BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In honor of Black History month I'd like to share some great African children's games that you can play with your kids. The people of Africa are gifted with rhythm. So we find many of their games accompanied by chanting, hand clapping, stamping of the feet, or all three. The players are frequently more interested in the rhythm of the game than they are in competing to win.


WHAT IS BIG?

The song leader, the teacher, asks a question and the chorus (children) answer. Kids stomp around the room and act like the animals.

LEADER: What is big?
CHORUS: Elephants are big.
LEADER: What is big?
CHORUS: Elephants are big.
LEADER: Amoung all animals of the world Elephants are larger.

LEADER: What runs fast?
CHORUS: Cheetahs run fast.
LEADER: What runs fast?
CHORUS: Cheetahs run fast.
LEADER: Amoung all the animals of the world Cheetahs are faster.

LEADER: Who can swim?
CHORUS: Hippos can swim.
LEADER: Who can swim?
CHORUS: Hippos can swim.
LEADER: Amoung all the animals of the world Hippos can swim.

LEADER: Who can change?
CHORUS: Chameleons can change.
LEADER: Who can change?
CHORUS: Chameleons can change.
LEADER: Amoung all the animals of the world Chameleons can change.

LEADER: Who is king?
CHORUS: Lions are king.
LEADER: Who is king?
CHORUS: Lions are king.
LEADER: Amoung all the animals of the world Lions are king.

NUMBERS

Children march around the room to African instrumental music. If your kids are old enough you can vary your march to stomp right, step right, stomp left, step left. When the teacher calls out a number kids join hands with others to make that number. Say the number is two. Everyone has to find a partner and continue to do the stomp, step until the next number is called.

P.S. Tour with VBT-Writers on the Move through February. New and famous authors, plus useful information. http://tinyurl.com/yhkt7v8


Kathy Stemke's websites:
Moving Through all Seven Days link:http://www.lulu.com/content/e-book/moving-through-all-seven-days/7386965#http://www.helium.com/users/406242.html
http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/237923/Kathy_stemke_dancekam.html
http://kathystemke.weebly.com

Black History Month Don Cheadle:A Person of Influence

Don Cheadle: A Person of Influence
The American film actor, Don Cheadle, inspires many people to give their time, money and energy to help the people of Darfur in Africa. This Article will inspire you to ask what you can do to help those less fortunate in the world. During Black History month we need to see what others are doing today to help the unfortunate people in Africa.

Don Cheadle, actor, director, producer, author, and humanitarian, has stared in over 40 films and 20 TV episodes. After playing a hotel manager in "Hotel Rowanda," he was shocked and energized into becoming an activist to bring awareness to the genocide, and monumental suffering of the people in the Darfur region of Sudan. The over 400,000 deaths and 2.5 million people forced to leave their homes and live in deplorable refugee camps inspired Mr. Cheadle to co-author a book with activist, John Prendergast, entitled, "Not on Our Watch: The Mission to End Genocide in Darfur and Beyond." This book challenges its readers to become politically active and use their influence to raise awareness about this horrible human crisis. Along with fellow actors, he founded an organization, Not on Our Watch, to draw on the powerful voices of artists, activists and cultural leaders, to generate lifesaving assistance and protection for the vulnerable, marginalized and displaced. Last year this group raised 6 million dollars to help prevent malnutrition, administer immunizations to children, teach hygiene and safe cooking practices, and provide health care and alternatives to dangerous fuel gathering outside the refugee camps. They also helped protect various aid agencies and contributed to the Humanitarian Aid Helicopter Service, which were all vital services for the millions of displaced people in the refugee camps.

To read more of this article click on this link:
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/927337/don_cheadle_a_person_of_influence.html