AMHERST — A large, colorful display depicting the four seasons, created by students in two kindergarten classes from cardboard, wood and paper, is greeting visitors in the lobby at Fort River School.
As a way of showcasing the school’s Caminantes dual-language program, and at the same time celebrating the Fallas festival held each March in the Valencia region of Spain, teachers Iris Lopez and Molly Cooksy, along with the kindergartners and the students’ families, recently made the monuments.
Lopez, who hails from the Valencia region and began teaching at the elementary school last August, calls the Fallas installation a “truly intercultural project” that helps bring to life her cultural heritage.
In addition, the festival involves instruments, firecrackers and fireworks displays that the kindergarten students simulated by using everyday items wrapped in brightly colored paper.
“I liked hanging the pretend firecrackers on the string,” kindergartner Hailey Wilson said. “They don’t use water bottles in Spain, but it was cool that we did.”
Parent Michelle Wilson appreciates the unique multicultural perspective in the Caminantes classroom, where students spend 90% of their day with instruction in Spanish.
“My daughter is learning all about different traditions in Ms. Lopez’s native Spain and absolutely loved working on the Fallas project,” she said. “The final result is a beautiful, community effort that showcases the power of teamwork.”
Lopez said the Las Fallas dates back to medieval Valencia when carpenters would burn wood scraps to honor their patron saint, St. Joseph. “Eventually these bonfires evolved into fantasy scenes and satirical sculptures that are often humorous and connected to current events,” Lopez said.
Due to severe floods experienced by people in the Valencia region last fall, some of the Fallas sculptures were built to recognize the devastation and loss of life.
The Fallas project has had an impact on the school, where all students could view the Fallas and ask questions of adults, and some teachers have brought their classes to visit the display.
“This project is exactly the kind of learning that I love to see here at Fort River,” said Principal Tara Luce. “When teachers integrate language learning with the study of people and cultures, and make deep curricular connections with social studies and the arts, they help their students create experiences that leave a lasting impression.”
Las Fallas traditionally ends on March 19 with La Cremá, when the Fallas are burned, and symbolizes a new beginning. This is also when many Fallero artists begin work on sculptures for the following year.
