One different day
In my One unproductive day entry, I was hoping for a different day the next day. Well, yesterday was indeed different.
No, it had nothing to do with my research project though. I found an excuse haha. I was out and believe it or not, as a chaperone again but not to my nephews.
It was my sister’s class to have their field trip. Unexpectedly, two of the four confirmed chaperones couldn’t make it so I turned out to be the chaperone-to-the-rescue of the day. Well, who couldn’t resist my sister’s plea and her lovable grade one class, anyway?
So there I was with Mr. Grandad and Mrs. Mom as the other chaperones. There were 18 kids, so there were four with me and with Mrs. Mom and five more with Mr. Granddad and with Mrs. Teacher.
It was my turn to have four girls whose age ranged from six and seven year olds. I wasn’t sure if it was their cultural diversity that made my group unique or was it their dynamic and lively attitude. Nevertheless, it sure was a different day.
When Meshka, the Indian girl, saw me she was so excited and requested to have me as her chaperone. I’ve been a familiar figure in my sister’s class, that’s why the request. Her wish was granted and so her other three friends were under my care as well.
We went to Discovery Museum at Shenandoah, VA. It was like a playground but at the same time a learning center. First, they had a mini-lesson on bugs and insects and they even made their own bugs out of modeling clay.
After the bugs and insects section, the girls headed to the simple machines. It showed an apple factory with all the pulleys, wheel barrows, and machines found in a factory. My girls enjoyed the place. They were all so wrapped up with the idea of transporting apples that they eventually had an idea as to who will do the pulley; who will pick up the apples; who will transport and put them on buckets.
As for me, my sister's digicam was with me so I was busy taking snapshots of the all-girls’ action-filled play for their class picture.
They were all busy playing with the plastic apples and simple machines for the nth times until finally Meshka came to me and said,
“Ms. GG, I don’t like to play this anymore. I’d like to try another place.”
“Well, then you better tell your other friends. We can’t leave this place without the others. Remember, we are a group.”
“Ok, I will tell them. But will you help me?”
“Ok, you go first.”
“I don’t want to play apples anymore.” Meshka announced to her friends.
“What? But we’re having fun.” said Bernice, the Caucasian girl.
“I think what Meshka wants to say is, ‘Who wants to check on the other rooms and see what we can play in there?’”
“There’s some more to play with?” Cathy, the Hispanic-American girl exclaimed.
“Yes, if you stop playing apples and check the other rooms, too.” I said.
Cathy didn’t say a word anymore but ran and left behind her bucketful of apples.
“Hey, wait for me.” Sarah, the Black-American girl, blurted out as she stopped the pulley and ran ahead. The rest of the girls followed.
We went to the library room, the tree house and the geometric rooms. But the girls didn’t stay there for long. They were stuck however at the Ambulance and Emergency room where they checked on the x-ray films, the crutches, wheelchairs, examining tables, medical machines found in an emergency room. There were also costumes designed as doctors, nurses, volunteers and patients.
Out of the blue, Bernice had an idea. She gathered the girls and whispered. I had an idea that they’re up into something but wasn’t sure what they will be role-playing. Instinctively, however, I shot a film of what was going on.
This was how their short role-play turned out -
Meanwhile, I was left speechless …
Until today, the girls’ role-plays are still vivid on my mind. I’m even tempted to post their photos and video on my blog except that I don’t want to go overboard on the kids’ trust and privacy. Maybe if they’re my girls, I might...
But I think the girls somehow helped me go on with my project tasks today. Yes, back to my research paper …
No, it had nothing to do with my research project though. I found an excuse haha. I was out and believe it or not, as a chaperone again but not to my nephews.
It was my sister’s class to have their field trip. Unexpectedly, two of the four confirmed chaperones couldn’t make it so I turned out to be the chaperone-to-the-rescue of the day. Well, who couldn’t resist my sister’s plea and her lovable grade one class, anyway?
So there I was with Mr. Grandad and Mrs. Mom as the other chaperones. There were 18 kids, so there were four with me and with Mrs. Mom and five more with Mr. Granddad and with Mrs. Teacher.
It was my turn to have four girls whose age ranged from six and seven year olds. I wasn’t sure if it was their cultural diversity that made my group unique or was it their dynamic and lively attitude. Nevertheless, it sure was a different day.
When Meshka, the Indian girl, saw me she was so excited and requested to have me as her chaperone. I’ve been a familiar figure in my sister’s class, that’s why the request. Her wish was granted and so her other three friends were under my care as well.
We went to Discovery Museum at Shenandoah, VA. It was like a playground but at the same time a learning center. First, they had a mini-lesson on bugs and insects and they even made their own bugs out of modeling clay.
After the bugs and insects section, the girls headed to the simple machines. It showed an apple factory with all the pulleys, wheel barrows, and machines found in a factory. My girls enjoyed the place. They were all so wrapped up with the idea of transporting apples that they eventually had an idea as to who will do the pulley; who will pick up the apples; who will transport and put them on buckets.
As for me, my sister's digicam was with me so I was busy taking snapshots of the all-girls’ action-filled play for their class picture.
They were all busy playing with the plastic apples and simple machines for the nth times until finally Meshka came to me and said,
“Ms. GG, I don’t like to play this anymore. I’d like to try another place.”
“Well, then you better tell your other friends. We can’t leave this place without the others. Remember, we are a group.”
“Ok, I will tell them. But will you help me?”
“Ok, you go first.”
“I don’t want to play apples anymore.” Meshka announced to her friends.
“What? But we’re having fun.” said Bernice, the Caucasian girl.
“I think what Meshka wants to say is, ‘Who wants to check on the other rooms and see what we can play in there?’”
“There’s some more to play with?” Cathy, the Hispanic-American girl exclaimed.
“Yes, if you stop playing apples and check the other rooms, too.” I said.
Cathy didn’t say a word anymore but ran and left behind her bucketful of apples.
“Hey, wait for me.” Sarah, the Black-American girl, blurted out as she stopped the pulley and ran ahead. The rest of the girls followed.
We went to the library room, the tree house and the geometric rooms. But the girls didn’t stay there for long. They were stuck however at the Ambulance and Emergency room where they checked on the x-ray films, the crutches, wheelchairs, examining tables, medical machines found in an emergency room. There were also costumes designed as doctors, nurses, volunteers and patients.
Out of the blue, Bernice had an idea. She gathered the girls and whispered. I had an idea that they’re up into something but wasn’t sure what they will be role-playing. Instinctively, however, I shot a film of what was going on.
This was how their short role-play turned out -
(Candice the patient is inside the ambulance and calls the Hospital)The digicam stopped recording.
(Meskah the nurse answers the phone) "Hello? Ok come in."
(Bernice coming from the ambulance while the paramedic Cathy is all ready with a wheelchair)
(Bernice has something weird under her stomach is immediately seated on the wheelchair and brought to doctor Sarah who was waiting for her at the ER. However there was a commotion as to which bed is Bernice should be laid. Bernice at less than four feet tall, tries to climb over the bed and finally settles on the first bed.)
Bernice:“Ok do it quickly.”
Sarah: "Where’s my gloves?"
Meskah: “I found one in that drawer.”(points at the plastic drawer near the bed)
Cathy: “Go look for it.”(Sarah anxiously looked for the gloves and shouted): “Go get the syringe.”Meskah: "Here." (pretending to have it done on Bernice)
Sarah: ”Ok, now we cut and let's get it done.”
Bernice: “Baby is out” (Taking the baby out from her shirt)
Cathy: “Give me the baby.” (Cathy grabs the baby toy)
(Bernice gets up and says): “Hey that’s my baby.”
Sarah: “Wait, Bernice, you still need to be stitched.”
Bernice: “No I want my baby.” (Bernice extends her arms towards Cathy)
(Meskah and Sarah ran after Cathy and grabbed the baby. Sarah then handed the baby to Bernice but since the girls were running around, she accidentally hit Bernice’s head with the baby).
Meanwhile, I was left speechless …
Until today, the girls’ role-plays are still vivid on my mind. I’m even tempted to post their photos and video on my blog except that I don’t want to go overboard on the kids’ trust and privacy. Maybe if they’re my girls, I might...
But I think the girls somehow helped me go on with my project tasks today. Yes, back to my research paper …
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