Gardnerville Elementary students go Greek

Greek culture filled the gym of Gardnerville Elementary School Friday as sixth-grade students mimicked an ancient Greek market.

"We've been studying Greek civilization, their form of government, market-system, lifestyle and the Greek gods and goddesses," said sixth-grade teacher Alison Mains-Lay. "I wanted the students to see how much work it is to actually create something and not just buy it from a store."

Her students, dressed in togas made out of bed sheets and sporting colorful headbands, spread blankets out on the gym floor and piled on top the various goods they'd made for the mock market: laurels made of yarn, construction-paper jewelry, hand-made dolls, medicine (detergent and sugar), gold coins and real Greek sweet bread, or Koulourakia.

"I made it myself," said sixth-grader Giovanni Hernandez of the sweet bread. "Well, one of my friends helped me, but he's not here today."

Moments after the students had set up the market, the school's other two six-grade classes came in, ready to barter.

"It's great to show the students that different cultures, even ancient cultures, are similar to ours," said sixth-grade teacher Dana Rosingus.

Students of both Rosingus and sixth-grade teacher Meredith Swanson-Jessup began bartering with their peers.

Jordan Casey decided to trade his hand-made bracelet for a piece of sweet bread.

His classmate, Cameron Nye, was less interested in trading than showing off his costume: he was dressed up as the Greek God Zeus, with lightning bolt and all.