Acting Justly, Loving Mercy and Walking Humbly: Playing in Preschool

Euranda Mwiinga (left) and Ruth Hachitema stringing beads at a fine motor skills center

I was invited to help out and mentor the teacher of the preschool at Hamoonde Basic School. Last year I had done a preschool teachers workshop for a group of about 15. I pretty much had to plan again and review what I had done for that. Good thing too as I’ve been asked to do the same workshop again during the term break coming up here in April for another 10 or so preschool teachers. It is the Brethren In Christ Church Children Development Center (BICC CDC) that has requested me to do this again for them. In turn I’ve asked the director to present the idea of a Child Protection Policy to the head teachers for the schools MCC funds through Global Family.

But back to the fun stuff! I had a great time planning some play based learning centers for Hamoonde preschool whose teacher asked for me to come do some teaching (mentoring through example) as well as meeting afterwards to do some mentoring. It was great because I got to show with children how play based learning can work in the classroom as well as answer questions and concerns about it afterwards. I was lucky as this class only has 16 students (only 13 that were actually there on Monday). I’m not sure what her reaction to it was or if she will do the learning centers again as it’s a big leap from what teachers are used to doing in Zambia. I left supplies so she can do at least some of the centers again (play dough, beading, building boxes, paint - which will only last a couple more days as it was homemade, coloured chalk, lacing card, and math games).

So, let me have the pictures do the rest of the talking. Especially since I forgot to take any photos when I did the last preschool workshop! (It’s more fun to see the kids instead of the teachers anyways!)