Day 2 at Mahatma

It was a very, very long day those of us in the education group, but a good one! We spent the day in the Mahatma schools again, observing classes. We got to see several different classes. One of the things I like best about this school is how much they incorporate different styles of learning. Every class that we've visited has multiple layers to a lesson... a story that introduces the topic, the lesson, a craft and a presentation of what the students learned. The students' work is phenomenal! There are kindergarteners here that have better penmenship than me! And their craft projects are of competition caliber every time! I took some photos of finished products and I'll post them to facebook later. The other thing that is so amazing (and different from the US) is that students complete these projects in one class period! They work so hard, there's very little gossiping or off-task behavior and the finish product is beyond satisfactory!
My favorite part of the day was visiting the co-curricular classes. I think I mentioned before that the school incorporates art, health, fitness and interests into the school day rather than offering them as "extra" curricular activities. We got to visit several co-curricular classes including singing, instruments (Indian stringed instrument called a Vina, violin, drums, keyboard), art, chess, martial arts and dance. The students choose which activities they want to participate in.
I also go to play criquet!! Well, I got to bat... they didn't really explain the game and I definitely have no clue how it's supposed to be played! Our group is going to watch some youtube videos and read up about it online so we can offer the school's team a game toward the end of our visit!
We have been treated like royalty at the school and this day was no different. Part of the curriculum here is preparing the students to be confident public speakers, so they have the students present their works to large audiences (at assemblies, in class and at large events). The students are also fully in charge of setting up events and planning. They put on a show for us that included a really elaborate puppet show with live music and hand-made puppets, a traditional dance show staring several students and groups of students and a violin solo. Oh, and a couple students also did tongue twisters... then passed the mic to us to try! I tried one, and I think I did pretty good even though it was one I've never heard before! It was such a fun day!
We got a short break back at the hotel to freshen up, then went back to the school with the other 2 sections (health & social work students) for a special show starring an internationally recognized dancer of traditional Indian dance. This guy is a really big deal here in India and has been invited to hundreds of events and festivals around the world (including a stint as a guest lecturer in the dance department at Iowa)! He performed before an audience of Mahatma school students and their parents and our group of about 60 American students. It was a fun evening. I really like the dancing here! He's going to be back in Iowa City in April if anyone wants to check him out!
We have another exciting day ahead of us! We'll be visiting another campus of the Mahatma Schools (there's 4). Love to all... until later...