Bingo Game Teaches Students About Pohnpei Bananas

by Amy Levendusky

On March 21, 2006, an exciting new type of Bingo was introduced to Pohnpei by the Island Food Community of Pohnpei. This is "Banana Bingo!" It was used by the 4th grade class of Mand Elementary School as part of the Conservation Society of Pohnpei's (CSP) Youth to Youth Program. This type of Bingo game aims at increasing familiarity with the many Pohnpei banana varieties, and at the same time, having fun!

The main objectives of the IFCP/CSP Youth to Youth Rare Bananas Program are to help children: 1) to increase the number of banana varieties about which they know and can identify; 2) to increase the understanding about the health values of Pohnpei bananas and; and 3) to increase the number of rare bananas that the children's families grow at their homes.

Banana Bingo helps the children learn the appearance of the many Pohnpei banana varieties and also shows how the names are spelled. The game was devised to include photos of bunches for 24 different banana varieties (see the insert). There are 21 cards, each card showing a distinctly different set of 16 varieties. One variation of the game is to name the color of flesh of the banana variety that is called out.

The Mand students had fun playing the game and also two received prizes at the end for paying attention and winning. They were Lynell George and Junior James.

Thanks are extended to Meikie Flach, of the Australian Embassy, who recently provided the idea to IFCP about the possibility of a Banana Bingo game. The Center of Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment is thanked for the funds for its development.

The banana varieties pictured on the Banana Bingo cards are as follows:

1. Akadahn 2. Akadahn Weitahta 3. Daiwang 4. Dukuru 5. Iemwahn 6. Ihpali 7. Inahsio Pehsehs 8. Inahsio Mweimwei

9. Kaimana 10. Karat Pako 11. Karat Pwehu 12. Karat en Iap 13. Kudud 14. Mangat en Angaur 15. Mangat en Pohnpei

16. Peleu 17. Utiak 18. Utimwas 19. Utin Iap 20. Utin Menihle 21. Uht Kapakap 22. Utin Ruk 23. Utin Wai 24. Utin Kerenis