Fourth and fifth graders at Oakley Elementary School welcomed local Asheville crankie artists Jessica White and Molly Sawyer for a special presentation celebrating Appalachian folk traditions.
The visit is part of Oakley’s annual fourth grade Folk Arts Unit, a six-week experience connecting music, art, physical education, technology, and the media center to regional history and culture. Students learn traditional Appalachian tunes, explore dance styles like flat-footing, design 3-D printed “gee haw whimmy diddles,” and create their own crankies- a traditional Appalachian storytelling art form featuring illustrated scrolls viewed through a handmade crankie box. Oakley is proud to have its own crankie box, built with support from a Buncombe County Schools Foundation grant and community volunteers.
“Having local artists visit and share their craft and its connection to our local Appalachian history is such an exciting opportunity for our students,” said Oakley media specialist Melissa Murphy. “Since our students make their own crankies, it was great for students to see these professional examples and learn about the artists' process.”
Each year, Oakley holds a student-led “Folk Fest,” where students perform and showcase their work for younger peers. Oakley’s specialist team will also talk about the project at the upcoming Western North Carolina School Library Media Association Conference, highlighting the school’s innovative approach to integrating local culture into learning.
“This unit brings our region’s traditions to life,” Murphy said. “Students don’t just learn about Appalachian culture. They perform it, build it, and carry it forward.”
