|
|
|
|
|
|
Februrary 16, 2010 is Mardi Gras Day!
|
|
It's Mardi Gras time in New
Orleans; an important, vibrant and exciting month of wild creativity,
exuberant expression, and inspired action! Celebrate your own creative
contribution and powerful action of our nationwide pick-up with a Mardi
Gras Day of your own.
|
Rich Tradition in New Orleans
|
Mardi Gras came to New Orleans through its French heritage in 1699. Early explorers
celebrated
this French Holiday on the banks of the Mississippi River. Year after
year, Orleanians have added to the celebration that is now considered
the most vibrant and exciting events in the world.
Mardi Gras is certainly a special holiday in New Orleans: work
essentially stops and schools are closed for the week! Parades,
costumes, gala balls, King Cakes, Mardi Gras Indians, krewes, and music
are all part of this city-wide cultural celebration.
|
| Plan a Mardi Gras Day in Your Classroom! |
With Fundred's commitment to supporting
the social, cultural and physical health of New Mardi Gras is a great
time to introduce the project in your classroom.
History:
This video by the History Channel offers perspective on Mardi Gras: the
history, different krewes, king cakes, jambalaya, and the crazy party: History Channel
Geography:
This is an occasion to bring focus to issues around New Orleans. One
could explore the post-Katrina debate as to whether the city will
recover from the devastation; will there be a safe place for the
evacuees to return? Hurricanes will happen again, should the city
continue to rebuild?
Environmental Health: Fundred supports the environmental health of this important city from below the ground up.
Below are a few lesson ideas to explore below:
Fundred and the Jazz Greats
Andi Wong, teacher and Fundred Operative at Rooftop School in San
Francisco, California, suggests a lesson focused on the music of New
Orleans and wonderful nicknames given to jazz greats, e.g. Duke
Ellington, Count Basie, Lady Day, Satchmo, King Oliver, etc. These
names suggest royalty!
Perhaps instead of presidents, children could
decorate their Fundred with jazz greats and learn a little about New
Orleans as the place that gave birth to jazz.
Have resource material
of photos of some famous musicians, along with the songs that they are
associated with that have something to do with money or giving. Songs
like Basin Street, God Bless the Child, or Pennies from Heaven, for
example.
Fundred and the history of the KREWE
Andi also suggests a collaborative activity that teaches the students more about the
history
of Mardi Gras. Your students may be familiar with the expression
"Krewe" often used in rap, but they may not be aware that the word that
comes out of Mardi Gras tradition. The Rex Krewe website has great
history of the tradition:Rex Organization.
The students would get themselves into krewes. They would name their own
krewes,
select themes, design their logos, and make posters publicizing their
parades. They could have fun with a little friendly competition trying
to get everyone to contribute Fundreds to their krewe's cache of
Fundred's artworks. Again, you could play some music, like Iko Iko, for
example. Here's a site with some Mardi Gras music that you can stream:http://www.mardigrasdigest.com/Media/Digest_Top40.htm
|
|
Is your Fundred pick-up event this month? How about creating your own Mardi Gras Parade?
|
February pick up events are perfect for Mardi Gras themes. Music,
floats, second line parades would be a welcome sight for Tory Tepp as
he drives the Sous Terre Truck to your school!
There are several
parades in New Orleans on the days leading to Mardi Gras, culminating
in the Zulu parade (New Orleans largest predominantly African-American
organization) and followed by the Rex parade (the city's largest
parade). Trinkets and beads are usually thrown from the floats to the
crowds. Can your parade be a benefit for New Orleans where the
donations are made in Fundreds? Perhaps instead of throwing trinkets
out, the King + Queen's box can "receive" Fundreds created by others in
the school! Students can parade down the halls collecting "deposits" as
they go! While going through the school, you can shake shakers and blow
horns. Maybe you could even play music over the loudspeakers! At the
end of the day, students have had a great time, and know that they have
contributed to preserving the rich culture of New Orleans!
|
|
Fundred's February Schedule:
|
The truck moved on from northern Colorado, to Wyoming and Utah and headed to the north west, south through California and into the southwest! See the fundred.org for an up to date listing of the truck route!
02/01/10 Rocky Mt. High School, Fort Collins, CO
02/03/10 Crest Hill Elementary, Casper, WY
02/05/10 Provo High School, Provo, UT
02/10/10 Washington State University-Museum of Art, Seattle WA
02/11/10 Eckstein Middle School, Seattle, WA
02/12/10 St. Mary's Academy, Portland, OR
02/16/10 Elsie High Shool, Santa Rosa, CA
02/16/10 Fairfield Community Center, Fairfield, CA
02/16/10 Freemont Unified School District, Fremont, CA
02/17/10 Rooftop Alternative, San Francisco, CA
02/18/10 Garden Grove High School, Garden Grove, CA
02/19/10 John Muir Elementary School, Santa Monica, CA
02/19/10 Daily High School, Glendale, CA
02/19/10 Sidestreet Projects, Pasadena, CA
02/22/10 Sakamoto Elementary School, San Jose, CA
02/22/10 Willow Glen Elementary School, San Jose, CA
02/24/10 Goldwell Outdoor Museum/Lola's Louisiana Kitchen, Las Vegas, NV
02/25/10 ASU Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
02/26/10 TBA, El Paso, TX
02/27/10 BALLROOM Marfa, Marfa, TX
|
|
|
|
|
|
Questions:
If you have questions please e-mail them to: questions@fundred.org
Please continue to spread the word about the opportunity to participate in the FUNDRED DOLLAR BILL PROJECT!
FUNDRED TEAM
fundred.org
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
