Tzu Chi’s guests

24/04/2008 (Thursday)

(i) My sunshine
We started the day with numbers. We said 1 until 50. However, my objective was for them to write or identify 1 until 20. The kids wrote the numbers on the board individually. Then, I pasted a worksheet of a “Sun” picture. I connected the numbers. The kids were excited. We sang “You Are My Sunshine”. Then, I asked them about their little trees. Most of them actually planted in a big pot.
Then the kids connected the numbers individually. XR and LX required individual guidance. LX had shown improvement in connecting numbers as well as her colouring. Meanwhile, EG and WY needed persistent encouragement to try. Sometimes, they needed some strict instructions to perform better. Previously, WY coloured his tree very nicely……surprisingly. However, he resisted to colour the sun. I wasn’t sure why; probably a lack of confidence.
(M/I: Linguistic, Interpersonal, Logical Mathematical, Spatial, Body Kinesthetic skills)

(ii) Before tea break
I told them that we are having guests from Tzu Chi to talk about Earth and Recycle. They were anxious about it. I reminded them to behave well and not to disturb the talk. They need to raise their hands for any questions pose.
(M/I: Linguistic, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal skills)


(iii) Tzu Chi and recycle.
There were about 7 trainers or sisters. They started with an action song about earth and recycle. The kids learnt very fast as it was interesting.
Then, the trainer talked about rubbish thrown every day and everywhere. They were quite impressed when one of the kids sad, “Rubbish turn into Gold”……as that quote was from their website.
Next, they introduced the different type of rubbish which can be recycled. Thy taught the kids a formula which involved their ten little fingers. This formula is for the recyclable things. Translated to English, it sounded as this:
“Aluminium cans, Plastic bottles, tins, container, paper, some electrical products, plastic type number 1,3, 5, 7”. The kids repeated after them.
Then, the kids segregated the items into Recyclable or Non-Recyclable things. They learnt that “polystyrene” is the worst enemy of the earth and the earth will fall sick . A polystyrene can last for 10, 000 years and even more. Glass dishes cannot be recycled too.
Next, there was a role-play by the Tzu Chi trainers. The story was about the Great Turtle and a polystyrene. It turned out that a Giant Turtle can only live until 200 years old.
Next, there was a quiz to test the kids’ understanding skill. The correct answers were awarded with a bookmark.
(M/I: Linguistic, Interpersonal, Logical Mathematical, Spatial, Body Kinesthetic, Naturalist skills)

(iv) Recap
In the classroom, I asked the kids to say in English what they learnt earlier. They talked about things which could be recycled and not able to. I divided the whiteboard into two columns and they took turn to draw the picture individually. Among the recyclable products included newspaper, plastic bottles, aluminium cans, tins, paper boxes. They learnt to reduce the usage of plastic bags and also polystrenes. They said the earth will be sick!
(M/I: Linguistic, Interpersonal, Logical Mathematical, Naturalist skills)

(v) Don’t Pollute Anymore!
EG brought a storybook and insisted me to share with the class. So, I read it for everyone. It was about how a scientist and two kids work together to stop pollution. The City the kids lived in looked beautiful but pollution is actually everywhere. This included water, air and land pollution. Finally, they worked together to make the earth a better place. The kids just loved the story!
(M/I: Linguistic, Interpersonal, Logical Mathematical, Intrapersonal, Naturalist skills)