Summer School Highlights from Last Week

Check out what we did in last week:

Day 1:

PBL Day (Soap Box Car)

This is an all-day themed immersive project learning at our summer school, where students learned to assemble a bunch of different-sized wooden pieces and parts into a car that can travel on the road and participate in racing competitions.

The Soapbox Car Race is a traditional children's entertainment activity that originated in the United States. It has gained popularity in over 30 countries worldwide because it effectively stimulates children's creativity and hands-on abilities.

Day 2: 

Nature Day (Bamboo & Animal Caring)

Through the use of bamboo, a material from nature, we have explored the mysteries of the natural world. By utilizing bamboo, we have crafted bows and arrows for self-defense and hunting. In the afternoons, we collaborated with our team members to construct insect habitats and create bird feeders, using materials found in the local environment. By providing safe habitats for these creatures, regardless of their significant size differences from us, we fostered empathy and compassion towards different living beings. These activities have helped cultivate empathy among the children and fostered a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness between different species.

Day 3: 

SDG Hackthon Day 

(Sustainability 1 - Sustainable Fashion)

In the morning, students were arranged to learn about the operations and processes of the fashion industry, and they reflected on how the fashion industry can cause pollution to the environment and others. Through debate sessions, their dialectical thinking was strengthened as they explored the contradictions faced by the industry and considered how to reduce environmental impact while pursuing commercial interests.

In the afternoon, the focus was on guiding students to think about how old clothes can be recycled and reused to achieve circular value. They participated in two projects: one was a donation project, where they used old clothes to provide warmth to children in remote areas; the other was a workshop for reusing old clothes, where they transformed unworn garments through cutting and designing, giving them a new lease of life.

Day 4: 

SDG Hackthon Day 

(Sustainability 2 - Recycled & Reused)

On Thursday, the exploration of sustainability was the focus of our summer school program. In the morning, students were engaged in solving a case related to "garbage." We often encounter various forms of waste on our school premises, but what happens to them after we toss them into the classroom trash bins? What processes do they undergo, and where do they ultimately end up? The investigation was both fascinating and educational.

In the afternoon, students were encouraged to bring their own second-hand items and set up stalls to create a second-hand marketplace. This activity allowed them to experience the exchange of goods and ponder whether an item can only have one life. Does the circulation of items between different people also represent a possibility of a continuous cycle?

Day 5: 

Science Day (Power Invisible)

Today's science day was initiated with a fascinating "volcanic eruption" experiment. Throughout the day, four hands-on experiments were arranged for the students. They crafted their own hot air balloons and air cannons, attempted to drop eggs from a height without breaking them, and DIY'd a hydraulic engine. These experiments provided insights into the interactions between different forms of energy and forces, particularly the forces of air and water that we usually overlook. As the students learned physics concepts, they also had a blast of fun.