Walking Wednesday: The Paper Clip Activity
Today began bright and early with breakfast at 8:30 AM. We gathered in our breakfast rooms and enjoyed a hearty meal to kickstart our day.
After breakfast, we dove straight into our lessons, which were filled with creativity and imagination. One of the lessons’ objectives was to create skits based on different movie genres. It was a fantastic exercise in teamwork and creative thinking. Next, we stepped into the roles of travel agents. This activity required us to practice making itineraries for various destinations. Pretending to be travel agents allowed us to explore cultures and places in an enriching and educational way. We also played a conversation game based on self-reported cultural facts. Each of us shared interesting tidbits about our own cultures, and we used these facts as a foundation for engaging discussions. This game not only helped us learn more about each other's backgrounds but also fostered a sense of appreciation and understanding for the diverse cultures represented in our camp. Next, the students presented the poems they had written about their peers the previous day. Each student took the stage, sharing their thoughtful and imaginative verses. As they read their poems, the room filled with a sense of appreciation and admiration. The students complimented each other's writing styles, highlighting unique elements and creative choices. Our final lesson of the day was an "All About Me" drawing and presentation. We each created a drawing that represented our personalities, interests, and dreams. After finishing our artwork, we took turns presenting our drawings to the group, explaining the significance behind each element and the common interests they discovered when discussing with their partner. This activity was a wonderful way to express ourselves and learn more about our fellow campers on a deeper level.
The students then went for lunch at the SAIT cafeteria to enjoy a wide range of food such as delicious soup, various sides with vegetables and porchetta sandwiches for another hearty meal.
Finally, we shifted our focus to the "Paper Clip Activity." The students engaged enthusiastically in creating questions they would love to ask during this trading exercise. We utilized the 5 W's (Who, What, When, Where, and Why) to guide their thinking and structure their questions. As the students brainstormed and refined their questions, they became more confident in their ability to approach different houses and engage in trading items. The students then travelled house to house to complete the “Paper Clip Activity”. Residents of Calgary enthusiastically participated and traded various items with the students such as paintings, books, board games, movies and gift bundles. It was such an incredible opportunity for teachers and students alike to get to know the residents of Calgary and simultaneously refine their English and communication skills.
Finally, the students went to Boston Pizza for dinner, where they enjoyed a hearty meal of pasta and garlic bread and headed back to SAIT for an evening of boardgames. The total amount of steps we completed was admirable and the memories made from the “Paper Clip Activity” was something everyone will remember for the rest of their lives!
