Category: Montessori

Sweeties in the jar sweeties in the jar
shake and rattle, shake and rattle
Sweeties in the jar

The term “design thinking” is frequently used in connection to STEM labs. However, design thinking is bigger than STEM. It begins when you tap into student curiosity and let them to create, test and re-create until they eventually transport what they made to a real audience. Design thinking isn’t a subject or a topic or a class. It’s more of  a way of solving problems that encourages risk-taking and creativity.

In playgroup design thinking is  about assuring the little ones that they can make a difference. Toddlers and preschoolers are naturally curious. They wonder about everything and their ways for problem solving are certainly unique and creative. By inviting these little people into the world of design thinking we are equipping them with a mindset that says: go ahead. Try out your ideas. And just do it. They are empathetic, resilient and caring for each other. Let’s see what happens when design thinking meets Playgroup.

The process started with the rhyme:

Jelly on a plate jelly on a plate
wibbly, wobbly, wibbly, wobbly
Jelly on a plate

Sausages in the pan sausages in the pan
Flip them over flip them over
Sausages in the pan

Sweeties in the jar sweeties in the jar
shake and rattle, shake and rattle

Sweeties in the jar.

Teacher showed them the shake and rattle toy and everyone wanted to play with that toy. On being told that they couldn’t play with it as it belonged to someone else, the children collectively passed through a range of emotions beginning from being upset about it. They were no longer interested in all the class toys placed in front of them. At this moment teacher raised a driving question “We don’t have our own shake and rattle toys in our classroom. That’s a problem. What can we do”? Various responses came up.  “You give us.” “I’ll go to Bacha Party and buy from there.” Then teacher asked them “Can we can make our own toy?”  They were amazed and replied, “Yes, yes, yes!”

Through this process children passed through four stages of “FIDS”, FEEL, IMAGINE, DO & SHARE”.

Children used different objects for creating the sound in their shake and rattle toy and decorated it. They were happy to play with those toys. The class resonated with the buzz and rattle of our newly made shakers as the children shook their toys with all the might in their little arms.

It was almost nine o’clock on Saturday 10th November 2018. A little three-year old tugged excitedly at her Grandpa’s hand as she led him through the school gates. “This is my school, Dada. And that window over there, that is my class!” She gushed animatedly as she took him towards the ground. Other children and their grandparents started coming and very soon it was time to begin the Grandparents Day program.
After Tilawat-ul-Quran and matam, the children stood up and did salaam to their Grandparents and presented them with a lovely bookmark they had made themselves. The grandparents then made a flower craft from their grandchild’s handprint and then both posed for a photograph.
After that, they all participated in a fun game called ‘Four Corners’. The winners were presented with gifts. A salad buffet was prepared and the grandparents and children enjoyed a bowl of healthy and delicious salad together.
The grandparents left with a smile and lovely memories, hand-in-hand with their grandchildren. A day well-spent, indeed!

Imagine yourself in a strange place, surrounded by strange people who speak a language other than your own.

Does it sound like something out of a story book?

Wrong.

Now add to this the fact that your loved ones take you by the hand and leave you there.

How would you feel?

This is more or less what each of our tiny tots felt on the first day of school. They expressed their fear and frustration of their unknown surroundings the way they knew best: crying.

Our teachers were prepared for all eventualities. They had name badges ready at the gate and as soon as a child came in, they pinned it to his pocket. Most children had to be carried to the class as they struggled to run back to their parents. Other teachers pitched in to help with the struggling tots.

In the classroom, the teachers got down to the task with incredible calm and patience. Their soothing voice and calm demeanor gradually pacified the young ones until most of them were willing to settle down and play with the toys or participate in singing rhymes. Some of them though, kept crying at intervals as the memory of their surroundings resurfaced.

Soon, the hour was up and the teachers went around sorting bags, caps, scarves and water-bottles, checking for labels and helping children wear their backpacks.

They took the children to the gates and as each child spotted his parent(s) his face broke into a smile of recognition and relief as he ran towards outstretched arms.

A week has gone by and the children have now begun to recognize the school environment, the teachers and the other children. This sense of familiarity and routine has gradually increased their level of comfort. Most of them are now coming with a smile and have begun to enjoy time spent in school. Some of them have also started coming by the school van.

But as much as they enjoy school, at the end of the day, the little ones all look forward to going home to be greeted with a smile and a hug by the most beloved people in their lives.

As the sun’s rays danced on all things Karachi, the BHS Montessori children hopped and skipped to school in their lovely party dresses for the end-of-year party in school. Some of them came dressed as super-heroes as that had been the current topic of discussion in class. The influence of T.V. and star power was evident when one 4-year-old insisted he was dressed as ‘Singham’, whistle and all!

It was a fun-filled day with outdoor games like musical chairs, hide & seek, blowing bubbles and indoor games like “pop the balloon” and “name, place, animal, thing”. The day ended with delicious chocolate ice-cream and snacks.

A memorable end to a memorable year!