Dozens of first- and second-graders from the Floyd County School System took a field trip to Ghana by way of Shorter College thanks to a special partnership designed to broaden cultural understanding among elementary school students.

As part of its partnership with the Floyd County School System, Shorter College hosted “Ghana Day” recently for Floyd’s gifted elementary resource classes. Students were exposed to the art, literature, music, culture and geography of Ghana through several learning stations set up around the campus.

According to McCall Govignon, coordinator of advanced academic programs for Floyd County Schools, Ghana Day coincided with the caravans/geography unit the students were studying.

Though the stations offered kid-friendly learning environments, the event’s impact can be measured twice, according to adjunct early childhood education instructor Lynda Chisholm.

“Ghana Day was designed as a hands-on learning event for Shorter students as well. Not only will the first- and second-graders learn about another culture, but our education students will also benefit from the interaction,” said Chisholm.

The stations allowed young learners to create Ghanaian masks, listen to Ghanaian literature and also get a real taste of the West African country.

“Ghana is a major producer of bananas; they also have chocolate as a main export so we will have plenty of bananas and chocolate on hand for the kids to have as a treat while they study Ghana’s culture and geography,” Chisholm said.

The music station was organized by Elizabeth Robbins, Shorter’s chorus director and director of music education.

“We are really excited about this station,” Chisholm said. “We will have actual Ghanaian instruments for the children to play and Ms. Robbins will be teaching songs to the students as well. I think all of us, not just the students, came out of this event with a better understanding of Ghana.”