The 2010 theme for Kid's Place June 28-30 at the North American Convention of the Church of God in Anderson, Indiana was "AFRICAN ADVENTURE." I was asked to write and lead the "Cote d'Ivoire and Storytelling" Learning Center. I invited librarian Ruth Maxedon and her husband Lynn to join me in facilitating this portion of the 3-day adventure.
Cote d'Ivoire missionaries Sherman and Kay Critser tell about the Church of God ministry there, the country and schools, West Africa Bible Institute, CBH radio, and answer questions.
Andrew Lyon, with CBH: Christians Broadcasting Hope, shows picture of radio tower on church in Yamoussoukro, Côte d'Ivoire. He tells about the French radio program and his trips there to train radio staff and soundproof the studio.
Lynn and Ruth Maxedon lead the song with actions “Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord” in English and French. The Maxedons describe their February 2010 Côte d'Ivoire trip to assist with soundproofing CBH radio studio and work on preparing books for the West Africa Bible Institute library.
Ruth Maxedon shares It Takes a Village by Jane Cowan-Fletcher and My Baby by Jeanette Winter about making mud cloth. Ruth showed a sample of real mud cloth and several cloths she bought in Côte d'Ivoire.
I lead children in transition song “Beat the Drum,” (tune: “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”) with homemade African drums or using our laps for drums.
Beat, beat, beat the drum, Rum, Pum, Pum, Pum, Pum.
Listen to the sounds it makes, Watch us have some fun.
Play, play, play the drum, Rum, Pum, Pum, Pum, Pum.
Hear it talk and tell a tale, Listen everyone.
(Travel the Globe, Multicultural Story Times, Desiree Webber ... [et al.] p. 111)
This small African drum was made from two plastic punch cups, taped bottom to bottom with duct tape; it can be covered with masking tape, color electrical tape, or 1" strips of woodgrain adhesive paper and decorated with electrical tape.
Children join in saying the name of the special tree, “Uwungelema” (oo-won-guh-LAY-muh) during the felt board story similar to the "Tortoise and the Hare." (The Flannel Board Storytelling Book. Judy Sierra, p. 152-157 )
The book, Beatrice’s Goat by Page McBrier shows what a tremendous difference one goat can make in the life of a Ugandan family. Kid's Place outreach project from offerings this year went to buy goats in Uganda...and money was collected for 13 goats. PTL!
We have fun with a silly hippo rhyme and body percussion between stories.
A hip, a hip, a hippopotamus; (slap thighs)
Got on, got on, got on the city bus; (clap hands)
And all, and all, and all the people said… (brush hands past each other up and down)
You’re squishing us! (squish cheeks)
Special THANKS to my sister Pat Watts for making PowerPoints with music of French/English songs “Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord” and “Papa Abraham”. (Email me for these.) Thank you Larry Sellers for making French translation of “Hallelujah, Praise ye the Lord” fit the melody and reflect Ivorian version. Thanks to South Meridian Church of God, Anderson for use of your plants and to Kid's Place workers for plant delivery.
