Yesterday, I posted about the 4R's in solid waste management where my kids made colorful flowers out from empty bottles. Today, they were tasked to make a paper mache. A paper mache is made from strips of paper stuck together into molder like in a glass, vase, flower pot, and etc, with glue mixture to strongly hold the paper together.
They collected old paper to recycle it. Once they gathered enough papers, they cut it into small strips. But before they started this activity, they already had made one at home. They compared it to their classmate and everyone shared how they do it. I was listening to their conversation and I laughed when I heard that one pupil complaint that whatever he do with the paper mache, it wont stick to the molder and not strong enough when he tried to hold it. The way that he complaint was very charming.
I was just observing them, still listening to their ideas on how to do it properly. But after a while, I called them and let them show some of the video clips from youtube.
It was then they had already an idea. So they continue to cut the papers, prepared water, glue, and brush.
It takes almost 3 hours for them to finish it, and they will dry it overnight hoping that it will dry tomorrow so that they can paint it, or put designs to make it a colorful one.
As they were doing the task, I find it that they were having fun and at the same time they learned from it. I tried to asked them random questions just in case their teacher asked them about the materials they used, and how they do it. Well as expected, they said that they're quite confident to whatever question their teacher might ask.
As a parent, I am quite proud because they seems so responsible on the task their teacher assigned to them. We have to guide them, explain and help them understand that it's better to have companion or people around to support them.