CURRICULUM, MUSIC, AND COMMUNITY | HIGHLIGHTS OF SCHOOL PROJECTS

Central Elementary:
Dulcimer Residency & Family Night

THROUGH A WEEK-LONG RESIDENCY with dulcimer player Anne Lough, the students in Jan Nesbitt's fourth-grade class at Central Elementary in Waynesville, NC, learned to play the dulcimer. They then held a Family Night "hoedown" at which the students showed off their new skills and the Reel Band played traditional music for dancing.

The students themselves planned the dinner. They first brainstormed as a class what supplies they would need. Then, using grocery store sales flyers to determine the approximate cost of the supplies they needed, they tallied up the cost of the event.
     Students wrote letters to selected community businesses explaining the CMC project and describing their residency with Anne Lough. Several merchants donated supplies, and artists donated their services for the event. After the event, the students and teachers wrote thank-you notes to the businesses and artists.
     Finally, students wrote paragraphs based on the event.