SUMNER – A giant poster announcing that this is the Year of the Tiger in Asia covers a huge section of the gym wall at Hartford/Sumner Elementary School. On the gym floor, a group of fifth-graders are receiving instruction from members of the Bates Indonesian Gamelan Orchestra on how to play gongs and other “exotic” instruments.

Other children are learning Chinese jump rope, practicing the Chinese ribbon dance under the leadership of members from the Lotus Dance Troupe of Portland, or trying on traditional Indonesian or Chinese costumes.

Virtually all the school corridors were decorated with Asian-inspired works of art such as Japanese and Pekin Opera masks, all created by the children.

Friday was devoted to ending a six-week virtual immersion in Asian culture, called Asia Will Amaze Ya.

“The project just grew and grew,” said Meghan Andrews-Wright, school music director.

The school’s allied arts program organized the six-week project that at first started with youngsters taking part in Asian-related activities in music, art, and physical education classes, as well as by the library.

But classroom teachers also participated in the unit by assigning Asian-related texts or poetry writing, said Andrews-Wright.

Some of the activities really surprised pupils.

“I thought ribbon dancing would be boring,” said Grady Turcotte, a fourth-grader. “But it was really fun.”

Norliyana Menes, also a fourth-grader, was born in Singapore, but has spent much of her life living in Buckfield. She returned to her home country for a year, then returned last year.

She said Buckfield is sort of like living in rural Malaysia.

She said that although she has been learning about her native country from her mother, it was much more fun doing some of the things at school.

Her mother, Noraizada Menes, a substitute teachhr, was one of the presenters who described her country to the youngsters.

“President Obama spent part of his childhood in Indonesia,” she said.

Buckfield High School foreign exchange students from Taiwan and Mongolia, also worked with the youngsters during the day.

Fifth-graders Abby Shields and Jacob Kraske were fascinated by instruments in the gamelan gong and chime orchestra.

All the children were asked to remove their shoes before they entered the orchestra area as a show of respect.

“We weren’t allowed to walk over the instruments because there might be spirits of former players there,” said Abby, a clarinetist in the elementary school band.

Jacob, who plays the saxophone in the school band, had a great time playing the gongs and chimes.

“You really have to work at it,” he said.

Even lunch had an Asian theme – Thai noodles, spring rolls, shrimp poppers, and fortune cookies.

Andrews-Wright, a member of the Nezinscot Valley Music Boosters, said the group sponsored the concerts provided by the gamelan orchestra and dance troupe. In the past, the school has had African drummers or Native American groups. The Asian theme was something new and timely.

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