WINDOWS & MIRRORS LOWER SCHOOL
BY MAMBA TIBBALS, CASSANDRA TIMKO, AND PAM ARMOR // 4TH GRADE TEAM Wichita Collegiate School’s 4th Grade takes great pride in presenting all that is “Windows and Mirrors.” This in-depth family heritage project began ten years ago and has grown into a six-week research study. The title stems from the premise that each child looks out the “windows” of time to his or her family’s country of origin, and then views a more fully realized “mirror” reflecting back. Through “Windows and Mirrors,” students realize we are all immigrants who have a rich history of cultural influences. Teaching children about their families’ heritage can open up a new world of cultures and traditions – not only their own, but others as well. Fourth graders, with sophisticated, inquisitive minds, are open to exploring their identities and can begin to comprehend how the past, present, and future are all connected. With these thoughts in mind, the project scope includes interviews, composition of family tributes, continent studies, and the gathering of stories, pictures, and family heirlooms loaded into priceless scrapbooks and vintage suitcases for display. Students
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write introspective essays to voice that the reflections they now view “in the mirror” are not just of themselves, but of all who have come before as well. This year, as a special addition to “Windows and Mirrors,” we were able to attend a Naturalization Ceremony as a class here in Wichita. This served as a perfect tie to our project as students had listened to stories in class and had conversations with family members about their heritage and countries of origin. Students created a map in class that represented where one side of their family had come from, and some of our students had family members who had just become citizens in recent years. We hoped that attending would make the topic of immigration “real,” as opposed to something we just read about and discussed. The students were amazed when they heard the names of countries candidates were immigrating from and were very eager to witness in real time what we had been talking about in class. During the ceremony, they were a captive audience and even joined in singing America the Beautiful. As a way
for us to show our support, the students colored American Flags at school that were handed to each candidate as they walked across the stage. Right after the ceremony, students were able to ask questions of a representative. Their curiosity showed as many hands went up. “What does a Green Card look like?” “How much does it cost to become a citizen?” “Can immigrants go back to their old countries?” This all led to further discussion when we returned to school. The goal of this project is for our students to gain knowledge and appreciation of and pride in family heritage, and the presentations of projects serve as validation that our goal is accomplished. Children stand proudly in front of their scrapbooks, suitcases, and window frames holding meaningful artwork suspended from the ceiling in the culminating event each fall. Hundreds of guests view and listen to the children tell of their family pride. Parents, grandparents, students, and community friends leave with an appreciation of how this valuable project impacts their families.
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