YPBM: Learning about diversity through the games.
Our workshop activities we planned according to guideline that was given to us by trainers. Firstly we gathered together and started to discuss about what we would like to do with children. In the beginning it was a little bit confusing because not every one of us had created educational session or workshop before. However, our group had a bit motivation to do teach and learn from children. It helped us to get rid of timidity. We focused on goal behind our activities. We realised that children did not meet a bunch of people from different countries, therefore we agreed on creating presentations about our countries emphasising how we were beautiful with our cultural diversity. We assigned countries and prepared presentations about our countries in a visible way. We paid attention not to use written language because we were aware that children would be between 6–12 years old. It would be hard to keep their attract for a long time with a text. In our presentations we introduced the basic information about the countries: their location, interesting differences between countries, common points with an effective visible content. To our presentation we included a Turkish dance and an African song in order to make it interesting. We also prepared the map of Europe with the pieces of the countries in the way of a puzzle so they could glue them to the map. That was going to be a good start before we would mention about the countries. In addition to that we printed some country symbols for them to have an idea what they could know about our countries. That would give us an idea about the level of the presentation we would present.
In the beginning, we planned to introduce each other by preparing name-cards. So that it would be easier to remember their names and the same for them. Later on, we put an ice-breaker game which was called ‘’Ha-Hi-Ho’’ so they would adapt to the atmosphere to which they were not used to. Thereafter, we scheduled our European map activity when they were suppose to put the puzzle of the countries on the map in order to remember where they were located. Later we planned they would stick the country symbols on the map. After the game, we conducted a 20 minutes presentation about each country ending it by a cultural dance, a game or a song. After the presentations we planned for the children to lead a game. And we came up with an idea about ending our workshop with a group hug and selfie.
First of all, it is the result of team effort. We were 4 people from different countries. Our task was to create the content that could be interesting for the children allowing them to learn more about other cultures and be curious. To achieve our goals in limited time, we were well organised. Before the start, each of us had prepared our own content and activities. It was decided that each presentation would be last 20 minutes.We managed to respect the time that had been given to us as well the children environment.
We are really satisfied with the results because the children were really curious and interested about all the countries we had presented. At first we started with an energiser « HI HO » that were fine for their age. During our activities the children could be puzzled or didn’t know something, however a teacher was really cooperative and helped them to find the solution and explained them it in details.
During our planning we did not know what exact age would be the children in school. Therefore, we had to adjust our structure and content of our workshop when we had learned that we would work with 5–6 years old. In that case we could be better prepared to the needs of the children that could not yet read or write. That means we could include more developing games like “geographical puzzle”, playing with pictures and association, dedicate more time for the games, as well that includes more physical activity. In that way smaller students did not feel overwhelmed by the information and did not lose their attention.
Initially we had a very precise plan of different activities with assigned time for each block, game, dance, song etc. We created it thinking we would have 90 min. in total. However, in reality we had something like 65 min. Therefore, the part of the workshop where children would present us their motherland did not happen just because we had already used assigned time. We had also to be flexible towards the need of very young audience. Consequently we speeded up the country presentations and song learning. Also we were supposed to have time for Q&A. However, we had to quickly finalise our workshop by taking a group hug and a picture because children started to feel hungry and did not want to wait any longer. :)
As a team we were really excited when we realised that we were going to be with the youngest ones (4–6), but also it was a big challenge for us. Our weakness was keeping the attention of the children and not being boring. I think we managed that and it made us happy and confident, so it become the strength of us as a team.
We would really like to implement such workshop again because we realised after that the children were very interested in learning new things, especially to learn about other countries and cultures. We saw in their eyes that we were all the same even if we came from different parts of the world. It was an amazing experience from which we learned. I wish it will happen again.
