Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), Strove Tuesday (Pancake Day) were all celebrated on March 04/25. This brought a lot of excitement and curiosity about the reasons behind these celebrations. After a lot of discussions and research from the iPad the children were able to enhance their knowledge about Mardi Gras. They were able to develop their self confidence and oral language through these discussions by expressing themselves and sharing their experiences and knowledge about these celebrations. We then decided to make some face masks and bracelets with beads to commemorate this day. The children decorated templates of mask by using the colours that are associated with Mardi Gras. As they children were doing their activity Caia commented, “I am using the gold to decorate my mask because gold means Power” Makenna then added, “Well I am using purple also for Justice.” Sriya who was working nearby whispered, “I will use the green which represents Faith.” As the children continued making their masks, they all decided that they will use all the colours because they said that faith, power and justice were all important to them. The masks were all decorated with feathers and gold gems. We then made some bracelets with green, purple and gold pony beads, since beaded garlands and bracelets are some of the major costumes for Mardi Gras. The children practiced their patterning and critical thinking skills to figure out how to make a three strands bracelet. As Claire was stringing her beads with gold elastic string she said, “I am making my bracelet with one row of gold, then one row of purple then one row of green beads then I will continue the pattern until I am finished.” Makenna then added, “I will just do all three colours in each row.” The masks and bracelets were finished and finally it was Mardi Gras Day.
The children came rushing down the hallway with excitement and yelling, “Mardi Gras, Pancake Day.” We then went to the classroom to start making our pancakes. First, the children put their masks on and listened to some Mardi Gras music. We then mixed and poured our pancakes on the grill. Olivia volunteered to flip the first pancake then some of the other children took turns flipping and scooping the pancakes. The pancakes were ready and everybody was ready to eat. With mask and bracelets on, the children forked their pancake and yelled, “Happy Mardi Gras”
The children were given an opportunity to be aware and participated in the different cultural events in their community and to accept and celebrate with each other regardless of differences in their own culture.
