PBL: A Book About Me! Day 8
Date: 22nd August 2022; Monday.
Facilitators: Auindrilla, Sonai, Sanmoyee, Drishti, Anupriya, and Nikita.
Participants: Arya, Ayansh, Dhriya, Hazzel, Maryam, Meher, Rishit, Shanaaya, Shannaya, Sharlav, Shivansh, Shivanshika, Shivanyaa, Vaanya, Yuvaan (Bhopalka), and Yuvaan (Mehra).
Tags: understanding the self, culture, art, pbl.
Welcome to another instalment of this PBL series! This episode marks the start of a very special segment in our project — Culture Week!
Our Arthlings have already investigated their shared national heritage on Day 7 of this series. Now, our Arthlings will follow their roots and dive into their cultural heritage in this week-long extravaganza! For Day 8, our facilitators asked our Arthlings to attend class dressed in clothes from their cultural backgrounds!
PLANNING AND SETUP
The activity was divided into the following steps:
1. Discussing My Outfit: Our facilitators prepared for a group discussion with the Arthlings about their outfits.
2. My Costume Collage: A worksheet was printed with the outline of a human figure. Assorted shapes were cut from coloured paper for collage-making. The worksheets, colourful shapes, gluesticks, and stickers were kept ready in trays for use.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The children arrived in all kinds of colourful ethnic outfits representing their backgrounds! Ayansh wore a traditional yellow suit which he accessorized with a matching ‘pagdi’ and moustache! Sharlav wore a multicoloured kurta and a red velvet ‘topi’ inherited from his great grandfather! Maryam wore shararas in pink and green. Shanaaya wore a bright magenta salwar-kameez. Even the facilitators dressed for the occasion.
Shanaaya wearing salwar-kameez and Shivanshika in a peach kurti.
Ayansh with Vaanya and Arya, who are wearing lehengas.
Ayansh in his Rajasthani cultural attire!
Shivanyaa wears a yellow ghaghra-choli with a pattern of pink flowers.
Maryam wearing pink and green shararas!
Sharlav in his great-grandfather’s topi, which has been in the family for 40 years.
Auindrilla Didi and Yuvaan (Bhopalka) pose for a picture.
Sonai Didi began the class by explaining the meaning of culture. She then invited the children to join an opening activity, celebrating the traditional dances of India!
Discussing My Outfit: After Work Time, the children gathered around the tables to talk about their outfits! The children introduced what they were wearing and named the colours on their clothes.
The facilitators ask the children to describe their outfits.
Hazzel and Arya discuss.
The children take turns listening and speaking.
Hazzel, Arya, Dhriya and Maryam learn about each other’s outfits.
At Sonai Didi’s table, a spirited discussion took place! Sonai Didi introduced her own costume, which was a sari. The children named different types of clothing that they wore, including kurtas and jeans. When the time came to observe their own clothes, the discussion turned to colours! Vaanya, who was wearing a skirt of many colours, stood up while the rest of the gang pointed out colours like green, red, yellow and blue on her costume!
Sonai Didi discusses with the Arthlings!
Yuvaan (Bhopalka) explains with gestures!
The Arthlings listen.
The children observe each other’s clothes.
My Costume Collage: The Arthlings received a worksheet with the outline of a human being! They were given squares, triangles, rectangles and circles cut out of coloured paper so that they could recreate their costumes. The facilitators showed the children how to match the colour of the paper with the colour of their clothes… after which the children experimented!
The children focused on recreating different parts of their outfits, like tops, sleeves, and bottoms. Vaanya made a red top for her collage just like the one she was wearing. Maryam used light green shapes for her collage to match her outfit. When she ran out of green shapes, she made more by tearing light green paper into little pieces! When exact matches could not be found, the children needed to improvise! Shanaaya used red shapes as a close match to the dark pink she was wearing. When they were finished sticking their shapes, the children added patterns and embellishments with stickers!
The children wait for their materials!
The Arthlings determine how to replicate their clothes.
The children begin sticking!
Rishit sticks red to match his clothing.
Arya chooses red, blue, yellow and green!
The children cover their worksheets!
Rishit and his finished worksheet!
Maryam matched light green with her outfit!
Arya and her multicolour lehenga!
Dhriya used yellow to match!
Vaanya matched her top with red paper!
Shanaaya and her representation of salwar kameez!
Shivanyaa used yellow and pink!
Shivansh creates his collage.
Shannaya sticks blue on her collage.
Namaste!
SKILLS USED
Fine motor skills
Communication
Focus and attention
Visualization
OUTCOME AND FUTURE
Culture Week has opened up a whole new avenue of investigation for our Arthlings! They will answer important questions like:
What is culture?
What is my culture?
Where is my family from?
What are the things which define my culture?
Who do I share my culture with?
This week will give the Arthlings the opportunity to understand their own cultural identity, while learning to appreciate the backgrounds of others. The theme of unity in diversity is a natural continuation of Day 7, where they celebrated national pride!
This cultural odyssey will continue on Day 9! Stay tuned for more!