound for Glory is a musical based on Woody Guthrie’s life story on migrating with the dust bowl. Woody Guthrie was a songwriter, and a very good one too. Before this play if somebody would have asked me, Who is Woody Guthrie? I could not tell you anything about him. But if you had asked me two hours later, I would have told you everything there is to know about him. Most people only recognize him for “This Land Is Your Land.” But he wrote a lot of other good songs that should not be forgotten. Woody Guthrie is a person that should be recognized far and wide. He is a legend, and should always be. Bound For Glory directer Mr. Galager recognized that, and I would like to thank him, for showing me a legend that will not be forgotten.

“I will not be myself when you reach me.”

Newberry Medalist of 2010, When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead is a phenomenon.

Rebecca Stead captures her readers hearts, by gluing their eyes to the unforgettable journey of a lifetime.

Join Miranda, Marcus, Annemarie, Colin, and Sal on a life-changing journey, one in which will change the way Miranda looks at things, forever.

What makes the man on the corner so crazy?

Who has sent Miranda the strange letters, which suddenly appear when she least expects them too?

Why did somebody steal Jimmy’s Fred Flinstone bank?

And the biggest question of all…

Who will sacrifice their life, to save someone elses?

Find out by reading When You Reach Me, by Rebecca Stead, Newbery author of 2010!