Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde - the sixth day (the 10th of March 2011)

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde

Thursday, the 10th of March 2011
The "Arts and Crafts" group 2
08H00/10H00 AM

We didn't exactely know what today's activities would look like throughout the day as the children were restarting school today and it  would all depend on their timetables, though as far as I was concerned it woudn't  make too much of a difference, once they are doing individual "pieces of art" and as long as the total number of children does not exceed 18 per group, it is OK with me.

Working with coloured sand after having been told the meticulous procedures they have to follow

Lola (Left) and Daniela (Right) with their finished works of coloured sand

Veronica with her finished felt tip brush painting

I have had some of the girls sketch children of the world in traditional outfits using "postcrossing" postcards in both groups... and was surprised to see that two of those (Joceline and Diva's) really looked similar to the original ...

Rivia, Ivanilde Elena, Nolita, Joceline, Eunice de Jesus and Diva (afternoon group)  using "postcrossing" cards  to sketch from.

Joceline holding her sketch.

I have also had them make puzzles, which for those who had attended previous wokshops seemed fairly easy. The same didn't happen with some of the  girls who were seeing puzzles for the first time, though after having  been taught how to make them, enthusiasm helped them through the difficulties.

Lou and Delmizia looking for the adequate pieces to finish the "African boy" puzzle (Left). Artemisa and Erica  having finished the "Eskimo boy" puzzle (Right).

The Portuguese Language vocabulary development class
10H00/midday

Whilst we were waiting for some of the children o fthis group, the ones who were already there sat down to get on with the school homework, but as soon as all of them were at ADEC's we  started playing the  game whe had played the day before and to my surprise they did  a lot better today than they had before. It is undeniable that they have learnt some description strategies as well as some new vocabulary.

Having them "articulate" some difficult words (Left). Duche and Britta "supervising" the game strategies.





They have done a lot better than they have before and I am astounded at the amount of vocabulary they are now able to adequately use.

It was soon time for lunch and I don't know if it was tiredness or any other similar "symptom" ... but I felt the simple act of chewing would  further tire me out ... (I felt I'd rather do with a "siesta" of half an hour) ....

(to be continued)

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde - The fifth day (cont.)

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde

Wednesday, 9th of March 2011
The "Arts and Crafts" group 1
14H00/16H00 PM

Similarly to what happened in the morning "Arts and Crafts" group the girls have continued working on the "pieces of Art" which need to be finished by Friday, in order to be exhibited in the party on Saturday.
Some have already completed two or three, whereas others haven't been able to finish any, which naturally depends on the complexity of the works.
Three girls have today managed to finish their first pieces of Art and have joined the others who are colouring some book illustrations to be exhibited at the party as well.

Josseane (Left) and Carla (Right) with their  finished tempera and felt tip pen paintings respectively.

Diva with her  finished felt tip pen painting

Today's story - the "Little red riding hood" african adapted version really caught the children's attention, particularly because the book illustrations looked quite familiar to them ... The more they get acquainted with story reading the more I feel they are capable of exteriorizing their opinions on any issue which may be related to their  day-to day life, such as this.

Looking at the book illustrations

The Theatre group

16H00/17H30 PM

We have today rehearsed the theatrical piece with the actors moving about the potential stage to be, taking advantage of the existing doors and the real truth is they  did really well, so I am now convinced they will do well on Saturday, particularly because they have adapted it their own way, even to the point where the tiger speaks in creole and not in Portuguese (which sounds even better as he is the only "wild" animal, therefore less "cultivated").

Lou (the narrator) in the background and the main actress Marline in the foreground. Valter (who will play the tiger) wearing the dog's mask he switched with Pedrilson; Kevin in his cat mask; Eduardo wearing the rabbit and Gerson (the main actor) the monkey masks respectively.

There will be no English class today, so I'll try to go to bed earlier ... I am in need of some rest ...

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde - The fifth day (The 9th of March 2011)

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde

Wednesday, 9th of March 2011
The "Arts and Crafts" group 2 
08H00/10H00 AM

The children have today continued with the "Art pieces" which are not completed yet. Some of the "protégé" girls who have already finished one or two "Art works"  have been given books sent by their "godmothers" to either read or colour, all of which have stickers to  be adequately stuck as in accordance with either a series of cues or rules.  The girls love these because not only does  this "system" make reading easier and more interesting for them but also turns them into active "partakers" in the building up of the books.

Lola, Josefine and Rivia sticking the adequate stickers with Sibylle's help (Left). Proudly holding the books (Right).

Lavinia, Lou, Tarine and Marline finishing their first  "Art pieces" (from left to right).

Ivanilde Elena and Eunice de Jesus colouring "dolls of the world"

Lola (Left) and Simone (Right) with their sticker finished works.

Lou (Left) and Tarine (Right) with their  finished felt tip brush and tempera painting "works of Art" respectively.










"The Portuguese Language development skills"
10H00/midday

Soon after a short ten minute vocabulary assessing test, the Portuguese lesson took a completely new direction today as I decided to play a puzzle game like (gently offered by Marie Hélène) with the children, which implied having to describe the picture to the others, who in turn would have to find out what it was. This describing action was then followed by image association as the children had to complete the two piece puzzle with the adequate missing half. This was not only fun but also allowed them to further develop  profession  oriented vocabulary.

We had fun and that's what I believe the whole thing of learning is and should be about.

Taking the written test

Elisiana describing the picture and having completed the two piece puzzle.

 "The singing group"

01H30/02H00 PM

I have today decided to have the boys sing the "Sound of Music" song in a rap like type of approach, having realised they definately don't have too much of  a "singing" capacity ... but the way we have tried it out today just sounded fine. Patrick, who hadn't shown so far has today joined the group, so there will be at least 13 boys singing.

I am really happy with today's decision regarding the song ... and the boys seem a lot more thrilled with this latest "approach".

(To be continued)

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde - The morning of the fourth day (Cont.)

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde

Tuesday, 8th of March 2011
"The development of the Portuguese Language reading and speaking skills"
10H00/midday

We have today continued with the reading of the story and have had our first "test" of the difficult words. As it is Carnival and two of the girls from Veneza are not present I don't want to further "advance" without them, so I  have decided to discuss the story we have read so far asking them which they feel will be the final outcome and then let them colour some of the already read pages.

Colouring the pages (with Beat in the background).




The Theatre group
midday/01H00 PM

Not every "actor" showed up on time, as the timetable was changed, but not to misuse the "precious" time we need to get it prepared, the actors switched roles and  so we rehearsed the piece without too many problems. I was extremely surprised with the fact that everyone seemed to know what was to be said and when, which means they know the theatrical piece from inside out, which  in turn will help them to act the way I need them to.

The Carnival parade

Soon after lunch, following an idea Gehrard Schellman had launched earlier in the year, Carnival groups were to parade in front of the Schellman's in Carnival outfits,  dancing to original music played by themselves in what would be a Carnival parade competition, subject to an evaluation as in accordance to pre-defined parametres. Up to five prizes will be later awarded

We all gathered at the Schellman's esplanade anxiously awaiting the arrival of the potential "candidates" to the prizes. As the official "opening hour" approached we had the opportunity to watch what looked  and sounded like a fairly well organized group, whose elements were mostly Benedita's family members. I got so enthusiastic that I just filmed this first group, not having taken a single photo.

A second group, this time from the school was to follow, this time  headed by a few of the Escola Velhinho  Rodrigues' teachers (the headmaster included).

The second Carnival group.





As after the second group there was an elapsed time in which no other group paraded and having only part of the afternoon free before the English class Marie Hélène and I headed towards Veneza, so that I could show her a bit of the surrounding area, once we have mostly been at ADEC and the walking to and back from Sibylle's takes just a few minutes.

On the way to Veneza

The "ship building yard" under a tree on the way to Veneza (Left). Calheta de São Miguel bay (Right).

Veneza

The "new" High School (Left). The "old" remains of a building (Right).

Veneza is something of a  "ghost" like city, if we move inward, as most of the houses are uncomplete and  the greyish colour of the  bricks is somewhat "frightful" ... nevertheless the joy of the children does make a difference ... and before we headed back to Calheta, I called in at someone I had met in 2009, just to check how she was ... (the main  difference was the number of grandchildren she has now ... and she is younger than me!!! ...)

The English class group

06H00/08H00

I have today been told by some of the girls that because of it being "Cinzas" (Ashes day) tomorrow, which plays an important part in the family relationships, none of the girls will be around, so we have today started working on response "strategies" taking advantage of prompts. I have also handed them an extract on the musical achievements of an African musician, anticipating they might be asked some questions on the music and musical scenario in Cape Verde, as the wide variety of Cape Verdean musical genres is well known abroad and so are artists like Cize, Tcheka, Mario Lucio and others. The handed out text might eventually provide them with some ideas, to further expand from, and even adapt to the Cape Verdean reality.

I don't feel that tired today, but as I have a long day ahead tomorrow, I 'd better have dinner and go to bed afterwards ...

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde - The morning of the fourth day (The 8th of March 2011)

Calheta de São Miguel, Cape Verde

Tuesday, 8th of March 2011

Because today is Carnival I shall only be working for 7 hours (5 in the morning and 2 in the evening). Some of the children, particularly those who reside in the neighbouring village called Veneza, won't be around, once the school Carnival parade has been programmed for today.

The "Arts and Crafts" group 2
08H00/10H00

I was surprised to realise that most girls have come, so many of them have managed to finish their first "Art works". One or two of them may not necessarily have shown to have artistic or fine motricity skills, yet I loved the way they proudly showed  what they had achieved, irrespective of the "Art projects" not looking that well coloured.
Part of this may have to do with their own personal characteristics, school habits which encourage them to finish things quickly and even the fact that many of them are touching these artistic materials for the first time. One shouldn't forget that colouring pencils were not considered "necessary", nor included in school activities in Cape Verde.

Erica (Left) and Joceline (Right) with their finished velvet paintings.

Eunice (Left) and Artemisa (Right) with their finished velvet paintings.

Eunice de Jesus (Left) and Mena (Right) with their finished velvet paintings.

Filomena (Left) and Maria de Jesus (Right) wih their dot numbered and coloured pencil drawings.

Because the puzzle and some of the Artistic projects this year are  worldwide fairy tale and children of the world related, some of the girls have already started colouring paper dolls from Africa, India and Japan. They seem to have really enjoyed this activity, as apart from colouring they were also entitled to select some decorating stickers to embelish the original designed dolls.

Rivia (Left) wih her coloured Indian doll. Simone (Right) with her coloured Japanese doll.

Josefine with her coloured African doll.

The "Goldilocks and the three bears" story was once again much appreciated by the children who followed every move happening "on stage".

Listening to the story enthusiastically (Left).
Touching the scenario and its characters (Right).







I really enjoyed these two hours ... and so did they (I am sure ...).

(To be continued)