Reliving our Parent's Childhood- Games of Yesteryears
- Introductory Session
- Interactive Session + Opinion Poll
- Stepping into the forgotten world of yesteryears
- Creative hands at work
- Natkhat Athkheliya
- Video Conferencing
INTRODUCTORY SESSION
‘Time is a game played beautifully by children.’
Classes: III-V
Activity: Introduction
The students of Classes III-V were introduced to the forgotten world of yesteryear games through introductory videos and documentaries. They were informed about the many simple yet fun-filled games which were played by their parents and grandparents in their gadget-free days. The students were unable to perceive their parents running around playing pithu(seven stones), hide-n-seek, gilli danda(tip cat), kanche (marbles) etc. This awareness added to their curiosity and they enquired about the same at home. The activity proved to be a long-sought bridge back to the deep emotional bond between the busy parents and the non-interactive child. The project with all its exuberance and delighted togetherness, eased the stress of parenting as it transported the parents into a long forgotten era of traditional games that had never been introduced to the little ones. Parents got an opportunity to enter their child's world, on the child's terms, and thus managed to foster closeness, confidence and connection. The aim of the activity was to take them on a journey to the forgotten world of yesteryear games that are rich repositories of historical, environmental, social, scientific, mathematical, kinaesthetic, visual and musical knowledge. Rather than resigning ourselves to the widening gap between traditional and modern knowledge, this purposeful exchange between the two lead to a mutual gain.
INTERACTIVE SESSION + OPINION POLL
‘Individually we are one colour. Together we make a rainbow.’
Classes: III-V
Activity: Interactive Session and Opinion Poll
The collaborative ISA project was taken one step ahead by showing the students different games played in Nepal, Rome, Korea, China, Russia and India via videos and the facilitators along with the guest parent sharing their childhood memories. They related to the nostalgia of playing outside in groups, in the grass, dirt, dust or mud. Before everyone's attention was caught by technology, gotta, chungi, and lattu used to be their best friends. There were many games that they played together - games that didn’t require large monetary investment, just inventiveness, a few friends and a small space. The students were amazed to know that all these games were popular worldwide though with different names like KongkiNoli or five stones of Korea, Guchha, or marbles of Nepal, Hopscotch or Stapoo - reiterating the fact that the world is one global village and technology is not a synonym for happiness. The aim of the activity was intended to sensitise children to the universal and traditional aspect. Preserving the information and knowledge about traditional games is important for the generations to come as they are a means to convey values of solidarity, diversity, fair-play, inclusion and cultural awareness. The students were given an open forum to discuss the pros and cons of traditional vs modern games. The students expressed their desire of revisiting the bygone era. An Opinion Poll was taken, wherein students cast their votes for the game which they intended to play and thoroughly enjoyed the voting procedure.
STEPPING INTO THE FORGOTTEN WORLD OF YESTERYEARS
‘Games are nature's most beautiful creation; they lubricate the body and mind.’
Classes: III-V
Activity: Students learn and teach
The learning intention was to find out about the traditional games played by
the generation that is struggling to cope with the modernised gadget games but is still unable to let go of the games it played. The students were brainstormed questions to ask a family member to gather the information needed to start the bridge project. This was an inquiry learning project and involved using skills from several curriculum areas like Social Science, English and Language and Technology along with an IT component. Students learnt that the games of yesterday are similar to the games played today. Although with time changes have taken place as this is a living culture and constantly responds to the time and the context. The students were divided into groups to play Cat’s Cradle of Russia, Yut Nori of South Korea, Pong Hau Ki of China, Martinetti of Italy, Hopscotch of India and Gutte of Nepal. Class V leaders demonstrated the games to the groups and explained the rules of the games. They also helped rest of the students to participate and abide by the rules of each game. The aim of the activity was to enable children acquire values and skills inherited over time and through experience. The forgotten era of traditional children’s games that are embedded with rich repositories of historical, environmental, social, scientific, mathematical, social, kinaesthetic, visual, and musical knowledge needs to be passed on to the future generation. The volunteers did a wonderful task of bridging the gaps, pulling children and connecting them emotionally. The parents lauded the efforts and eagerly awaited the Fun Day that was promised as a bonanza.
CREATIVE HANDS AT WORK
‘Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.’
Classes: III-V
Activity : Collage Making / Scrap Book Making / Kite Decoration
Collage Making, Scrap Book Making and Kite Decoration Activity was organised for the students of classes III-V. The aim was to give a hands-on-learning experience to the budding artists. The children used various pictures and decorative material to compile their creativity. Their imagination and information of playing the old and bygone games of various countries that had been collected as part of the project enabled them to compile voluminous scrapbooks and multi-coloured collages along with the board games. The astounding and creative kites chiselled by the talented brigade created an unforgettable image on the minds of the onlookers. They were to be exhibited on the Fun Day. Along with the fun element, the activity helped in the development of cognitive, fine, gross motor skills and socio-emotional skills of the students. Apart from nurturing their creativity and imagination, these team-based activities helped them work with others through compromise, conflict resolution and sharing while at the same time discover their independence and positive self-esteem.
NATKHAT ATHKHELIYA
‘You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.’
Classes: III-V
Activity: Fun Day for Students and Parents
The innocence that lies in the eyes of a child holds priceless gems of obscure emotions and talents, waiting to be revealed and accepted and Fun Day gave each child an opportunity to spill the jar of upright madness and let them discover themselves a little more than they do presently. The day began with the parents who were the special guests of honour trotting along with their children. The school campus wore a festive look, one of jubilation and merriment. The short-lived bubble called ‘childhood’ was recreated for parents and school staff with a host of traditional games that are played all over the world - ready to be played. Everyone experienced a wonderful sense of euphoria as all elders reminisced and revisited their childhood playing hopscotch, seven tiles, gallery and running around to the food counters. The volunteers had adorned costumes of the respective countries whose games they were to demonstrate. Every parent on the ground was aware that away from classrooms, it is on these make belief playgrounds and through these childhood games that some of life’s most important lessons are learnt and lifetime friendships forged. Rather than resigning to the widening gap between traditional and modern knowledge and learning, the school embedded the collaborative ISA project for a purposeful exchange between the two and enabled a mutual gain. Probably it was the best day of the year to be a child - when every child woke up and was not in a whirlwind rush to get packed off to school with heavy bags and aching shoulders. Instead, every member woke up and was at liberty to be a child - to play. The day offered every reason to smile, relax and unwind. The school choir played melodious musical notes and made the school playground throb to its beats. The kites soaring in the sky uplifted every parents’ mood. The aim of the activity was to instil logical thinking, mathematical and civic education in order to get a deeper grasp over the process of balanced growth and development.
VIDEO CONFERENCING
‘Human life holds meaning only through communication.’
Class: V
Activity: Student’s interaction with Kalika Public School, Nepal
Class V students interacted with their counterparts of Kalika Public School in Nepal. The little ones began by singing the National Anthem, followed by the Nepalese Anthem. The children enthusiastically introduced themselves and shed off their inhibitions. The students excitedly briefed each other about the various board games of the countries of their case study and also exchanged the information related to different yesteryear games played in their respective countries. They not only shared techniques but also their thoughts of reviving the games on a larger scale. The conference proved to be a fruitful platform for students at both the ends. Children learnt about the origin, benefits and the causes for the extinction of the games. This activity helped in their problem-solving, collaborative and communicative skills development along with their coordination, vision and speed skills. This enabled the children to develop leadership qualities, team spirit and a deep sense of responsibility. Connecting globally also helped them visualise the inter-connectedness and sense of belonging. Students also learnt to appreciate different games that were played once upon a time realising that the foregone past could silently be fused into present thereby resulting in a profound synthesis of merriment and tradition.