Tip 161: February 2022 – African American History Month: The Amistad -
Friendship
Website Educational Tip for Language and Literacy Development
The following story is about a famous ship called The Amistad, which means
Friendship in English, in Jessica B. Harris’s book A Kwanzaa Keepsake. It portrayed courageous people
who transcended boundaries and who showed extraordinary courage and
achievements. The goal of this story is to expose a variety of
multicultural experiences about life that include respect for diversity.
Teaching tolerance through everyday experiences will help children respect
not only their own but other cultures as well.
This story started in 1839 when 53 captives from Sierra Leone were loaded
on to a Spanish slave ship bound for Cuba. They overpowered the captain and
took control of the ship ordering it to sail back to the West African coast
toward the rising sun. The Spaniards did so, but only by day, by night they
sailed northwest towards the coast of Long Island where it was seized by an
American naval vessel and taken to Connecticut.
In a trial which lasted 18 months, going all the way to the Supreme Court,
and pleaded by former president John Quincy Adams, it was determined that
the captives were not slaves because Spain had outlawed slavery in 1817.
They were freed and abolitionist raised money to send them home. 35
survivors of the original 53 returned home.
The following activities should be done to encourage Friendship and
Language and Literacy.
Infants: Bright Baby Touch and Feel Winter Board Book
This is an engaging book to share with infants. It has pictures of snowmen
and sparkling snowflakes. The pages have different touch and feel textures
for little finger to explore.
Adults should talk about the pictures and different textures the infants
are experiencing.
Toddlers: Row Your Boat
Each child needs to find a partner. Have them sit on the floor with their
feet touching each other, then have them reach over and grasp each other’s
hands. The children should rock back and forth singing
“Row, Row, Row, Your Boat Gently Down The Stream. Merrily, Merrily,
Merrily, Merrily, Life Is But A Dream.”
When they finish they should change partners and start over again. Some
children can be shy and may need you to get down on the floor and do it
with them. Then encourage them to find a new partner.
Preschoolers:
Make Snow Cream
Instead of making ice cream out of fresh berries just use what’s in season
– snow. Have the children gather some fresh snow (white not yellow or
brown) and then add milk, sugar and vanilla to taste. It is really that
simple. You can eat it right away or freeze it inside or outside in ice
cream molds or cups with Popsicle sticks. Talk about how you can experiment
with adding different flavors or fresh fruits.
Do as much as you can, in order to leave our community more
beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
(Traditional African Saying)
