G'Day Mates Visits Abintra Montessori School
January 12, 2006
G'Day Mates program kicked off the 2006 calendar year with a visit to the Abintra Montessori School, whose attractive campus is located on 10 wooded acres in West Nashville, Tennessee. Grades 1, 2 & 3 were studying Australia in December 2005 and January 2006 so a visit from the gang at G'Day Mates was definitely in order.

Pru Clearwater, Tom Mason, Peter Beare, and Vicki Payne from G'Day Mates and the Australian Festival made the visit with our friends at Abintra. The visit commenced with Pru and Peter introducing Australia, and in particular the amazing indigenous animals from Down Under. To the students' credit, each had a favorite animal (or two) and could not only name the animal but explain why it was their favorite. As part of the G'Day Mates visit, the classroom was provide with a coloring book of Australian Animals and some stencils which would be used in art class. Pru and Tom then broke into song with some Aussie bush favorites (new and old) as the children joined in. 

Next in the Aussie curriculum was a case study on Kangaroos and their overall habits and habitat, which was received with hopping enthusiasm by the students. Pru then ignited the artist and musician in each student with a talk on aboriginal instruments, including the didgeridoo. The children (and teachers alike) were mesmerized by the sounds of the didgeridoo (and also the design and color of the instrument) and also the fact that it is one of the oldest instruments in the world. In November, the didgeridoo made it to the Tennessee state capitol -- and now to a class room in West Nashville! It makes sense that a didgeridoo is a part of the landscape in Music City USA!

A rousing chorus of Waltzing Matilda finished out the exciting G'Day Mates visit. We would like to thank the Abintra Montessori School for welcoming the G'Day Mates program. For a photo recap of the visit - Click Here.

For more details on the G'Day Mates program please check our G'Day Mates Page.