Hands on Learning

After our lovely three-day weekend we came back to find out that Scarlett, Anika, Imi and I, made it into hands-on learning. We started off with a chat about how hands on learning works then we started getting ready to work on the new Gaga pit. We put the weed mat down in the Gaga pit, then went back to the Hands-on learning hub for lunch.

For lunch we had Kransky’s with cheese and onion on top. Ava, Scarlett and I bit into the Kransky and our mouths began burning from the spice. Brett and Anika didn’t believe us so Anika tried one and it was super spicy. Brett tried one and he even said it was spicy. It turned out that one pack was a cheese Kransky and one was Chorizo.

Then we headed over to the new Gaga pit to put the delivery of sand over the weed mat. It was super fun thank you Brett.

Written by Imi and Ava.

I see great value in the Hands-on Learning model, with all the social and emotional benefits as well as the practical that the students experience.

During this session, what really stood out for me was how resilient young people can be when they feel empowered, understand and see value in what they are trying to achieve.

To my point, the students were tasked with laying weed mat and filling the GaGa pit with sand, so that the games could begin. We only had just enough material to complete the job which meant the students had to use them sparingly. With trail and error and team work they worked it out. The work wasn’t easy either, moving 2.5 m3 of sand and leveling it was quite the chore. I heard no complaints, apart from “oh my back” (like little old men would say) but that made the students even more determined. The mountain moved; I sensed great pride in a hard job well done. I suppose it helped that it was four girls doing the work as the time zipped by with conversation.

Much to my horror and unreserved apologies, I mistakenly purchased a packet of Chorizo sausage instead of Cheese Kranky’s for our lunch. You can tell by the recount above that the students were dazzled by the heat the meal produced but not angry with me. They persevered to eat almost half of their sausage; they took the hit and my sincere apologies with grace.

This, in my book, is resilience.

Brett