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player ready...It’s not every day a third-grade classroom hosts a private reading by a local author.
But such was the case when Northwest Indiana native Nick Mantis introduced his new book, “Waterville,” to students at Wadsworth Elementary School in Griffith. The book promotes awareness of pollution in the environment.
“I was elated when asked to visit the classrooms,” Mantis said, of the invitation from South Shore Arts, the organization that coordinated the event. “I wanted to share my experiences with nature.”
The program, which is part of the SSA everykid program, is a literacy-based art workshop that is held in area school classrooms. This year’s highlighted book — “Waterville” — is geared toward third-grade students.
A copy of the book was donated to various schools, and teachers at each of those schools read and discussed its premise with their students — to learn how the environment affects others. A hands-on craft session followed.
Three classrooms at Wadsworth Elementary School were chosen for a personal visit from Mantis.
“This is great for the kids to meet the author of this new book,” said Wadsworth teacher Niki Sarver, while waiting for Mantis to arrive for a recent session. “We are honored to have him here.”
After the author introduced himself to the class, he shared his reasons for writing the book and sharing it with others. Moving from a city to a town with open land when he was a teenager was an eye-opener.
“I lived by railroad tracks and factories, just concrete everywhere,” Mantis said, of his childhood memories. “When I moved to a subdivision, it was a very different environment.”
He found green areas, creeks, ponds and all the creatures that live around them.
“I spent much of my time outside,” he added. “I love all creatures and nature.”
The “Waterville” storyline follows the tale of a natural pond and those living under or near the pond — such as Wiggles the Worm and Myrtle the Turtle and her babies. The group looks at the effects of pollution as barrels of oil are spilled into their pond.
After Mantis’ presentation, SSA art instructor Dawn Diamuntopoulous brought in art supplies to help the class fashion the types of creatures mentioned in the book.
“I chose the turtle, it’s not too hard to make,” said Tallon Rainey, 8, as he chose green construction paper for his masterpiece. “This new book is important because it shows how pollution can hurt the animals.”
South Shore Arts believes that the arts have a positive impact on the scholastic aptitude of children and young people. To that end, the everykid program began in 1995, starting with a single after-school fourth-grade class in Hammond.
Thirty students were served that first year and SSA built on the success of the pilot program and added more classes the second year — reaching out to Gary and East Chicago schools as well as Hammond.
Under the umbrella of everykid, more than 20 unique programs have been tailored to meet particular objectives at appropriate grade levels. Today, 28,000 students and families are served by these programs, according to the SSA website.
South Shore Arts offers classes and programs for both children and adults throughout the year.
For more information, call 219-836-1839.
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Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance writer for the Post-Tribune.