My
family was quite curious about why I had bought two pumpkins, when there we had
a garden of ripe pumpkins already at home. I explained by drawing a pumpkin on
a piece of paper, followed by an arrow to a new drawing of a pumpkin of
identical shape and size, with the standard Jack-o'-lantern face. In all
respect, they probably didn't understand, but just accepted that they will find
out in time.
Before Wednesday
October 31 rolled around. I notified my students and co teachers of the Halloween
event, my students were enthusiastic on learning. I told them to bring paper
for mask making, unsure if I had enough. That day, I brought colored pencils,
crayons, scissors string, and of course two pumpkins. My first class, the 6th
graders were very excited on learning about Halloween. I had planned on having
an impromptu meeting with interested students after the school lessons were
over. Instead, my co-teacher thought would be better for the 4th grade to spend
their time making masks. With the knowledge I know now, it was better that I
celebrated Halloween with a limited number of students. The contents of this
post will reveal why.
With multi-colored
paper in their hands, my 4th grade class was ready for mask making. I drew on
the board: a bear mask, a mummy mask, a fish mask, a scarecrow mask, a cat
mask, and a dog mask. A few had chosen a mummy for a face; most however, were
quite taken with the bear. The class time was spent making these masks. I hovered
around, providing advice, encouragement, and input. When it came time for the
string, I cut into 18 inch long strips, the twine required to fit the masks to
their faces. A simple double knot through two small holes, cut into the sides
of the faces, just under the eyes did the trick. Some students were independent,
the majority was not so independent. I had to do a lot of knot tying that day!
With the
masks complete I had to show them how to trick or treat. I had them don their
many-colored bear masks, and a few mummies and dogs. I wrote on the board
"Trick or Treat" and had them pronounce it. Then, I kicked them out
of the classroom and into the hallway. The door closed. I waited for a knock.
The knock never came. I again, opened the door and told them to knock. This
time, I herd a rattle. When I opened the door, I opened it with a kilogram of
candy in my hands. A few students greeted me with a "Trick or Treat!"
but most just glared at the bag of candy held in my arms. I wish I had taken a
picture of all the masked faces staring at me. I partitioned the candy out to
the children and had them enter the classroom. By the time the students each
had a piece of candy, the class was over. My reward: an enormous applause and "Thank
You."
I had
another class that day, it was with the 2nd graders. The co-teacher and I
decided that it wasn't best to have the same treatment. The classroom was too
ill managed, and we didn't find it correct. I would have liked to do the same
with them, but I didn't push the motion any further. The second grade class was
shorter anyways. To make masks and hand out candy in such short
time...impossible.
With the
my daily classes at an end, it was time to carve the pumpkins. I gathered the
two pumpkins, stored in the room. My staff didn't know what I was doing, they
kept on telling me it was food, and that we should cook them up and eat them. I
had to ignore them, it would become clear to them once they see the spooky
faces leering projected candle light towards them. With my pocket knife and the
two pumpkins, I withdrew to the front of the school. In the open air, I proceeded
to carve. From the start, I could tell it wasn't going to work. The knife was
much too soft. I need a carving knife to use. What is more, the students
watching became too riled up. They didn't know what I was doing, and like the
staff, tried to explain to me that these were for food. They crowded around me,
getting too close to the blade. I didn't want to cut anyone! They didn't
understand, and didn't have the patience to just watch. Some students even took
the pumpkin I wasn't working on, and were tossing it up into the air and
catching it! The plans and Ideas I was making were quickly failing. I am trying
to make a fun lesson for them, but once again, they proved too unruly. This is
why there isn't an English club. This is why I don't attend the older students'
classes. They act like clowns when together. I wasn't going to tolerate it any
longer. I gave up. I put the knife in my pocket, and gathered my two pumpkins.
I was to retreat into the teachers lounge and from there, carve a pumpkin to
show them. They could just wait or go home, from the behavior of the worst I no
longer cared.
At that
moment of dejection, my 8th grade class came to the rescue. My 8th grade class,
had me come into their classroom. Giuli was teaching her English class at that
time. With the help of my Co-teacher I explained what I was doing and were able
to understand what was going on. Giuli and I decided to have a Halloween party
similar to earlier that day. In addition mask making, we were pumpkin carving. From
that class, one of the students had got a large knife from a nearby house. The
10 inch blade was just what was needed for carving. I was able to make two
small trapezoidal eyes, a triangular nose and a mouth with a few square teeth. You
couldn't do these things in America, bringing a knife into a public school is
considered a notch down from an act of terror. While I was carving one
jack-o'-lantern, I had the students scrape guts out of the other. In that 45
minutes, We managed to carve two pumpkins make masks, and enjoy another round
of trick-or-treating.
It is
amazing how plans in this country can go from failure and frustration to a
startling success. You can not plan on anything working as you hope. One can only
put faith in its people and hope for something unexpected to ensue, it always
does.
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| The pumpkin with Cote. |
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