PBL: A Book About Me! Day 7
Date: 17th August 2022; Wednesday.
Facilitators: Auindrilla, Sonai, Sanmoyee, Nikita, and Anupriya.
Participants: Ayansh, Dhriya, Hazzel, Maryam, Meher, Nitara, Shanaaya, Shivansh, Shivanshika, Shivanyaa, Vaanya, Yuvaan (Bhopalka).
Tags: understanding the self, india, culture, pbl.
Welcome to a special episode of this PBL series!
Throughout this project, our Arthlings have explored different elements of their identity. Some elements are unique to each Arthling, while others are shared. On this Independence Day, the Arthlings of Arth Hours celebrated their shared national identity. In keeping with the theme of the day, the Arthlings were invited to come to class dressed as their favourite national heroes! The focus of the class was the colours of the Indian flag!
PLANNING AND SETUP
The day’s plan was composed of the following steps:
1. Ribbon Dance: Ribbon wands with tricolour ribbons were kept ready for the opening.
2. Work Time with Tricolour Invites: Orange, blue, and green playdough was made available in the pretend-and-play kitchen. Orange, blue and green Magna Tiles were separated and kept ready near the light table. Coloured paper cups were arranged in the construction area in the shape of an Indian flag.
3. Making the Tricolour: Orange marigold petals, white jasmine and tuberose petals, blue butterfly pea flowers and shredded green leaves were kept ready for use. Worksheets printed with the outline of the Indian flag were kept ready in a tray, along with glue for each child.
4. The Story of Independence Day: A movie was selected to narrate the story of India’s independence.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The children came dressed in various costumes paying tribute to the theme! Maryam came dressed as Gandhiji. Vaanya was Rani Laxmi Bai, complete with a foil sword. Ayansh dressed as Pandit Nehru, with a rose on his lapel. Yuvaan (Bhoplalka) wore a khaki police officer costume, armed with a stick! Shivanyaa wore a white t-shirt, with a picture of the Indian Tricolour. Her t-shirt was subject to much inspection during the opening discussion, as the Arthlings used it to point out all the colours of the national flag!
Vaanya as Rani Laxmi Bai.
Other Arthlings inspect Vaanya’s costume!
Maryam as Gandhiji, with her own flag!
Ayansh arrives as Pandit Nehru.
Shivanyaa’s t-shirt with the Indian Tricolour.
Yuvaan (Bhopalka) dressed as a police officer.
Officer Yuvaan makes an entrance!
Ribbon Dance: Sonai Didi opened the evening with a colourful ribbon dance! Each Arthling wielded a tricolour ribbon wand and followed Sonai Didi’s instructions. The ribbons were swished in the air, twirled above their heads, and used to make a circle!
Shivanyaa waves her ribbon wand!
Waving the Tricolour in the air!
Shivanshikaa swishes her ribbons!
Vaanya waves the ribbons in the air.
Work Time with Tricolour Invites: In the kitchen area, the children discovered orange, blue and green playdough! They found Magna-Tiles on the light table in the same three colours. The Arthlings used these materials to make, build and share!
The Arthlings explore tricolour playdough.
Ayansh shows his Magna Tile creation to Nikita Didi!
Ayansh and Shivansh seen sharing about each other’s creations.
Meanwhile in the construction area, the Arthlings found a tricolour cup arrangement in the shape of an Indian flag! Inspired by this monument, many Arthlings chose to make their own architecture. Yuvaan (Bhopalka) made a rainbow tower! Hazzel made her own tower, then asked Sonai Didi to knock it down. Shanaaya played a game of her own creation with Sonai Didi! She asked Sonai Didi to close her eyes, and hid grapats under several cups. She then asked Sonai Didi to find them! During clean up time, the Arthlings found a way to clean up all by themselves! Shivanyaa stacked all the orange cups, Shanaaya stacked all the green and Hazzel took the blue!
A stack of cups in the shape of the Indian flag!
Nitara uses cups for construction.
Sonai Didi guides the Arthlings in the construction area.
Yuvaan (Bhopalka) makes a tower!
Yuvaan separates white and orange cups.
Shanaaya plays a game of her very own design!
Shanaaya shows Sonai Didi how to play her game.
Shanaaya removes the cups one by one to show Sonai Didi.
Sonai Didi guides Shivanyaa, Hazzel, and Shanaaya.
Shivanyaa stacks all the orange cups.
Making the Tricolour: After Work Time, the children assembled at the table to make their Indian flags! The Arthlings pointed out the right placement of orange, white, green and blue on their worksheets. The facilitators explained the meaning of the three colours on the flag. Then the Arthlings got to work!
Each child took orange petals to make the first stripe of the flag. Shivansh correctly identified them as marigold petals! They used white petals for the middle stripe, and shredded green leaves for the bottom stripe. The Arthlings then used blue flowers to make the Ashoka Chakra!
Meher and Maryam receive their Indian flag worksheets.
Maryam adds orange petals to her Indian flag!
Meher poses with her flag made with flowers and leaves!
Shivanyaa with her finished flag!
Shivansh with his Tricolour flag.
Vaanya writes her own name on her flag.
Arthlings tricolour flags laid out to dry.
The Story of Independence Day: When the flags were cleared away, everyone gathered in front of the projector for Movie Time! The film told the story of India’s struggle for independence and the Tricolour through pictures!
The Arthlings gathered in front of the projector.
The story of Independence, narrated with pictures.
The Arthlings at Movie Time.
The Arthlings watch intently!
At Story Time, the children listened to a classic story with an Indian twist: ‘The Wheels on the Tuktuk’! They followed the journey of the tuktuk through busy Indian streets, with song and action!
The day came to a close with Rhyme Time, when Nikita Didi played some classic patriotic songs!
Listening to ‘The Wheels on the Tuktuk’ at Story Time!
Nikita Didi plays beloved patriotic songs at Rhyme Time.
Ayansh sings along!
At the end, everyone stood to sing the National Anthem, after which the Arthlings all posed for a class photo!
The class decides how to pose for a picture…
Getting their smiles ready!
Jai Hind!
SKILLS USED
Fine motor skills
Hand-eye coordination
Focus and attention
Creativity
Spatial reasoning
OUTCOME AND FUTURE
In this instalment, the Arthlings were led on an exploration of their citizenship! They were introduced to various facets of their Indian identity through song, dance, art and film. In this process, they were given a better understanding of what it means to be Indian.
This class was also an opportunity to appreciate unity in diversity. The children were exposed to the idea that although each Arthling is different, they are all united by the Indian flag and their shared nationality. This series will continue to investigate the themes of similarity and difference.
Don’t forget to join us for the next episode of ‘A Book About Me’!