Saturday June 30th


Today was our regular Saturday session at the NAB school. We themed the session for the primary group with touch and feel and intent on having a fun filled day we decided to pre make a basic version of the slime we had also done at the orphanages. However first we began with a texture lesson using materials we had purchased at the market and cut up into small pieces. We gave each child a plate with a mix of textured items - rough, smooth, soft, hard and squishy. We then went through each using the english words with the Hindi translations and once they had grasped it ( which they did quite quickly) we began to test them to find specific textures only using english. This proved successful and by the end of half an hour we had all thirteen correctly identifying the different materials in relation to texture. The children here are so eager to learn and thrive on new english words and phrases we bring each week. I feel that we have developed a great connection here especially with the younger group and the buzz of excitement sparked by our arrival each week is really rewarding.
We then brought out the slime and taught slimy as we got them to feel and play with the putty like goop. Following the first few reluctant touches of the cold wet goop we encouraged play using silly noises whilst wobbling it in their hands or rolling it out pretending to make chapati which developed into a lot of giggling and complete free play which they loved. 
The older children who we had not originally planned to use the slime with arrived back from school and upon a few wanting to join in and play with the slime we ended the session with the primary group and began doing the same exact session of textures with the older group. Surprisingly they seemed to enjoy both activities just as much as the primary group had. 
After a quick snack and prayer time we progressed onto the main activity, dancing. They had requested this on our second session and I have been trying to come up with a dance I could teach. I had revisited children's holiday dance songs and decided that 'cha cha slide' would be perfect as the instructions to the dance are in the song and we know they already know directions. 
This was a process trying to explain and have translated the difference between slide to the left and left stomp with no visual aid for most of the children. However we persevered and recapped each movement along with the english words until we were able to run the song with most successfully performing all of the movements. Everyone enjoyed this with even some of the primary coming to join in with what they could.
To finish the day we each played a game, Michael - chess, and for me snakes and ladders both fantastically adapted for the visually impaired and enjoyed by all!
Becca!

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