Published: July 31, 2008 12:00 am      

LOCKPORT SCHOOLS: Southard 2nd-graders 'experience' ancient Egypt

Second-graders at George Southard Elementary School built pyramids in just one day, although theirs may be a little smaller than the ones in Egypt.

Along with the hand-held pyramids, the kids also made Egyptian headdresses and had their faces painted. The activities were all a part of the Voyager program at Lockport City School District’s SOAR summer school. SOAR stands for Summer Opportunities Are Reachable, and draws students from all over the district who are in kindergarten through fourth grade.

The program has an English Language Arts curriculum based on a theme. Kindergartners focus on animals; first-graders, on their hometown; and the second-graders, ancient Egypt. SOAR assistant director Heather Walton said the theme helps keep the students involved with their schoolwork.

“There’s a lot of interest,” she said. “The activities are hands-on. It keeps them interested and motivated.”

Walton added student attendance has been good with the Voyager program.

Along with the crafts, the kids also took part in a buried treasure dig as archaeologists. They also learned about the many uses of the Nile River and its importance to Egypt; day-to-day life in ancient Egypt; how and why people were mummified; and all about King Tut, a pharaoh who died at a very young age.

Walton said Buffalo city schools use the program, which has a version for both summer and fall, and it has been very successful. But a big factor in the success is the teachers. Second-grade teachers Jill Gately, Sharon Johnson, Sharon Saraf and Bob Carlin were running the show Wednesday for the Egypt celebration event. Dawn Hammond and Lindsay Saraf worked as teacher assistants.

“They really ran with it and came up with some creative things,” Walton said.

Each teacher used their room for a different event. Gately’s room was where the students had their faces painted like an ancient Egyptian; in Carlin’s room, students made their jeweled headdresses; and in Johnson’s room, they made their pyramids. But in Saraf’s room, the kids got to watch a movie about ancient Egypt and enjoyed some of the same foods that ancient Egyptians ate. The foods included grapes, honey, bread, cucumbers, cheese and grape juice.

The kids at George Southard made their pyramids and headdresses and were all smiles as they moved from room to room. And what was their favorite part of the ancient Egyptian celebration.

“The face painting,” was Brianna Garrow’s answer.

The students will move up to third grade in the fall.