CARNAVAL

OMLTA spring conference 2013 Marybeth Kigar [email protected]

Where to start???

• First make sure you have support – Make sure you have support from you administration (possibly you can get release time for planning) – Get other teachers to help organize the different games – Get donations from the community (A donation letter is on the cd) – Get parent council and volunteers on board • Decide what sort of Carnaval you would like to run – 1 day of activities – A whole week of activities

Communication!!!!

• Make sure all staff are aware of your plans (a sample letter to staff is on the CD) • Make sure parents are aware of the activities (you may find some will want to help before even asking for volunteers) • If you don’t ask for donations you will not get any (a sample donation letter is on the CD)

Possible ideas for a full week of Carnaval

• Monday (Red and White day) – Opening ceremonies • Students were put into tribes • Everyone sang the Carnaval song together • The principal gave Bonhomme the key to the school (A teacher made a large key out of cardboard) • The students returned to a classroom and made their individual ice blocks (a blue piece of paper that was then used to build our ice palace on the school wall) - Start collecting soap carvings for the contest and put in display case

• Tuesday (Tuque Tuesday) – Pancake lunch • Students went to their tribe classroom and had pancakes and juice – a letter went out to parents before hand asking about any food allergies or concerns – Parent volunteers came in and cooked pancakes all morning – Containers with syrup, juice, cups, plates, cutlery and napkins were prepared the night before – on each container there was a tribe list that said how many students were eating regular pancakes and how many had special ones (i.e. gluten free) – Parent volunteers placed pancakes in portable aluminium containers and waited at the ends of the halls for the tribe leaders to come pick them up – Played carnaval and French culture music over the PA system while they were eating – (All of our stuff was donated by a parent so make sure you budget for the necessary products in case you aren’t as lucky)

• Wednesday (Wacky sash day) – School wide BINGO • Before the week began teachers were given the required vocabulary images • Each student was given a paper that had 4 bingo cards on them • Over the PA system students called out the vocabulary (in French and English) • Each teacher had a large copy of the images and was able to show them as they were called • The rules were that the students had to walk to the office to claim their prize, once a student arrived they waited 2 minutes for anyone else to come • We played 4 different games – 1 line; and X; 4 corners; and whole card – The prizes again were donated by the community

• Thursday (Tropical day) – Post card writing • This was at the discretion of each teacher • It was done whenever they wanted during the day • (It was also able to be used as a writing mark if they wanted) • It could be written in French or in English • Once they had finished writing the postcard it was folded with their name on it • They were all brought down to the office and then on Friday there was a draw which could be done at closing ceremonies or over the PA system (we did multiple draws) – Again prizes were donated

• Friday – Play day • The tribes rotated around each station • Each tribe had a fabric sash to help identify • The daily schedule was altered slightly to accommodate • The grade 8s lead the stations and the grade 7s became the leaders of the tribes • Teachers supervised the students • Bonhomme wandered around for the day - Closing ceremonies - The key was returned to the principal - The school sang the theme song again - Soap carving contest winners were revealed - Thank yous * We also had a potluck lunch for all teachers and volunteers – there was a sign-up in the staff room

One day Carnaval ideas

• Make sure staff are well informed of what is happening • Plan the day and provide a schedule to all staff and student leaders • Be sure to have a signal that tells everyone when they need to rotate • Make sure you have a plan for if you run off schedule or behind schedule • Make sure you plan around staff breaks and lunches • It is really important to make sure the rotation leaders know what they are supposed to do, and what to do if there is an issue, also make sure they know where to find extra material that they may need

Possible activities for Play day

• Snowball races (spoon and egg races) • Icicle toss (ring toss) * snow sculpting * Scarf juggling • Mural painting • Snowball chuck (bean bag toss with cut-outs) * chalk graffiti • Hot chocolate and snack station * scooter board races * Dance party • Team skiing • Hockey shoot-out * Bingo * Dodgeball • Course de canots (obstacle course) • La Pitoune (Pillow fight) * Face painting • Dog-sled races (crazy carpets/recycle bins) * Crazy curling • snow ball fight (ping pong balls and goggles) * Musical chairs * Bowling • Outdoor camping shelter building • Marshmallow bonhomme craft * Tug-o-war

Things to do before the event

• Have French teachers introduce the carnaval theme song (Provide them with a cd that has the theme song as well as some other carnaval songs) • Have French teachers introduce the carnaval (and Bingo) vocabulary • Request for donations from the community and parents • Create a map for the play day activities • Have a session with the grade 8s on how to lead the stations (and grade 7s on how to lead the tribes) • Have grade 5 and 6 students to make posters to help promote and get the students excited about the event • Have a box of activities and videos for the other teachers to use during the carnaval events if they’d like to • Decide what kind of activities you want to run and how many – Have some other teachers help by creating a sheet that has the materials and rules for each activity for the leaders to follow

Cross-Curricular ideas and activities

• Grade 7s can do a research project on Québec City (Posters can be hung up around the school) – the cities could be some of the Tribe names • Art – could make masks or pictures with chalk or textures around the theme of Carnaval • Dance – create a dance to the Carnaval theme • Culture – discuss Mardi Gras and other Carnavals around the world • Writing - Post cards to Bonhomme • Grade 2 – simple machines (make soap box floats on wheels) • IT – make posters to advertise the event

Things to think about:

• Activities should be planned for indoor as well as outdoor (depending on the weather) – also activities should be able to be done with or without snow • Signs for the tribes or groups • Activity locations and materials required • Daily announcements throughout the week • Advertisements – posters, letters home, etc • Donations from the community for activities and stations • Keep in mind other teachers preps and duties when making the schedules • Tribes or groups should have a marker of some sort for identification (i.e. fabric sashes, same t-shirt colours, washable marker on faces) • Get release time for the teacher who is planning the day • KEEP THE STAFF INFORMED!!! – the more information they have the more willing they are to help and support • ***THANK YOUS!!!!!

Other Carnaval ideas!!

• Do pancake lunch in the gym (if large enough) and have grade 8s serving (and speaking French); have parents cooking; have a French theme – including fiddlers, table cloth • Having Dukes and Duchesses leading the teams and crowning 1 of each at the end of the event • Crafts – marshmallow bonhommes, cotton ball snowmen, etc.

• Poster contest (do the week before so that the posters can be used as advertising) • Parade – masks or soap box floats which were made by students the week before • Community evening with fiddlers • Any other thoughts?????