The Chrysalis and the Caterpillar

Our Chrysalis has a friend. We have watched him turn white, black, brown and now green. We can not believe how quickly he is changing and how big he has gotten. We have put a net over the tree  and the students check on them 5 or 6 times a day.  The students and I have been discussing what it means to have a living creature in the classroom. They understand that they have a very important job of being super observers and investigators while our nature friends are visiting in the classroom.

We have also had many conversations about what the students would like to learn in this process and what we will do once it becomes a butterfly.  The children have decided that they would like to learn more about plants that bring butterflies into their gardens.  The students organized themselves into 5 groups and wrote letters to the principal asking permission to  use one of the planter/garden boxes to make a butterfly garden in. They drew up plans with their garden ideas, a lists of plants they wanted to include and reasons why they felt this project was important.  Two days later they received a letter back giving them permission! They were also given a budget to work with.  They have expanded their research to find the best places to buy plants at the most affordable cost.

Up Date on Cool Bug

We found out that our cool bug is actually a type of caterpillar. I guess it is time to do a lesson on the life cycle of a Butterfly. The students are really excited about being able to watch this process.  What a great way to start the academic year.

Festival Bonfires

Women are preparing evening bonfire with piles of dried cow dung to start off a Hindu Festival.

Cool Bug!

This bug was the great find of the day. We found
it during recess climbing on a potted lime tree.
Research time!

It's Possible!

When we first started the curriculum the teacher looked at me nervously and said "It's not possible! The kids can't draw. Draw it on the broad and let them copy." I told her "No they are 6+ let them draw." These students are the first ones in their families to receive an education. They are the poorest of the poor and have little resources. Being allowed to draw and express themselves is a luxury they do not get. Today was so awesome! They are learning and they are having fun. I love to see the developmental range in their drawings. Here are some of my students and their drawings.

Family Fun Phonics

For the last four months I have been helping out in the Jeedimetla Good Shepard school (Dalit education center). The school has adopted a new phonics program from Canada and I have been training the Preschool, Kindergarten and 1st grade  teachers in how to use the program. Many of the teachers struggle with phonics since English is their third or fourth language. I am loving it. The students are so sweet and eager to learn!

Lunch Time

I am constantly reminded that not all children have the privilege to go to school.  On my way home from teaching today I passed these two adorable little girls sitting and eating their lunches. Their mothers work as day laborers for less than a dollar a day. One of the mothers carefully prepared a place out of the sun for the girls to eat, placing an empty bag on the ground so they could have a clean place to sit amongst the debris. There they sat happily eating as their mothers continued to work.  When they are finished they will nap and then finish helping their mothers work.