Cucumber sandwiches and hot tea seemed a fitting way for
some Bensalem fifth-graders to end their study of a book
called "The View From Saturday" by E.L.
Konigsburg.
In the book, four friends have various adventures, but
always managed to meet for English-style tea. Students at
Philadelphia Biblical University held the tea for 27
fifth-graders to culminate a tutoring program between the
college and elementary students.
The kids toured the college's Langhorne Manor campus,
then had scones, sandwiches, dessert and decaffeinated
tea.
They also learned a little about what a real tea party
is like when four of the college students gave a brief
talk about the history of the English tea.
"Biscuits are cookies that are sweet, but not as
sweet as the cookies we eat," Jamie Marsters, a
college junior, told the kids. "It is also common [in
England] to raise your pinky as you drink your tea."
That said, she held up her pinky and the kids laughed.
Professor Patricia Rahn said arranging the activity was
good for her students, who are studying to be elementary
teachers. Rahn teaches a course called development and
diagnostic reading.
"It's so good for teachers in training. They did a
wonderful job of putting it together. It made the book
kind of come alive," Rahn said.
The college students developed the menu, prepared the
food and brought treats pertaining to the book. The
fifth-graders said they enjoyed the tea, but were more
impressed by the college tour.
"I always liked my older cousin because she's in
college and I thought it would be really cool to visit a
college," said fifth-grader Jessica Haskell.
Classmate John Keaton said he had never visited a
college campus before. "The gym - it was very, very
big. The other gym had exercise machines I had never
seen," John said.
Students at the college have tutored kids at Benjamin
Rush and other Bensalem elementary schools for several
years but this was the first time Rush students visited
the college.
Rahn said she hoped it wouldn't be the last.
"My students were so excited to do it," Rahn
said. "They were very excited when they saw the
school bus pull up because they're not in schools yet.
They're pre-teachers."
Saturday, April 7, 2001
