Week 4: Tallos school - 2nd Visit

In the meantime between visits to the school I met with the principal at my host's home. We discussed the school, how it operated and other subjects concerning education in Slovakia. It was all very interesting and I was invited back on Wednesday 29th, to see their Arts and Craft day.
So I had 9 days and since I was living in an apartment next to a capentry, I asked my host Ferko to make a cricket bat. I gave him a drawing and by Wednesday it was ready.

Ferko got the sweet spot wrong - it is too high and the toe is too long. We cut is back a bit and rounded the corners. For a one-piece bat, it turned out ok.

Profile view - about 1.5 cm edge and 50 cm long.

 So I went back to the school around 10 am and forgot to take the bat with me :( Thanks to Juci, who went back home to retrieve it.

The Art and Craft day was what I expected - basically paper work on a few themes with about 10 tables and some sit-down groups as well as a school band of sorts.

Simple cut and glue with the younger students.

Face painting

Love heart pillows being made here.

 After picture taking, I thought a bit, borrowed some coloured paper and made one of those 'selectors' that you can operate with your fingertips. Each corner having a number, underneath a colour and beneath a fold an instruction. One child was very curious and I tried it out, showing him what to do. I gave it to him and in about 5 mins I had a few of them surround me. I demonstrated how to fold the paper to my English teacher who quickly got the idea, writing English phrases like 'Skip 3 times' etc.

My English teacher helping out.

So as I was travelling around, I bumped into this bored group below:
I said "That's a really valuable activity!"
Answer: "Sure but take notice that it's giant lego blocks so we won't choke on them!"

The big boys taking time out with giant lego!

Paper folding - This is where I took a sheet of paper for my 'Selector'.

Making 3d figurines from cardboard - Band in the background.

Bead work

The mother spoke to me saying that her boy (next to her) was very impressed with my demonstration. The girl at the end was also in the class.

This a an almost complete congratulatory card for a student's graduation.

Decorating paper cups is the go here.

The band has a video that I put here later.

The finished cricket bat below: I wrapped green and gold electrical tape around the handle which happens to be the colours of Australia.

I took any volunteers outside to teach them cricket. I got a garbage bin, set it up on some concrete and started to show them how to bowl. We got maybe 15 mins outside when it started to rain and we had to call it off, but not before some kids got a few good hits!

I sure had a good time and Tallos was a great experience for me. In the end I gave the English teacher a USB of Australian pics and videos that I didn't have time to show. She also got the cricket ball, bat, vegemite and the pics I had printed out. After an exchange of emails, we said goodbye with a hug.

The English teacher and support teacher just before I left.

Nice kids, a great school!

Next post: My hosts, around the farm and workshop.