Where the Watermelons Grow is a story about a girl named Della who lives on a farm with her family. Della’s mom has a mental illness that makes her act in strange ways, and Della wants to help her get better. She believes that if she can save their watermelon crop, which is dying because of a drought, then her mom will get better. Della goes on a journey to find the source of the water for the watermelons and meets new friends along the way. This is a heartwarming story about family and the power of love and perseverance.
Fun Activities:
- Root Magic Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt around the themes of Root Magic. Hide items or clues related to traditional Gullah Geechee culture, such as seashells, herbs, or items with symbolic meaning. As students find each item, they can learn about its cultural significance.
- Root Magic Potion Making: Have students create their own “root magic” potions using herbs, flowers, and other natural materials. They can learn about traditional healing practices of the Gullah Geechee culture and create their own concoctions to heal common ailments.
- Root Magic Garden: Create a garden where students can plant herbs and other plants that are significant to Gullah Geechee culture. They can learn about the importance of growing their own food and how traditional Gullah Geechee practices of farming and gardening have been passed down for generations.
- Root Magic Storytelling: Have students create their own stories inspired by Root Magic. They can draw inspiration from the characters and themes in the book to create their own magical tales of adventure.
- Root Magic Cooking: Have a Root Magic-themed cooking class where students can learn how to cook traditional Gullah Geechee dishes such as Red Rice, okra soup or fried fish. Students can learn about the importance of food in the culture of Gullah Geechee and how certain ingredients and dishes were used medicinally or spiritually.