Middle School

This January, 5th and 6th graders resumed their pen pal relationships with Ndonyo Wasin students. Under the guidance of their advisors, students were first asked to complete a close reading of the letters they had received, focusing on the personal interests of their pen pals as well as their lives at home and school. Students were then encouraged to make inferences about their pen pals individually and the Samburu culture in general. From there, students considered their own reactions to these letters and crafted responses with an eye toward deepening these established relationships. As the pen pal program continues and these relationships grow, students have the opportunity to take a thoughtful look at the cultural differences between their worlds, while at the same time celebrating the many similarities.