The Global Corner teaches Egypt to United Cerebral Palsy Center

The United Cerebral Palsy's Transition Employment Center or TEC Students in Pensacola, Florida recently took an all expenses paid "trip" to Egypt! The Global Corner International Learning Center visited TEC and transported the students to Egypt by presenting interactive lessons.

About forty students began their trip with learning that Egypt is located in Africa, and that most of the country is compromised of a desert. Students also actively participated in the introduction by learning to say hello, teacher, and goodbye in Arabic, and then saying the words to one another.

During the music presentation students were handed out zills or finger cymbals that are widely used in both ancient and contemporary Egyptian music. Each student was able to play the zills along with the class in making their Egyptian music. A video of different traditional dances amused most students and brought them to laughter when Oztaza Jodie Miller (Arabic for “teacher Jodie Miller”) showed the whirling dance to the class and explained that the men of Egypt traditionally performed the dance.

Following the music lesson was a brief discussion on contemporary Egyptian culture. A book entitled Ahmed’s Secret was read to the class by Oztaza Maria Nelson. Students learned that some Egyptian children go to work instead of to school. In the story, Ahmed had to help his family by delivering cooking gas for his father’s business. The TEC students discovered that Ahmed’s secret was that he had taught himself to write his name -- something that most American children take for granted.
Next, a lesson in writing Arabic words and numbers was presented. A book of counting from one to ten -- first in English followed by the Arabic words -- was read, and well received. Students were then handed out individual worksheets to practice writing their numbers from waahid (one) to ashara (ten) like Egyptian students do.

The trip to Egypt ended with art. Students learned the Arabic words for the colors red, black, white, yellow, and blue. Out of those colors students picked their favorite three and colored a geometric design like the ones found throughout Egypt.
The Global Corner’s regular schedule will take them into Escambia County kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms. This special visit of The Global Corner was donated by the organization’s teachers and volunteers. To sponsor a class, donate or learn more about The Global Corner please visit their website at www.theglobalcorner.org.