Students Find Culture Lesson Their Cup of Tea

About 100 third-graders from Weathersfield Elementary School donned gloves, hats and their nicest outfits Friday for the English tea party that each year kicks off a program of global study.

In each of the school’s five third-grade classrooms, 8- and 9-year-olds politely chirped, “How do you do?” to their guests, laid linen napkins over their knees and gingerly balanced their cups and saucers.

England is the first country the third-graders will study, complete with lessons on etiquette and stories about Paddington the Bear. For the next several months, they also will delve into cultures of northern Europe, the Mediterranean, Africa, Japan, China and Canada.

The program builds up to the third grade’s international fair at the end of May. Students will dress in costumes reflecting their families’ roots and perform songs and dances of those countries.

But of all the activities, teachers and parents say the tea party is the most memorable.

“It’s the highlight of third grade,” said Pauline Pancake. “Rebecca was up at 6 in the morning trying on dresses.”

Even the boys said they liked getting gussied up.

“I kind of like wearing a tie,” said 8-year-old Kenny O’Reilly, whose mother bought him a shiny blue tie especially for the event. “It’s kind of fun. I like the way it looks on me.”

About 10 years ago, third-grade teacher Helene Weinstein started a rudimentary tea party as a way to teach her students about European immigrants to the U.S.

Over the years, the party has grown into a major event. Parents now cut the crusts off triangular strawberry jam and cucumber sandwiches, and bring in their fine china and fanciest silver dessert service.

Weinstein said such details help make the lesson special.

“And I think we do real well except maybe that in England, they have real clotted cream,” she said.