First Grade Hero Study, “The Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay” / Los Reciclados de Paraguay

In connection with first grade’s Hero Study, in Spanish class the students were introduced to a hero in Paraguay. His name is Fabio Chávez, an Argentinian musician who served as a director of a music school in Carapeguá, Paraguay. What made him a hero? Favio, along with a Paraguayan teacher named Luis Szarán, coordinated a project that brought great joy to children living in a landfill of Asunción. Because musical instruments were too expensive and families in this town named Cateura could not afford to buy them, Favio, Luis and others, collaborated and decided to make musical instruments out of materials found in the trash. Then, Favio provided music classes to the children, naming the community project the “Recycled Orchestra of Cateura”.

To introduce Favio’s and Luis’ work to the first graders, we read Susan Hood’s book titled “Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay”. This is a true tale of Ada Ríos who grew up in Cateura dreaming of playing the violin. One day her grandmother reads a flyer from Favio for free violin classes. She signs Ada and her sister up and their lives are forever changed.  To date, the Recycled Orchestra plays venues around the world, spreading their message of ingenuity, hard work, perseverance and hope. After the read aloud, the students viewed the 60 Minute report on YouTube on this extraordinary story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxUuKthY1dQ

Just like Favio’s and Luis’ project came to fruition through collaboration by many, here at AFS we too have the phenomenal opportunity for interdisciplinary collaboration to better foster students’ learning. During Community Time, a time allotted for all resource teachers to come together, the first graders got the chance to craft their own musical instruments. With Amanda’s guidance, stations were set-up with recycled items and instructions on how to make musical instruments. All the students got the chance to choose one to make; drum, maracas, sand blocks, lyre, rainstick, and clapper. 

 

Later, with Keisha’s support the students created music using their newly constructed instruments. 

When asked what they should be called, the first graders had many suggestions but the one they settled on was “The Creation Orchestra of AFS.” What an absolute incredible experience!