On 27 and 28 September 2005, Yangzheng Primary had our first-ever P5 SPCA Project Mini-exhibition. This was the culmination of a series of activities originally conceived with the academic objective of making the teaching and learning of text-types (as required by MOE's revised EL Syllabus 2001) a more meaningful process for both our pupils and teachers. But . . . along the way, our pupils (and teachers) experienced heart-stirring moments and our pupils especially, learnt some valuable lessons in life, in particular, that of living and caring for their pets, and the animals around us.
The whole process started when our school contacted the SPCA to look into the possibility of collaboration on such a project. Imagine our elation when Ms Selina Sebastian, the Education Officer from the SPCA, graciously replied, expressing her pleasure at working with us on the project. This warm and welcoming response from her sparked off the conceptualisation of the whole series of activities our pupils will be undertaking for the next 2 terms as planning gained momentum. A time-line was drawn up (detailing milestone dates in which certain teaching must be completed to equip our pupils with the knowledge and skills to move on to the next stage of their project), and our teachers helped source for and shared materials for use in the classrooms.
After the teachers had hyped up excitement for the project with their pupils, our pupils themselves had to start the ball rolling by writing their letters to the SPCA to request for a talk to be conducted in the school. Imagine their excitement and delight on the day they received an email from Ms Sebastian, graciously consenting to come to the school to give the talk. Their letters had actually been opened and read by someone who then went on to reply to them! This had never happened before for don't they all know that their writing pieces were all seen and marked by who else, but their teachers? So, honouring her words, Ms Sebastian came - she came equipped with her slides, prizes for a quiz and a surprise for the pupils which she had hinted at in her reply to them.
That day, 8 April 2005, there was a buzz of excitement in the hall as the P5 pupils listened attentively (some classes had even taken along their notepads and pens to take notes), participated in the quiz and waited with bated breath for the revelation of the surprise promised them. They were soon introduced to a little white and brown bunny, selected for this occasion because of her sociable nature. The pupils adored her! That day, everyone had the opportunity to go on stage to stroke the bunny, and for some, this could possibly be the first time they touched a rabbit. However, it wasn't all smiles that day as teachers and pupils also listened to heartrending stories involving old, sickly or mistreated pets, and their owners who callously left them to die at the SPCA. Our classes that sent thankyou emails to Ms Sebastian after her visit were once again pleasantly surprised to receive a return email from the SPCA. Again, Ms Sebastian had taken the time to read their emails and responded warmly.
Soon came the trip to the SPCA. Our pupils had the opportunity to visit the pound to interact with some of the animals there. It was great joy for us teachers (and Ms Sebastian herself) who excitedly beckoned to me to snap shots of our 'adorable' pupils adoring the animals with literally, wide-eyed excitement and delight, on the day I 'ventured into' the pound (for the first time). That same day, our pupils had the opportunity to play with the animals in their cages. And play they did - with the animals' balls and toys - in their cages, while the animals watched them patiently from outside their cages, also with equally wide-eyed amazement!
Finally came the day for the P5 SPCA Project Mini-exhibition. It was heartening (and amusing) to discover a few teachers (and some of their pupils) fussing around their exhibition panels early in the morning even though their pupils (and themselves!) had already started work on the panels 2 days before, and for some, even earlier. This included the repositioning of a table or box, the addition of some words, etc. to ensure everything was 'perfect' before the exhibition opened at 10.30 a.m. for the P4 and 5 pupils who shared the same recess. As one teacher confided to me sheepishly, "I saw the other panels so nicely done up, so I had to do something . . . I'm kiasu."
The school's Concourse area where the exhibition was held was a buzz of excitement during recess. Pupils streamed in to look at the exhibits, and participate in the activities like quizzes and animal puzzles organized and planned by the pupils themselves. Others pledged to be kind to animals by putting their signatures in a book, or showed their support for the SPCA in its bid to take care of unwanted animals by buying the merchandise on sale at the booth set up. This booth was manned by a teacher who had volunteered to help out and a group of P5 prefects. All these took place amidst the buzz and even calls (through loudhailers) by a group of self-appointed "SPCA ambassadors" to join the SPCA as volunteers!! Silence ruled again when recess ended. Tables were dutifully returned to the sides and panels were neatly pushed to the sides for pupils from the other levels and in the afternoon session to view the exhibits.
The 2-day (1/2-hour manned) exhibition soon came to a close. Our P5 pupils (of all ability) had the opportunity to showcase their works - which included writing of different text-types - and take pride in what they had accomplished individually, as a team, and as a class. A total of $548 was collected through the sale of SPCA merchandise, and the other pupils milling around the display panels also had the opportunity to learn about kindness to animals. What's more, I learnt that some of our pupils had been seen visiting the pound on their own initiative and playing with the animals there.
The project has achieved its objectives . . . and much, much more. It is my wish that the fire kindled within our pupils - especially our P5 pupils who had undertaken this project -to show kindness to and protect our animals, especially the strays roaming our streets, will continue to burn within them. Thank you, Ms Sebastian and the SPCA, for giving us this opportunity, in our small ways, to show that we CARE.
Ms.Grace Foong
Primary 5 teacher |
