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Exploring Spanish roots
By Denise Dick
YOUNGSTOWN
Charialys Rivera, Gloriangelis Sanchez and Hector Irizarry, fourth-graders at Discovery at Kirkmere, learned population, native wildlife, food and dress of Panama for the school’s Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Nov. 28 is their Independence Day,” Charialys said.
“The men wear fancy hats,” Hector added.
Gloriangelis listed whales and birds as some of Panama’s native wildlife.
All Kirkmere students participated in the project, creating posters for many Hispanic countries. Teachers and administrators judged the posters, scoring them for content, accuracy, attractiveness and grammar.
Sixth-graders Michael Hobbs, 11, Savon Valentin, 12, and Alyssa White, 11, worked on their poster on Mexico.
“I always thought it was like Puerto Rico,” Alyssa said.
It isn’t.
“It’s a lot spicier,” Alyssa said, adding that she likes spicy food.
Their teacher cooked saffron rice and pulled pork, or carnitas, representing popular Mexican food.
“They use rice more for things than we do,” Savon said.
The class created a brochure, listing facts about the country – which is officially named United Mexican States.
The students also learned about the country’s history. It was under Spanish rule for about 300 years.
Five Kirkmere eighth-graders created a poster taller than they are that lists fast facts about the Dominican Republic.
George Carter, 16; and Jaylon Gibson, Aaron Williams, Aaron Brown, Tilisia Williams and Kennady Monroe, all 13, learned about that country’s flag, coat of arms, food, dress, population and wildlife.
Jaylon knew some facts about the Dominican Republic before the project.
“My mom is a nurse and talks treatments in different parts of the world,” he said,
The students’ research included historical facts about their country, too.
“They had to win their independence from Spain, Haiti and the United States,” George said.
Tilisia said the merengue originated in the Dominican Republic. It’s the national dance and music of the country.
Misha Scott, principal at Discovery at Kirkmere, said this is the first time the school has observed Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 to Saturday.