Montclair Public Schools

Watchung Holds Toy Parade

Posted on 06/16/2022

Watchung students recently read Galimoto by Karen Lynn Williams and held their very own Toy Parade. Galimoto is a story about Kondi, a young African boy who wants to make a galimoto (Chichewa word for push toy vehicle) and participate in the village toy parade but finds he doesn't have enough wire to make his own galimoto. It is a story of perseverance, resourcefulness, and finding joy in creating. 

    

    

Watchung's second-fifth graders learned about simple machines and have been hard at work in small groups designing and building their own galimotos out of mostly recyclable and found materials. Kindergarten and first graders studied sound and made musical instruments for the parade. All the materials were donated to Watchung from the parents and surrounding community. Parents were invited to the parade, as students walked around the Watchung Field with their “galimotos.”

Listen to the read-aloud of Galimoto.