Here’s My Family

What’s a favorite family tradition in your home? Games? Feasts? Reunions? Quilting? Show family togetherness in a dramatic diorama.

• 1.

  Family traditions are often passed down for generations. Talk with your family about an activity that your family does together. Then show it in a diorama in a box. For our example, we chose playing petanque. Petanque is a deceptively simple, relaxing game played by both children and adults in France. It is similar to horseshoes in the United States, bocce in Italy, and lawn bowling in Great Britain.

• 2.

  <STRONG>Design the diorama.</STRONG> Cut white paper with Crayola® Scissors to cover a recycled box. On one piece, draw and color a map of your family’s original area with Crayola Markers.

• 3.

  Roll a long, thin piece of Crayola Neon Model Magic. Attach it with Crayola School Glue around the outside border of the country to highlight it. Glue the map to the back of the lid. 4<STRONG>. Set the scene</STRONG>. Cut and color more paper to fit inside the box. Draw the background where your family tradition takes place, in this case the petanque playing area. 5. Make your balls (boules)! First, roll a small ball (the cochonnet) with Neon Model Magic. Place it in the center of the circle. Make two or three larger balls in different colors for each player. 6. <STRONG>Show your favorite family tradition!</STRONG> Use Model Magic to sculpt several family members. For petanque, one player could be rolling the ball while one watches and another waits to measure the distance between the balls. Add details to people such as hats and aprons. Draw facial features with an Erasable Marker. 7. Glue everything into place. Air-dry before describing your family tradition to your classmates.

Benefits

• • Students consult with their families to identify traditions in their cultures. </P>
• • Students create a diorama depicting their family engaged in the tradition. </P>
• • Students present their dioramas to compare, contrast, and understand the diversity of family traditions. </P>

Adaptations

• • Some children, especially those with special needs, may enjoy creating this diorama with their entire family. </P>
• • Research and demonstrate a math game from another country. What common recess games are played around the world? Find out about variations of hopscotch, kickball, jacks, and dodge ball. </P>
• • If possible, ask families to share recipes, crafts, or other traditions with the entire class. Hold a Family Night. </P>
• • Assessment: Observe the detail, children’s engagement in the process of making their dioramas, and the authenticity of their presentations. </P>