Empty Bowls
The Empty Bowls event is this afternoon. We had a conversation about it and students remember this event from previous years. They remember that students and teachers make bowls to help children who suffer from hunger in Mexico.
We talked about ONI. I explained that it is an organization that helps people most in need. I reminded them about the sweaters and blankets we donated in December and they remembered how they helped children stay warm during the winter season. We reflected on the importance of helping others. We recalled the mindfulness lesson on generosity. Students described generosity as: Ian: being nice to others. Camille: helping others. Jimena: sharing with others. Then I told students that all of the bowls made by teachers and students will be donated, that people will come and buy them and that the money will go to ONI to feed many children. |
With this explanation children understood that their bowl would be donated, so they kissed their bowl goodbye with love and generosity, knowing that it represents a meal for another child.
I asked them: “How are we being generous?” Fer: we will give food to the children who are hungry. Nico: we are taking care of the ones who are hungry. Then we made an exercise. They all sat on their mindful body, closed their eyes and listened to the next example: “Imagine there is a kid who is hungry and has no food. Imagine you get close and share with him/her your favorite food and you both eat together. Now the kid is feeling satisfied and happy. How does that make you feel?” Santino: It feels nice to help a boy. Fer: I felt happy to see that he was feeling happy. Evamaría: It felt good because he was not hungry anymore. Ian: When someone is hungry and you help him that feels good. |
Students worked hard on their bowls. They shaped the clay to make a bowl and gave it different textures with LEGO, markers tops and pencils. We baked the bowls, glazed them and baked them again. Once they were ready, we showed each bowl to the class so they could see the result.
They wrote their reflections in their journal:
Traditional Bake Sale
These last two weeks we have been talking about the traditional bake sale. I explained to the students that to help children in MAMA AC and ESF students, early childhood was going to participate in a bake sale.
We told students that they could make a dessert at home with their parents and bring it today and that the money collected from the sale would be donated to the help others.
Students were excited about the whole idea. They talked about what they would bake at home and how that action would be a contribution to a good cause.
We told students that they could make a dessert at home with their parents and bring it today and that the money collected from the sale would be donated to the help others.
Students were excited about the whole idea. They talked about what they would bake at home and how that action would be a contribution to a good cause.
Students had the opportunity to participate in the process of making a lemon pie. They enjoyed this sensory-rich, culinary experience. They learned what a recipe is. Each student made a nonfiction book: How To Make A Lemon Pie.
We visited the sale and each child chose a piece of all the many delicious options and enjoyed it a lot. They practiced using money and getting their change back. They also practiced taking care of their money and their wallet.
Thank you all for your work on this project! It has been an enriching experience full of learning and understanding of the importance of being generous.