Day 5: Last Day at the Viillage School

Time flies when we're having fun! And the same can be said as we reach our final day of CIP at the Phong Thanh Primary School ): But as usual, not even the prospect of being the last day teaching and helping the kids could dampen our moods!

Right after breakfast, all of us quickly headed on to the school, feeling that we had to make full use of our last day with the school.

The construction team today were rushing about trying to finish painting the interiors of the classroom a bright and cheery yellow.

Even the kids joined in the fun of painting!

Charmaine, Lay Ling and Shuyu painting the insides of the classroom as a team.

What is Li Sha doing here???! But she still looks cheerful as ever haha

On the other hand, the teaching team today had a special Science lesson for the children (the past 3 days were English lessons). The theme for the day was The Human Body, and how else could we start the lesson than with a session of Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes!! This classic kindergarten song was perfect for introducing the main body parts to the eager kids, complete with hand actions. Besides, not only was this a song, it also served as a game whereby the slowest student to sing the song had to do a forfeit alongside those who lost the Simon Says game!

Mr Bryan teaching the kids about the different body parts using the blackboard!

Tham and Le Uyen from the V team getting cosy with the kids as well.

As part of the human body lesson, the team also prepared 2 sets of human bodies! Of course not real human bodies, they are actually paper bodies connected to an electronic circuit. The aim of this activity was for the kids the perform a "surgery" on the bodies based on different scenarios such as "heartattack" and "leg cramps". As part of this "surgery", students had to remove red beans from the various holes in the body without touching the "flesh" (sides) of the body! One someone touches the "flesh", the body's nose would light up, indicating that he has died. Innovative right? This game was definitely a hit with all the children, who were all eager to get their hands on the contraption but the surprise of the day was that they all knew how to take turns, and let others have their share of the game. Good job kids!

Can you spot the human body?

After such a fun morning of teaching and construction, we then headed back to the commune for a special lunch today! Actually, whilst majority of the COR members went down to the school to help out, some members stayed behind to clean the quarters, and also to cook a special Singaporean lunch! All of us were especially excited as traditional Singaporean favourites Curry Chicken and Teochew Noodles were prepared with lots of love by the cooking team. This opportunity served as a food exchange, for the V team and other Vietnamese volunteers to get a taste of Singapore.

 Hard at work putting together the Teochew Noodles for lunch! Can you see the sweat on Eelin's brows?!

After lunch, the more exciting segment began. The teaching team brought a whole box of Minitoons-sponsored Loom Bands for the children to make their own rings, bracelets and necklaces. They were truly excited as many of them has never made one before! Some of them even made bracelets for us, as a symbol of precious friendship. I still keep them in my box of treasures in my cupboard today! Others made them for themselves or their siblings at home. Even the boys in the class were excited at this activity and participated excitedly (probably to give to their girl friends....? HAHA)

Jimmy and Yining teaching their students how to make Minitoons Loom Bands.

Eagerly and intensely making Minitoons Loom Band Bracelets.

Aishah and her super fast student, who made 3 Minitoons loom band bracelets!

The last teaching session ended off with a gift session, whereby we gave out items sponsored by Pilot, LollyTalk, and Minitoons. In the end, all the children left happily with pens, packets of sweets, water bottles and more packs of loom bands to make more jewelry with (and also memories made with the COR members hehe).

Excited kids getting ready to receive their gifts!

Remember to say "Cảm On" (Vietnamese for 'Thank You') when receiving some LollyTalk hard candy!

Posing happily with their Minitoon bottles and Lollytalk candy. Look at their wide smiles!

Choosing a black coloured Pilot pen from the various colours as sponsored.

Loots of the day hehe

Group photo of today's class of teachers and students!

The day ended off with another Singaporean meal of... FRIED PRAWN PASTE CHICKEN, ABC soup and oyster sauce vegetables from the cooking team for dinner. The dishes really reminded us of a good old zichar back at home. Thanks cooking team for today's meals! (and also stealing the Aunt Chef's job) And also, a round of cultural night performance practice, in preparation for the next day's showcase at the Phong Thanh School! Can't wait for tomorrow!

Cheng Ni, Zhen Siang, Steven and Eeling helping marinate the hundred plus chicken wings in preparation for the PRAWN PASTE CHICKEN YUMS