Van Buskirk Elementary School Art

Japanese-American Experiences in Arizona Internment Camps

During World War II, several Japanese-American internment camps were set up in Arizona. Fifth grade students in the classroom of Jodi Houtz at Van Buskirk listened to a read aloud of the novel Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata. This book focuses on the experiences of a Japanese-American family who are transported from California to an internment camp on an Indian Reservation in Poston, Arizona. The students also explored picture books about the internment camp at the Gila River Relocation Center in Rivers, Arizona.

The students portrayed the emotions of Japanese Americans falsely accused and imprisoned in these camps using Picasso-like portrayals of faces fractured in pieces to represent the fracturing of their lives.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Rigo Madrid

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Adrian Jesus Mendoza

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Angelina Molina

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Aubrianna Cazares

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Dezeray Shelby

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Diamond Harvey

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Elma Perez

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Emily Morgaga

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Francisco Salomon

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Isaiah Romero

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Jesus Fierros

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Jorge Lopez

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Joseph Soto

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Joshua Bejarano

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Lilliana Dalton

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Lysandra Lopez

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Melina Morales

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Mia Arguelles

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Nathan Mendoza-Rogers

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Reyluis Galvan

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Ruben Delgado

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Ryan Miranda

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Steavee Ruiz

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Natalia Douriet

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

By Rain Jimenez

The Navajo Code on Abecedario Cards

Fifth-grade students in Angelica Serrano’s classroom were fascinated by the unbreakable code developed by Navajo code talkers in World War II. They explored many books about Navajo culture and experiences and listened to a read aloud of The Unbreakable Code and Joseph Bruchac’s Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two. They also explored books about secret codes.

The students connected their interest in the Navajo code and language with their own Latino tradition of abecedario cards. Each selected a code word to paint on a card. Enjoy the cards and the code as portrayed by fifth graders from Van Buskirk Elementary School in TUSD.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Wol-la-chee, Ant” by Angelina E.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Shush, Bear” by Viridiana E.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Moasi, Cat” by Lindsey D.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Be, Deer” by Margot L. S.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Dzeh, Elk” by Jacqueline A.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Ma-e, Fox” by Mateo

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Klizzie, Goat” by Abrahim D.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Lin, Horse” by Carlos A.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Tkin, Ice” by Ashlee F.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Tkele-cho-gi, Jackass” by Jacqueline A.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Klizzie-yazzie, Kid” by Valeria M. M.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Dibeh-yazzie, Lamb” by Mario

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Na-as-tsosi, Mouse”

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Nesh-chee, Nut” by Mario

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Ne-ahs-jah, Owl” by Miguel S.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Bi-sodih, Pig” by Araleu

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Ca-yeilth, Quiver” by Angelica

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Gah, Rabbit” by Laura

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Dibeh, Sheep” by Klarissa L.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Than-zie, Turkey” by Margot L.

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

No-da-ih, Ute”

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

A-keh-di-glimi, Victor”

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Gloe-ih, Weasel” by Fermin

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Al-an-as-dzoh, Cross” by Ominique

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Tsah-as-zih, Yucca”

Van Buskirk Elementary School art

Besh-do-gliz, Zinc” by Amaris

My Grandparent’s Story

The stories that John’s grandfather tells about his experiences as a WWII code talker in The Unbreakable Code inspired fifth graders to interview their grandparents and learn their stories. Like John, they believe that these stories will help them learn who they are and carry that with them through life.

Enjoy this collection of stories shared by grandparents with their grandchildren; coming to the collection for the exhibit is the best way to view the stories. The stories were written by children from the fifth grade classroom of Lupe Ornelas at Van Buskirk Elementary School in TUSD.