Let's fly, Batkids!
Tuesday (11/05/2010)

a)More about bats.
Teacher: I asked why bats have big long wings?
* They have this feature to help them to fly well especially when they are navigating between the cave pits and holes. This is something that birds can't do well.
* their wings have no feathers and actually it is a ctually a very thin rubber-like skin. It has two arms with a hand each. Each hand has 5 long fingers just like humans' hands. We looked at Jing Kai's book and also some other encyclopaedia. However, the body has got hair.
* Yan Shan have seen snakes eating bats. Yun Wen asked if it is possible.
* Yes, they do especially when the bats dropped from their branches or caves and can't stand immediately because of their weak legs.

b) Body Movement.
* We thought of ways of being bats. As they hang upside down, how can we imitate them? Yes, we could lift our legs straight and as we were about to fly, we would use our strong claws on our thumbs to hook on a support to lift us up.
* First, we did warm-up. Then, they were divided into 2 groups. Bats live in a colony. They dislike being alone. Each took theit bedsheets out to place behind the back just like Batman cloaks. However, we discussed that kids shouldn't tie tightly as they could get choke. They can just put the bedsheet edges into their t-shirts or use pegs for this purpose. They can only do this with the presence of adults.
* The kids chose to be Vampire Bats. First group were the bats. Second group was the huge elephants sleeping. With the start of music, the leader woke up and started flying one round. Then, it tapped the other friends' feet as a signal to wake up and fly. They hunted for elephants' blood. They used their incisor teeth to make holes in the elephants' body and licked with their long tongue. Haa.......some could really perform well. Then, we exchanged the roles of the groups. The 2nd group now gets to perform.

c) I was the "cowboy".
* The kids enjoyed the movement and insisted for more. All wanted to be bats. Shi Jie suggested that I be the "cowboy" who found the Bat Cave in Texas, USA. So, they flew in a circle together to attract my attention. I thought it was a thick dark smoke. Then, they went into the bat and hung themselves upside down. Each kid got up to show off their swooping or flying skill. They kept asking me if they could learn about Power Rangers who came to save the planet. I said "Remember your project. Some of you wanted to form a circus, some wanted a role-play. We shall vote after a few more lessons."
* They were excited......:)