Kenya+Class+Activities


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Homework Throughout our Africa unit, students have learned a great deal about Africa as a whole, as well as the different countries that make up Africa. We began the unit with a list of things we already knew about Africa. Through the students research using this page, as well as other research they may choose to do, students will come up with 6 new things they learned about Africa. This homeowrk assignment is to be typed up along with our initial list of Kenya facts and turned in by Friday, May 11.

Culture Night! Culture night is a great time for parents and students to come together for a night to remember. To get a better understanding of the life and culture of Kenya, students in upper elementary grades and their parents are invited to the school's Community Culture Night. At Culture night, there will a woman from Kenyan assisting students AND their parents on the making of Ugali.

Community Culture Night Volunteer Sign-Up Call/e-mail Kathryn Natinson at kznatin@d324.org 309.438.8879  Supplies Needed  pints of milk  cornmeal   mixing bowls   cooking pots   wisks   saucepans  sticks of butter serving pans Maize (corn) is a Kenyan staple and the main ingredient of //ugali//, which is thick and similar to porridge. Many Kenyans eat this on a daily basis. It takes a lot of practice to boil the porridge without burning it. //Ugali// is usually eaten with meat, stews, or //sukuma wiki,// which literally translates to "stretch the week." This means that the food is used to stretch meals to last for the week. //Sukuma wiki// is a combination of chopped spinach or kale (a leafy green vegetable) that is fried with onions, tomatoes, maybe a green pepper, and any leftover meat, if available. It is seasoned with salt and some pepper. The traditional way of eating //ugali// is to pinch off a piece of the dough with the right hand, and shape it into a scoop by pressing and indentation into the dough with the thumb. The //ugali// is used to scoop sauces or stew.

Ingredients

 * 1 cup milk
 * 1¼ cups cornmeal
 * 1 cup water

Procedure
Serves 4. Information found at [|http://www.foodbycountry.com/Kazakhstan-to-South-Africa/Kenya.html#b]
 * 1) Pour the milk into a mixing bowl. Slowly add ¾ cup of the cornmeal and whisk constantly into a paste.
 * 2) Heat the water in a medium saucepan to boiling.
 * 3) Using a wooden spoon, stir cornmeal and milk paste mixture into the boiling water. Reduce heat to low.
 * 4) Slowly add the remaining ½ cup of cornmeal, stirring constantly. The mixture should be smooth with no lumps.
 * 5) Cook for about 3 minutes. When the mixture begins to stick together and pull away from the sides of the pan, remove from heat.
 * 6) Pour mixture into a greased serving bowl and allow to cool.
 * 7) Serve at room temperature as a side dish to meat and vegetables.

The Rain Game

The many rain forests of Kenya make it the beautiful country that it is. It is important for all of the world to protect these rain forests and by appreciating their beauty, we will become more passionate about the conservation of these areas. The rain game is an activity for children in early elementary. Sit in a circle on the floor and wait until everyone is completely silent. Start by quietly tapping your fingertips together slowly. Signal to others to do what you’re doing. Slowly increase the frequency and intensity of the finger tapping. Clap your whole hands together. Become louder. Move the clapping to floor slapping. Get as loud and “thunderous” as you can. Reverse the process slowly, returning to an occasional finger tap. (You have simulated a rainstorm starting with a few drops and moving into a downpour and then diminishing.) Information found at [|http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-k-2/Making_A_Rainstick.aspx#Instruction] Kenyan Rain Creation

Rain is needed everywhere for life. Rain sticks are make throughout Africa and especially in Kenya. This activity is recommended for upper elementary but may be completed by early elementary students with adult assistance. Through this activity, students can create and experience the sounds found in the Kenyan Rain forest. Rainsticks can be made a variety of ways. Here are directions to make a simple rainstick: Information Found at [|http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/lessons/grade-k-2/Making_A_Rainstick.aspx#Instruction]
 * Recruit parent helpers, if possible!
 * Draw a spiral down the length of a cardboard tube, starting at one end of the tube and ending at the other. Do not follow the natural seam.
 * Along the spiral, insert straight pins or small nails. The length of the nails or pins should be slightly less than the diameter of the cardboard tube.
 * Cover the cardboard tube (and pin or nail heads) with contact paper.
 * Close off one end of the tube with cardboard or a cap. Seal it in place with clear packing tape.
 * Put dried beans, rice, and/or unpopped popcorn into the tube.
 * Holding your hand over the open end of the tube, listen for the rain. Add or remove dried materials, as necessary.
 * Seal the other end of the tube with cardboard/cap and tape.
 * Decorate the rainstick with paints and permanent markers, if desired.