We are happy to report that
kids (ages 5-11) are enjoying the activities and are enthusiastic. Following is
a brief (not an exhaustive) list of learning activities that the kids were involved
during the month of March 2011. Please note that the theory and terminology mentioned
here was not emphasized at this stage and would be given to them at an appropriate time later. This is the time for
the kids and us to understand that there is science, reading, writing, maths,
interpersonal and intrapersonal skills spread all around us to appreciate and
be excited about.
Science
and Arts n Crafts Activities
1. Boat
locomotion in water. Kids designed a boat using different pieces cut from a plastic
biryani box and then attaching a rotating pedal with an elastic band. Elastic force rotates the plastic pedal wheel
pushing the water back and moving the boat forward. (Science + design creativity)
2. Newton’s
Third Law and law of conservation of momentum: Kids attached the balloon to a
straw on a string held horizontal. Rocket balloon propelled forward on a string
by backward thrust of the rushing out air. (Science n design creativity)
3. Burning
a candle in a upside down glass immersed in water consumes the air inside,
creating space that is filled by water rising up in the glass. Oxygen is part
of the air which occupies space. Whence burned enables the space to be filled
up by water. (Science)
4. Foaming
Monster: Kids designed a monster with an empty plastic bottle by attaching
hands, feet, face features etc . Then it was filled with vinegar, soda and
liquid washing soap and some color. The monster started frothing out foam from
its mouth. Chemical reaction: Vinegar + soda bicarbonate produces carbon-dioxide
which foams due to soap liquid bubbles. (science + design creativity)
5. Snake
charming: Kids cut snake from a figure made on paper, colored it. Then created
static charge on a plastic scale that attracted the snake and lifted it up.
Static electricity is produced when electrons leave or enter a substance
through friction. (Science + design creativity).
6. Hovering
butterfly: Kids measured the glazed paper according to the dimensions of their
shoe boxes, then cut the paper and pasted it around the box. Cut a shape of
butterfly on paper, cut it and then clipped it and then hanged it with a string
in the box. Then the clip was lifted with the help of the magnet. Butterfly
hovered and appeared to fly. (Science + math’s + design creativity). Magnetism
and motor skills.
7. Leaf
printing; Collected leaves from outside, painted the leaves and lifted the
print of the leaf on the paper. Noticed the construction of a leaf and its
capillaries standing out due to the paint. (Nature + art creativity).
8. Computer
familiarity and typing tutor. Small kids learned using the computer mouse.
Elders practiced learning to type on computer without looking at the keyboard.
9. Research
and Ideas Generation: Kids spent the time searching and looking for activities
that they would like to do on their own. Kids have to try to read the
instructions, prepare the list of required materials, estimate the costs of
materials, and they would then do the experiments with the help of given
materials. Our objective is to enable the kids to be designing and selecting the
activities of their choices.
10. Modeling
with Plaster of Paris; Chemical reaction solidified the plaster of Paris when
mixed with water in a disposable glove. Later the glove was cut off leaving
behind shape of the hand. On removing the glove rubber, two of the fingers of
the solidified model of hand broke off because there were no bones holding the
material. (Science + craft).
11. All
the children then used various moulds to construct their models with the help
of plaster of Paris. Demonstration of liquid changing to solid and retaining
the shape of the container. (Science and craft).
12. Photo
frames construction with paper as part of the origami. Coloring, and sprinkling
of glitter. Creative ideas with paper. Geometry with paper (Arts n Craft and
geometry)
13. Origami:
Snowflakes construction with paper. Creative ideas with coloring and glitter. Regular
structures and symmetry (Arts n craft).
14. Beam
of light traveling through a tiny stream of water coming out from a small hole
in a darkened coke bottle on one side and keeping the corresponding other side
clear from where light was shone. The light followed tiny stream of water
bending after coming out from the bottle. (Light and refraction) Science +
craft ideas.
15. Origami;
constructing a box from a plane paper. Creative ideas and coloring and
painting. Geometric shapes such as a rectangular prism (Arts n Craft and
geometry).
16. Weaving
ideas using interleaving of paper strips and coloring. Origami. Creative ideas.
Concepts of interleaving, things that are in front and behind and how do they
give strength. (Arts n Craft).
17. Capillary action through tooth picks. How
water follows the capillaries inside the wood and causes it to swell and change
the shape. The principle through which water travels up the stem and branches
of a tree. (Science).
18. Making
a 16 page book from a single piece of paper without the use of any glue, tape
or stapling. Creative ideas with paper. Exploring symmetry and geometric shapes
(Arts n Craft and geometry).
19. Computer
sessions. Learning to type and use of various keys. Understanding various
messages given by the computer. (Computer, research and writing)
20. Research
work using the books of science and craft ideas. (Reading and exploration and
R&D).
21. Separation
of a mixture of sand, salt and iron fillings. Demonstration that a mixture
contains different materials that retain their physical properties even when
mixed. Thus iron fillings physical property is to be attracted by magnet. This
is used to separate the iron fillings from the mixture. Salt’s property is that
it gets dissolved in water. This is used to separate salt from sand. Sand is
left behind. Salt water when evaporated leaves behind salt. (Science and
logical)
22. Greeting
cards for the loved ones were made. (Writing, creativity and design).
23. Exploration
of different activities through the experiments book (reading)
24. Pot
painting; painting of small vases and preparation for the growth of bajra
plants. (arts n craft and nature)
25. Thread
painting. Creative ideas generation by removing thread dripped in paint from a
folded paper. Opening of paper reveals intricate designs. Movement under
friction. (Creativity and arts).
26. Karela bitter painting and
pasting. Use of every day items such as vegetables to generate creative ideas
for arts. (Creativity does not require expensive things)
27. Crazy
custard: Chemical changes. Observing how different substances change their
forms when mixed or allowed to react with each other. Hardening of the mixture
water and custard powder. The hardened mixture can become so thick that it can
even be walked upon. Observations like these makes the kids sensitive to
changes happening around them. This activates their interest. (Science and
observation).
28. Chemical
reaction: Making Carbon dioxide gas. Vinegar, soda and observe candle getting
extinguished. Carbon dioxide is a gas that is every where. It can be produced
through a chemical reaction of vinegar reacting with baking soda giving out the
gas. Carbon dioxide’s presence is demonstrated by the extinguishing of the
candle. Candle burns only in the presence of oxygen. Carbon dioxide production
extinguishes the flame. (Science and logical)
29. Corrugated
sheets use for making a flute with different size straws. Air when it passes
through different size of tubes where the frequency with which they give sound
depends upon the size of the tube. Size of the tube relates to the frequency of
the sound. (Science and Logical )
30. Spirit
video and the elements of Iqbal's dua "rooh ki tarap", "qalb ko
garma", "zinda tammunna", "riffat may maqasid ko",
"khud daari-e-sahil", "aazaadi e Darya", "wusaat e
sehra", "soo e haram lay chul", "dekha hay jo kuch may nay
auroN ko bhi dikhla dey", …. Exploration of the concepts of self
independence, self esteem, independence of mind, spirit. Love of nature.
Surmounting and overcoming heavy odds in order to achieve our objectives in
life. (Mapping of poetry to sublime concepts).
Regular Daily activities
at Hyde Park or Literary Club
·
Qirat. Day starts with the kids
volunteering to recite a few verses from Quran and to recite the duas.
·
There is a regular recitation of dua
by Iqbal “lub pay aati hay dua …”. Kids have now learned the dua..
·
There were naat sessions by special
guests Mrs. Ausaf Husain in her melodious voice.
·
Recitations by Dr Irfan Hyder:
- “Dilli darbar” by
Akbar Allahbadi,
- Hafeez jalandhri’s
nazm “dharma dum dharm of a camel, jackal and a wolf”. The implications of
lying. How lies can be dangerous.
- Leigh Hunt’s “Abou
Bin Adham”. Highlighting the importance of service to the people. How Allah
loves those more who spend their time in helping others who deserve.
- Nazir Akbarabadi’s
“Aakhir may wohi ik Allah ka ik naam rahay ga”
- Sufi tabassum’s
“Geeto gray, jis kay do mort hay…”
- Sufi tabassum’s
“Suriya ki guria”
- Sufi Tabassum’s “tot
batot ka murgha”
- Riddles in poems.
- Stories from books.
- Iqbal’s poem. Mukri
or makhi. Lesson for not being gullible in our life.
- Iqbal’s poem. Dua “Ya
rub dil e Muslim ko who zinda tamanna day, joh rooh ko tarpa dey”.
·
Our facilitators Sara Hyder and Farhat
Khurram also gave their performances in naat and recitations.
·
Kids are participating daily in
relating jokes, riddles, and telling short stories.
·
There are regular book readings by
several kids each day.
·
Pet show where kids brought their own
pets and gave small presentations.
·
Storytelling and reading of books.
·
Act out of various
words. Development of connection between actions, meaning and gestures. Our
body language is the most important part of communication. We are not effective
leaders and managers because of our inability to communicate forcefully our
ideas. This activity frequently performed in groups and individually enables
the kids to use forms of communication other than the words.
Note: Remember the sequence: Reading
before writing, and listening before speaking.
·
Kids enjoyed kasauti asking all sorts of
things and animals and the kids trying to guess their names.
· Story completion by kids, recitation
by various kids of the poems that they knew. Reading of stories in English by
several kids. Khadija recited a poem written by her father.
·
Kids are taking immense interests.
Even some of the earlier shy ones are now taking interest. One of the kid
actually goes on telling and constructing the story on the fly whether others
are listening or not.
·
Students have shown a great
improvement and are now picking up the books and reading them on their own or
flipping pages during the reading session. Reading for some time is encouraged
every day.
·
There is a great interest in exercise
and games. We expect kids to volunteer for various physical activities, design
new games to be played with the others.
·
One of the kid wrote a small
reflective description of being a bird. This segment was a surprise one and we
are going to encourage the kids to write some thing and bring it back.
Activities
History and Suggestion Board (Writing and Organizing)
Activities
history and suggestion board has been designed to develop in the kids an
ability to write diaries and develop their reflective journals. The history and
suggestion board enables the kids to start writing and to make their writing
purposeful.
·
Kids are posting as
many activities as possible in daily exhibit on the notice board. Kids are
putting down what they are doing by writing small chits and pinning them up.
This board would enable the kids to volunteer for the activities and
incorporate the suggestions of the parents coming to us about the design of
activities.
· This board is also
showing the kids importance of time management and scheduling. Their suggestions may
not be taken up if they are not properly scheduled.
Physical/Health
Club (Development of team skills and interpersonal skills.
Kids do daily
some physical training, racing and exercise. This is followed by a visit to the
playground where they go on the swings and other games or play football or
cricket. Here they are developing interpersonal skills. Please do not under
estimate the importance of the learning they are getting in the play ground.
These interpersonal skills are required in future for them to become leaders
and managers.
It is very
interesting to note how the kids are learning to play together. They are learning
leadership, following the lead, conflict resolution, justice, fair play, rules
and other mechanisms that enable large organizations to work and prosper.
Kids were
found to be struggling and trying to overcome the following interpersonal and
intrapersonal skills:
·
Development of rules. How rules can be made or broken.
Implications of not having rules. How rules constrain us and how they can
enable us to enjoy more.
·
Ability to make and design rules and modify them because
of the changing environments (e.g. playing inside vs outside).
·
Making of teams. How to select teams that are balanced
yet of our own choice.
·
How to interact with others.
·
It is interesting to note so many kids struggling with
these interpersonal skills. How to balance competitive spirit with the spirit
to enjoy and play.
·
Learning to give others their part. Let others play if we
want to play.
·
What is a win-win situation where everyone enjoys? What
is a lose-lose situation when someone takes the ball or bat with him. How not
letting others play actually destroys the overall fun.
·
Following the decisions of the umpire and referee.
·
How people take sides.
·
Perceptions of injustice and conflict resolution. Seeking
help of the elders and trying to resolve the matters on their own.
Suggestions
Your suggestions and
comments are welcome.
Dr. Irfan Hyder
Director