Students at Nora Davis Magnet School explored the culture of Japan during the school’s annual cultural arts festival.

As a part of the event, the students got the opportunity to experience Japan’s culture right here in Laurel.

Volunteers, visiting teachers and students along with teachers in the Laurel School District took student learning to another level as they allowed students to experience interactive learning through Nora Davis’ 12th Annual Cultural Arts Festival.

Nora Davis Principal Elaine Read said the purpose of this event is for them to learn a lot of different things in a fun way.

“The children get a lot from it,” the principal said. “They have fun learning.”

The students were given the opportunity to taste specially-prepared rice, beans, cookies and tea — which are all food items that are a part of the Japanese culture. The food was prepared by volunteer chief Linda Posey and others.

Paige Cullinan, dance and drama teacher at Nora Davis and project director for the Whole School Initiative, said the project encourages children “to learn more in-depth about different cultures.”

“It’s designed to help students learn about other cultures,” Cullinan said. “The students get to do fun stuff while learning about different things that originated in Japan.”

Organizers said the festival is a great way to raise awareness about other cultures and other parts of the world.

The festival featured music, dancing, food, visual art, Japanese story telling and many other activities.

Four-year-old India Ponder said she liked “doing the art”

However, seven-year-old Maxwell Dobbs said he “liked the food. The tea was really good.”

First grader Ashleigh Oville, 6, agreed.

“I liked the food,” she said. “I really liked the cookie and the rice.”

Six-year-old Jante Simpson said he “learned how they make tea. I also liked drinking the tea.”