Using various creative aids to learn effectively
SANGEETH KURIAN
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Our environment abounds in creative aids. This workshop showed how to use them to advantage.
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Ever thought about the role of coconut fronds in inspiring creativity in children or learning geometry? Sounds like a wacky idea? May be not so wacky after all. For these ubiquitous, compound, yellow-green leaves offer the same possibility and scope a paper provides to an origami enthusiast in designing various models and figures.
The natural attributes of coconut fronds and its role in educating children were on display at `Balasabha Sangamam,' a two-day residential camp for children organised by Kudumbasree, a neighbourhood self-help group for the empowerment of women, in association with the UNICEF in the city last week.
The camp meant for the children of Kudumbasree members was attended by a total of 275 participants studying in class VII to IX. The participants were then divided into various groups such as `science,' `maths' `folksong and drama' and `creative corner' before assigning them activity oriented tasks under the supervision of faculties from Sastra Sahitya Parishad, Kerala Institute of Local Administration, and volunteers.
Group activity
Each group comprised nearly 70 students. However among the various groups it was `creative corner' that taught children how to make craft and toys using coconut fronds that proved to be a hit with the participants.
Said Satheendran Panthalacode, origamist who lead the class: "Creating models and figures using coconut frond is similar to the Japanese art of origami." According to him the session is helpful in teaching children geometry as various shapes such as rectangle, square and triangle can be created using fronds. "The coconut frond is flexible, hard and cheaply available. Nearly 30 years ago most of the household and kitchen utensils were made using coconut fronds," he said. Some of the popular items made using fronds are wastebaskets, carry bags, cradle, ball, animals and toys.
The idea of conducting this camp is to provide an opportunity for children hailing from financially backward families to hone their creative skills and talent, said Sini A., assistant district mission co-ordinator, Kudumbasree. The children were also taught how to conduct simple experiments that helped them to relate the theory they learn at school in their science and mathematics class to day-to-day experiences. The duration of each session was two hours. The programmes were scheduled in such a way that the students belonging to all the four groups received equal exposure to all the activity-oriented sessions at the camp.
The residential camp organised every year by Kudumbasree since 2001 was simultaneously held in all the 14 districts across the State.
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