Our Arctic Festival !

There was so much laughter on Tuesday as we celebrated our last day of studying the Arctic with a "traditional" Inuit festival.

The first event was throwing bean bags into a target. 

Inuits had to develop their ability to throw a spear accurately (think hunting a polar bear or whale).

Good throw!  Tossing the beanbag into the wicker basket gave  Charlie's team 2 points.

Laura is really focused on her throw.

Sophia is trying to get the beanbag into the wicker basket, bypassing the easier one point shot into the blue tub!

Now we are at the second event, wrestling!  Inuits had to be very strong and wrestling is a way to prove that to your tribe.

The Inuits begin their wrestling contests with a bow, as  good sportsmanship is the most important trait of all!

Who can "push" the other child out of the orange rectangle in order to win the match?

Shaking hands and big smiles show this match was all in fun.

The third and final event was our  version of competitive ice fishing.  Everyone had a turn to "hook" a fish and follow the written directions on their fish.

Laura is clapping like a seal 6 times!

Matthew is hopping like an arctic hare.

Charlie is stretching his wings like the snowy  owl as he swoops down  to catch his prey.

Sammie is crawling like a polar bear.

Sophia had to make a scary face...well done!

Charlie had to move like a little lemming under the snow.  He added the fact that lemmings would probably feel scared since at any moment a snowy owl might swoop down and grab them. 
All of these events combine games, movements and a sense of community so important to the Inuits...but also to us in our classroom.  It was a fun, yet meaningful, culmination to our unit.