Girl Scouts explore globe in third-grade classroom

Mill Plain — Girl Scouts Becca Thompson and Synthia Gifford, who just finished their junior year in high school — Thompson at Mountain View and Gifford at Union — taught cultural art classes about different nations this year to third-graders at Mill Plain Elementary School. Each lesson covered everything from children’s lives to traditional food, and the Mill Plain students did an art project of their own in conjunction with each culture. For Brazil, it was Mardi Gras masks. France was stained-glass candleholders, Turkey was mosaics and Australia was painted boomerangs. The effort won Thompson and Gifford their Gold Awards, the highest service award available for Girl Scouts. They hope to do it again next year with more third-grade classes.