Some of the speakers at the International Peace Day event had an impromptu dance at the start of the Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School’s World Cultures Day event Friday, Sept. 26, in Brooklyn Park. (BILL JONES - SUN NEWSPAPERS)

Students at Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School recently got a firsthand introduction to other countries right in their own school.

World Cultures Day at the Brooklyn Center school on Sept. 26 gave students in kindergarten through fifth grade the chance to experience cultures from 17 different countries.

The day was part of a celebration of International Peace Day at the school, which also included a Welcome Back Night with music and dinner for families.

During World Cultures Day, students met with 24 speakers from 17 countries - Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Liberia, Nigeria, Peru, Poland, Pakistan, Serbia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. The international speakers traveled throughout the classrooms showing their traditional dress and artifacts, and comparing and contrasting life in their home country with life in the United States.

"We want kids to be exposed to windows and mirrors - to see themselves and to look at other cultures," Evergreen Park IB/PYP Coordinator Jodi Baker said.

An opening assembly featured traditional African drumming, while the closing assembly featured a traditional Kygyzstan dance. After the event, Baker said students would have a chance to reflect with their peers about their experience.

To remember the day, students received a passport stamped by international guests from each country.

As part of the United States Department's International Visitor Leadership program, several international visitors from Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Haiti, India, Kosovo, Liberia, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, People's Republic of China, South Africa and Turkey came to the school as well to observe the World Cultures Day. These visitors are in the United States to examine curriculum development, incorporation of intercultural resources in the classroom, recruitment and retention, the role of parents and teachers in education and meeting local education challenges.

Now in its second year at Evergreen Park World Studies Elementary School, World Cultures Day has been a good experience for students, Baker said.

"We hope it helps kids to look beyond themselves to develop international minds," she said.

World Cultures Day is part of the Minnesota International Center's statewide effort to provide the students of Minnesota with opportunities to interact with people from other cultures. According to the center, it aims to "awaken the children's curiosity and increase their cultural competency so they can successfully participate in our multicultural community."

As part of World Cultures Day, students were encouraged to wear festive clothing representing culture or peace in keeping with the day's theme.

World Cultures Day at Evergreen Park World Elementary School was partially funded by the Education Minnesota Foundation.

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World Cultures Day at Evergreen Park World Elementary School was partially funded by the Education Minnesota Foundation.

Comment on this story at our website, www.mnsun.com.