今天我们的假期活动正式开始了，打响第一炮的是圣淘沙之旅。小朋友们一早来到学校就非常的兴奋那是因为他们的手上都带着满满一袋的玩具准备到沙滩上去筑城堡。所以他们迫不及待的要跟他们的朋友分享他们各种各样的“工具或是配备”，同时也赞美彼此的装配。

跟孩子讲解了到海边玩沙的目的和注意事项之后我们就出发了。在巴士上孩子们一直在追问要到了吗？要到了吗？终于我们一行人来到圣淘沙的海边。虽然没有阳光普照的天气但是有凉风习习令人感觉非常的舒服。这时孩子们已经等不及了，他们纷纷拿出自己的玩具，挖沙的挖沙，舀水的舀水。有的孩子还玩起了卖冰淇淋的游戏，也有的孩子挖起地下隧道，或是建立自己小小的城堡。可是不久之后开始下起雨来了，我们只好把东西收拾好去梳洗干净。玩乐之后肚子总是特别容易饿。孩子们吃着美味的三文治，还有饭后水果，接着我们就快快乐乐地返回学校了。

第二天是很多孩子都非常期待的烤肉会，可是天不作美；一大早就开始下起雨来了，户外的烤肉会只好取消了。早上老师们先为孩子讲解各种建房子所需要的建筑材料，包括从前用的亚答叶，木头，到现在的红砖，洋灰，白灰等等。他们不只可以看还可以试着拿起这些分量不轻的建筑材料，对于这些平时很少接触的建筑材料孩子们都显得跃跃欲试，用手小心地触摸，也因为很重他们在传递时都是小心翼翼的。他们在搬运的过程中体会到建筑工人的辛苦，了解到建筑工人工作的不容易。

因为天气的关系孩子们只能在课室里建起他们各自的城堡。老师也为幼小的孩子在课室搭起临时的帐篷让他们有一种家的感觉。孩子们都非常的喜欢，他们每人还分获一把钥匙，来开启家的大门。较年长的孩子他们可以自由发挥他们的创意，建筑他们的理想家园。整个过程中可说是不简单，因为孩子们不止要发挥互助的精神跟朋友们分工合作利用纸箱把他们的房子建起来；同时也要彼此协商什么设计构思能让整个团队都满意才能建造出理想的家园。所以可以不时听到孩子们说；不，我要的不是那样，我这里要有一个门，或这里要开一个洞才对。建着建着有的发觉自己的房子不够大，便提出要跟其他人合并的构想，有的孩子答应有的不。无论如何我们可以看到孩子在过程中的创意，执着，互助，协调，沟通，不只考验孩子们的创作能力同时也是社交能力的测试。最后我们看到孩子们建成的不同种类的房子，有的房子有烟囱，有的还有花园围栏，或是天窗等。当然他们也不忘邀请其他的朋友或者是老师到他们的房子去坐坐。

星期三，我们走访了原貌馆。由于原貌馆位于牛车水，有的孩子还记得我们新年前曾经到过那里。参观原貌馆的目的是让孩子们了解早期移民的工作情况。它是经过翻新的三层店屋，在馆内可以看到各种展览品来了解以前移民的传统生活习惯及他们来到南洋的心酸经历，也可以看到部分移民染上了各种不良嗜好的后果。各种灯光效果让人置身于1950年代的感觉。孩子们一进入马上就可以发现其中的不同，有的孩子还因此感觉不太舒服，也许是灯光有点昏暗吧。最令孩子感到震撼的是每一间房间的间隔是如此的窄小，各种生活必须品还有他们工作的用品都挤在一个小小的房间，还有就是简陋的厨房厕所等，无一不让孩子们感到不可思议，也让他们庆幸现在的生活是多么的舒服。另外就是让孩子尝试走十分陡峭的旧式楼梯，在这个现代化的城市中，这样的楼梯已经非常少见了。孩子们小心翼翼，一步一脚印慢慢地走下来，完成后心里都非常地高兴。这一趟历史之旅可说是非常的有意义。

下午我们回到学校孩子们则利用各种颜色的黏土做成屋子的形状，虽然他们没有做得很传神，但还是尽他们的能力，发挥他们的想象，做出了他们心目中的理想家园。

星期四我们留在学校进行探险活动，目的是要熟悉这整个校园环境。孩子们的手中拿着教室里各种物品的图片，然后需要把它们的正确位置找出来。有些物图片只是拍摄品的区区一角，所以孩子们还要动脑筋想一想那究竟是什么东西，才能够把它们找出来。这个游戏也在户外进行，他们可说是玩得不亦乐乎，碰上比较难的问题时，他们可是一副认真的模样。

接着他们还玩了一些传统的游戏像是老鹰捉小鸡，老虎先生请问现在几点钟，然后就就高高兴兴地进教室吃饭。下午则是孩子们自由活动的时间。

星期五我们带着孩子来到新祥骏，孩子们一进去就被各种设备给吸引了。像是五花八门的水龙头，真的是要什么有什么，各种千奇百怪的造型都有。除此之外造型各异的莲蓬头也让孩子啧啧称奇，有的还会告诉你，家里也有同样的款式。还有各种各样的洗手盆，圆的方的长的大的小的，只要想得到的形状都有。另外就是让孩子们非常兴奋的按摩池和浴缸，孩子们都希望家里能有一个。这一次的户外教学让孩子们认识了不少的卫浴和厨房设备，帮助孩子们了解它们的用途和名称，可说是获益不浅。

下午则是我们的美劳时间，孩子们利用各种盒子来做出他们心目中的房子，有的剪有的贴还有的做出迷你型的。无论是什么样子每个孩子的心中都有他们自己的一套想法来建构他们的理想家园。

时间过得很快转眼间学校假期就结束了，是不是还意犹未尽呢，下次我们还有更精彩的节目噢，敬请期待！

We have come to the last and final day of our holiday program. To mark an end, an excursion has been arranged to Xin Xiang Jun Warehouse whereby children, will be able to see the various household hardware equipment needed mainly in the toilet and kitchen.

This is an extremely long journey as this warehouse is situated at Changi!!!! As it was a very long journey, some of our children took a quick nap on their way there. Upon reaching our destination, the size of the warehouse was overwhelming ~ it was very spacious and the children were thrilled to see so many different things.

The most items they saw was various kinds of toilet bowls in all shapes, sizes and colours, toilet bowl seats, shower heads with different ways in which it can be fitted in a home, big and small bathtubs and also best of all Jacuzzi. J

As it was a very huge warehouse, and with so many items to see and touch along the way, it took them quite some time before they complete their journey in the warehouse.

Upon reaching school had having eaten lunch, the children were gathered for more “building”. This time, instead of using plastercine, they were encouraged to use various small boxes to work on their construction.

Instead of building a “traditional” house, one child built a “bread” house while others constructed even smaller houses out of the small boxes which they had chosen.

With this art and craft activity, it marks the end of our program for the week. It had been most enjoyable for everyone who participated and one could not wait for the next holiday to come!

Cheers!! J J

After a discussion among the teachers, we decided to change the program that had been planned initially to one which is more fun and interesting for the children ~ to know one’s environment.

What better way to know the environment……… through games of course. But to make it more challenging for the children, pictures of the items which can be found in the environment is only partially taken. This means, children had to be very observant and detail in order to locate the particular item from the area they are in. Very abstract?! Check out the photos and one will realize how the game is being played. But here are the rules…..

The children are grouped into 3 different groups according to their abilities and age. While stationed in an area, they will be shown different photos and with the quickest speed, they have to locate the item and either run or fetch the item which resembles the one in the photo. The game is taken place both indoors and out. After about half and hour, each group is rotated among the teachers until all children had their chance with every little listed items.

Initially when the children played the game, they took quite some time to warm up as well as to think which object best resembles the one shown in the photo. As the game goes on, they got more and more involved and were able to locate each item more quickly and accurately.

After this game of “treasure hunt”, the children were then invited to play more games!! J Traditional games such as “Eagle catches the chick”, “What is the time, Mr. Wolf” and “London Bridge is falling down”.

Through the activities planned, one is sure the children would have developed a keener observation on their environment. J

Today, our learning takes place in the outdoors. J As we had predicted the weather to be wet again, we had informed all children to bring their raincoats just in case.

Well, our prediction was right and sure enough, rain welcomes us and together it “joins” us for the rest of our learning. Not only did we had rain, we were also met with a little hiccup with our school bus ~ our bus broke down half-way and we had to change upon reaching our other centre. Phew!

Finally we reached our destination ~ Chinatown. Taking a short walk among the quiet shop houses which were usually bustling with energy was a little strange. When we finally reached the museum, the children were overwhelmed by the many little items placed on sale at the gift shop.

After taking a quick toilet break, the children were all ready to explore the Heritage centre. Before their journey into the past begins, they were briefed on what they would see, hear and maybe smell. It was like walking into a “time tunnel” where we were all transported back in time to experience the dark and cramped quarters of a typical Chinatown shop house in which many migrants had lived, looking out for differences in the way the toilet, market, bookshop, coffee shops…… were as compared to what the children knew of today, and last but not least, climbing down the dark and steep staircase to move from one level to the next was an experience for everyone.

While walking through the narrow walkways of the quarters, children were overwhelmed by the small sleeping space each family had to share and they sure were glad that they each had a room of their own.

A walk in history……and back to the present the moment they step out. The children were glad they are back into the brightly-lit “space”.

Our day did not end here. After a hearty lunch of warm porridge in school, the children got together to work on moulding their little house with plastercine. Some children decided to decorate their shoe boxes after completing their house while others decided to decorate their shoe box instead of building. J

In just two more days, our holiday will come to an end…… but not to worry, the fun will continue…….

Everything was thought out nicely when this program was planned but one thing which we didn’t planned was the weather! L

The day started with a bright sunshine in the sky. Children arrived cheery and all ready for another exciting day as they had expected a barbeque session during lunch time.

Introducing the different materials which were used to build houses in the past and present such as wood, attap leaves, zinc, bricks, tiles, cement….. were shown. Children even got a chance to touch and hold each of the items as they were introduced. Apart from learning the names of these items, children were also told how each of these items is used to build a house.

After the initial presentation, the children were all ready to start building their own houses using the boxes that had been collected. As we all got ready to go outdoors to start building……..raindrops started to fall and gradually it got heavier and heavier that we had to move our construction indoors.

With the heavy downpour outdoors, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the children. They were able to help one another, cooperate, mix and match the limited boxes which they had to build their “ideal” house. Time passes by so quickly that it was almost past the scheduled time for lunch.

Due to the heavy rain, our barbeque session had to be put off. L The children were not able to have their chance to “cook” their own food. Instead, they enjoyed “fast” serviced food which had been cooked and prepared in the kitchen. Though the fun of barbequing could not take place, they did enjoy the food. J

By the time lunch was over, it was almost time to end our day. Despite the wet weather, the children as well as the teachers had a great time “constructing” different houses indoors. J