The generation games - big schoolies visit

Generation Games

A hesitant clump of bigger kids in their track suits arrived in the yard this morning, mostly trying to hide behind each other! They looked like they'd rather be somewhere else, but instead broke up into groups of six and detailed to entertain our classes with various DIY fair games they had made & brought along, for example a bowling set (10 pin).

It was fun to not be the focus of attention at all, and K-sensei likewise enjoyed being able to take a back seat and instead just nudge things along when they could not make themselves understood or did not know how to manage an activity when it didn't quite work out the way they anticipated...that and the odd name check for the more boisterous usual suspects - one of whom totally wrecked a game, hogging all the bits and pushing playmates out the way!

Connecting

The older visitors did become more confident once they hit floor level & got involved & their activities took over my classmates; not many teens like to stand up in front of a group. I am sure they learned a lot from the experience, and some of them showed a genuine skill with younger children - the ones with younger brothers and sisters at home? All of this geared towards the smooth induction of the top age group next spring...

I browsed the other classes as well; Bunko Booth style activities looked popular, but the origama a bit too hard & unengaging/quiet. One group were sat in circles singing/doing a janken game and having a very nice time. Another finished by doing a traditional counting chant/finger play activity, which I could not fathom but I am sure has many cultural cousins long forgotten. Only ones I can think of from England would be skipping songs - of which I never learnt to do. Have a listen - any ideas?

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