'Sneetches' help N.C. students teach Norwin kindergarteners through Read Across America exercise

A Read Across America exercise for a kindergarten class at Norwin’s Stewartsville Elementary School took on a special meaning Friday when high school students from Charlotte, N.C., read a Dr. Seuss book to them.

“I think it was great. It was very nice,” said Emma Sartori, a student in Nicole Cole’s class, after listening to students from the Hawthorne Academy of Military, Global Leadership and Public Safety read the Dr. Seuss book — “The Sneetches and Other Stories.”

Students in North Huntingdon enjoyed the virtual story session on a large-screen TV as an Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps student from Hawthorne Academy, a magnet school in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District, read the book and showed them the pictures.

The book teaches lessons in discrimination, individuality and inclusivity through the main characters known as “Sneetches.” Some of the Sneetches have stars on their bellies, while others do not. During the rhyming tale, the non-starred Sneetches go to great lengths to fit in and even purchase stars to sport on their stomachs, only to find out by the end of the story that they are just fine without them.

“I think it was awesome,” said student Colton Kraus.

Cole said they made the connection with the Hawthorne Academy through one of her 20 students — Alexandra “Aly” Yeager, who is the niece of Mark Thomas, the ROTC instructor at the Hawthorne Academy.

In conjunction with Read Across America Week, Cole had the students participate in a Gingerbread Man Around the Globe project to teach the children about other areas in the United States and around the world, including New Zealand. Each student got a paper Gingerbread Man that they colored, took to various places and photographed.

“The kids really enjoy seeing the Gingerbread Man in pictures with their family members and friends. … (He) has been photographed in several spots all over the country,” Cole said.

Through the adventures of the Gingerbread Man, “we have been learning about foods, customs, celebrations, tourist sites, important landmarks, history and so much more,” Cole said.

The Hawthorne Academy students sent the Stewartsville students postcards from museums, military landmarks, cookies and popcorn. The students also received a coloring book with tourist locations from around the world, Cole said.

“The Gingerbread Man project afforded an opportunity for my high school students to interact with the kindergarteners. Over the past few months we have shared our family travels and sent treats to class,” said Thomas, who is related to Alexandra through his wife, Chantell.

Cole told the youngsters that the Dr. Seuss book offered them a very important lesson.

“It doesn’t matter the way you look. We’re all the same people,” Cole said.