Day 1 - Session 1 - Five Elements of Nature

 



They were bathed. Fed with chawal and sabzi. It's a daily routine before their parents step out of their homes within the complex for work from 0830 hours. It is normal among the working class, particularly at the bottom of the pyramid, to bring food to the workplace for lunch because their chances of returning home to cook and eat is not feasible.

The assembled kids, once they sat down, had a dazed look. They have no idea what is in store. Of course, I did hint at games, songs, dance, etc. 

Some had gone to school in their native place. So they have a fair idea, but the rest don't. 

Some clothes were hung on the clothesline in the same hall where we were assembled. Those dried clothes did not remain static but they were oscillating. 

I asked the kids to look at the clothes and asked them: What's causing those clothes to swing?

Hava, they responded in unison quickly. Good start. 

Do they know what is the English word for Hava? 

Obviously, no. 

Hava's English equivalent is "Air," I said. They repeated.

When you look up, what do they see? 

Badal. (Cloud), they replied.

Above Badal? 

Asman. Akash. Prompt respond.

Told them the English equivalent is "Sky." They repeated.

Did their mothers feed them uncooked rice and vegetables?

No, they admitted.

How did they cook?

Cylinder gas, one kid replied.

Okay, gas cylinder. Was it sufficient? Was it not lit? When the stove was lit, what happened?

Aag, they replied. 

Aag's English equivalent is "Fire". They repeated.

Pointing to the bottle of water kept on the table, asked them what is inside that bottle?

Paani, they said.

Jal, another kid replied. 

Paani, Jal. Their English equivalent is "Water." They repeated.

When asked where they are sitting, they said, "Ground."

I said "Zameen". They nodded. Or Earth.

We covered the five elements of nature. I was dilkush.

Now they collectively repeated the five elements in one go. 



Can we say one more time, one kid asked. 

Go ahead.

They did and clapped at the end of this first session.

Good God, I did not begin my classes with the conventional alphabet. 

Thoda hat ke shuruvaat. 

What next? 

WATCH: the children on the Five Elements of Nature 
https://youtu.be/iO6KSXkfDr8










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