Life and Death.

Monday (11/07/2011)

a) Farewell, Girlny!
 This morning, as I was changing the freshwater turtles’ water, Girlny did not move. In fact, its head was a little bit swollen. She’s gone. It was so sad. I told the news to the class. We decided to bury her in the school compound and we agreed it to be near the sugarcane area. I dug the ground, the kids too turn to see Girlny for the last time. We sang a song for her, “I love you”. Rei shared her sad feelings. Kwong Yong suggested that we draw pictures for her similar to a cairn at a graveyard. Now, Boyny is alone. We decided not to free it at Chun Kit’s temple pond. He did mentioned a few months ago that we could release the turtles to the temple pond. I just need assurance from his parents.

b) Death
 Kids asked why did Girlny die. Probably because it was sick. Although we have changed a bigger aquarium for them; yet a natural pond would be best for our little pets. We were worried to free them to the ponds due to they might not be able to protect themselves from predators. Now, we have to find a safe home for Boyny.
 Living things will die including people. Why do people die? Kids brainstormed. Amongst:
1) eat unhealthy food 2) smoking and beer 3) sick 4) accidents
5) bad daily habits such as no vegetables, no vitamins, insufficient sleep, insufficient exercise
6) Natural causes such as Earthquake and flood.
* Kwong Yong shared that his grandfather was burnt and his ashes was kept in an urn, to pray.
* The same happened to dinosaurs. They died, the flesh was eaten by bacteria while the bones would always be underground until being discovered by Archeologists and scientists.

c) Hula Hoop dance.
 Last Friday, the kids decided not to have hoop competition but instead hulahoop dance. Thus, I asked them to go home and think of the dance steps. Today, everyone came forward to show off what they could do. Wow….was my reaction!
 Among their skills: spin and squat, spin with hands, spin and raise hands, spin and wiggle body, spin on neck and spin with abdomen.
 Then, we discussed to create our own hula dance. The class was divided into 2 groups. 6 year-old kids and 5 year-old kids. First, kids rolled the hoops, then put them down, did some jumping jack, drove the hoops similar to car steering, spun on their waist and even did hopping and skipping.

d) Video Clips.
 We watched a few video clips on hula hoop dance. However, the kids were attracted most to the adults’ dance. Wow….awesome!
 Then, we listened to a few songs. The kids love “We are the champion” by Crazy Frog. We have yet to decide the suitable music for our dance.