World Camp swept Frisco Elementary today. Kindergartners participated in a special lesson about our work in India with Coordinator Katy Lackey.
The day began with a few rounds of Humba, Humba...ok, 6 rounds, the kids just loved it! Following this, they did the Partner Stand-Up game. That's the one where you sit back to back with someone of similar height, link arms and stand up together, without using your hands. Surprisingly the kids were quite good at working together, though Katy found that kids in America have sneaky ways to win just like kids in India and Malawi (like standing up when the teacher's not looking).
After energizing the group and talking a bit about what it means to be a team, the 13 kindergartners learned about Indian greetings, customs, animals, clothes, food and schools. They were particularly impressed that women carry heavy loads on their heads, cows meander through traffic, the size of dosas and that some kids learn while sitting on the floor instead of desks and chairs.
The group then focused on environmental issues, talking about how trash in the street was unsafe for animals and unhealthy for children. They also learnt what we use trees for and what trees offer us. As Jack so eloquently explained, "They give us air. Also they give us some oxygen. And then we cut them down and burn them in our fireplaces." The kindergartners asked questions, drawing comparisons between deforestation caused by overpopulation in India and deforestation caused by the pine beetle in their small Colorado mountain town. The class successfully played World Camp's "Where Are the Trees?" and "Population Impact" games for a better visual understanding of these issues.
The kids wanted to do something to help Indian kids protect their environment, so Katy inducted them into The Kids Don't Litter Club. Each kindergartner said "I promise I won't litter. And I will teach one person one thing I learned today," then received their official World Camp Kids Don't Litter Club badge.
As most of you know, one aspect World Camp focuses on is building HIV and environmental activism in schools. This most commonly takes the form of community awareness presentations and school impact clubs. The Kids Don't Litter Club is a global kids environmental club. World Camp friends and fellow travelers, Alisa Bright and Tessa Weston, brought the club to our India OTE Program back in 2008. The club actually began in Oregon, though has gained members in El Salvador, Panama, Thailand, South Africa, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malawi since. To be a member, all kids have to do is pick up one piece of trash each day. If (s)he forgets, no big deal, just pick up two when you remember the next day. Of course, members are allowed to pick up more than one piece of litter a day....you never know if there was a member in some other part of the world that forgot to!
Stay tuned, we're gearing up for summer sessions and heading to Malawi next week!
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| Katy Lackey, WC Coordinator, with kindergartners from Frisco Elementary. |
The day began with a few rounds of Humba, Humba...ok, 6 rounds, the kids just loved it! Following this, they did the Partner Stand-Up game. That's the one where you sit back to back with someone of similar height, link arms and stand up together, without using your hands. Surprisingly the kids were quite good at working together, though Katy found that kids in America have sneaky ways to win just like kids in India and Malawi (like standing up when the teacher's not looking).
After energizing the group and talking a bit about what it means to be a team, the 13 kindergartners learned about Indian greetings, customs, animals, clothes, food and schools. They were particularly impressed that women carry heavy loads on their heads, cows meander through traffic, the size of dosas and that some kids learn while sitting on the floor instead of desks and chairs.
The group then focused on environmental issues, talking about how trash in the street was unsafe for animals and unhealthy for children. They also learnt what we use trees for and what trees offer us. As Jack so eloquently explained, "They give us air. Also they give us some oxygen. And then we cut them down and burn them in our fireplaces." The kindergartners asked questions, drawing comparisons between deforestation caused by overpopulation in India and deforestation caused by the pine beetle in their small Colorado mountain town. The class successfully played World Camp's "Where Are the Trees?" and "Population Impact" games for a better visual understanding of these issues.
 |
| Club Badges |
As most of you know, one aspect World Camp focuses on is building HIV and environmental activism in schools. This most commonly takes the form of community awareness presentations and school impact clubs. The Kids Don't Litter Club is a global kids environmental club. World Camp friends and fellow travelers, Alisa Bright and Tessa Weston, brought the club to our India OTE Program back in 2008. The club actually began in Oregon, though has gained members in El Salvador, Panama, Thailand, South Africa, Vietnam, the Philippines and Malawi since. To be a member, all kids have to do is pick up one piece of trash each day. If (s)he forgets, no big deal, just pick up two when you remember the next day. Of course, members are allowed to pick up more than one piece of litter a day....you never know if there was a member in some other part of the world that forgot to!
Stay tuned, we're gearing up for summer sessions and heading to Malawi next week!
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