丸ごと食べてみる、マッチで火を点ける、焚き火を起こす、缶切りを使う、果物の皮を剥く。そんな体験がこどもたちの日常生活から無くなっています。もちろん、オール電化の家が増え、缶切りがいらない缶詰が圧倒的になった現代社会では、必要がない体験であるという意見もあります。しかしながら、昨今の災害多発状況を鑑みると、これらの体験は、しておくことがまさかの時に役立つ可能性があります。近頃のこどもはマッチの日をつけることもできないと嘆くよりは、体験の機会を創造することに力を入れるほうが良いと思い、今回の活動をデザインしました。
こどもたちひとりひとりにマッチ箱を手渡し、どうすれば怖くなく、熱くなくマッチに火をつけることができるかを考えた後、思い思いに点火。最初は恐る恐るでしたが、徐々に慣れて、最後には上手にひとりで点火できるようになりました。火起こしも、缶切りも同様です。要は使う必要がないから、使わない。その結果、未経験の事柄が多くなり、「無理、できない！」という発言につながるのだと思います。英会話も同じこと。失敗を恐れず、使い続けるうちに、自然に自信がついてきます。２学期はより留学生の参加を増やしていきますので、ぜひともご期待ください。
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Lighting up a fire with match, opening a can with screwdriver or making a fire to have a barbecue etc which should have been considered as basic living skills, however, for these who have already been accustomed to the convenient lifestyle—making a fire easily by a lighter, buying can without using screwdriver or having a wonderful barbecue in a restaurant, not to mention the kids, how many of these so-called basic things could be really done by our adults stills arouses a question. Therefore, the purpose of today’s activity was to allow children to experience and train these basic survival skills. At first, they appeared frightened and afraid of lighting up a fire with match by themselves. But after they had been told it is safe and several trials made by leaders, they became calm down and eagerly to do it on their own. In the following process of making a fire in barbecue, after they had been told the conditions of burning which consist of heat, oxygen and fuel, they began to collect various materials—-newspaper, coal, woods and each of them actively took an active role in the process. Finally, after having a wonderful barbecue meal, they were told to use screwdriver to open up cans. Under the intense stimulation of eating delicious dessert, they tried their best to make it in various methods. Though a little bit time was taken, it was worthwhile opportunity to let them know the process of gaining food by themselves. The essence of life is to enjoy and love life, however, the majority of people are too busy with their life to do it. Actually, one of the best and easiest ways is returning back to the nature and learning how to make things with our own hands. Only through the process of making things by ourselves can we feel the true joyfulness and excitement.
今回は１学期最後の活動でしたので、今までに使ったフレーズを覚えているかどうかを確認しながら半日過ごしました。Helloではなく、Hi!、My name is ～ではなく、I’m ～.これはもう定着しました。またMay I have ～?やWould you ～というフレーズ、I have a problem here.という言い回しも使えるようになっている気がします。２学期に向けて、ますます英語も楽しんでいきたいと思っています。元気でお過ごしください。 いずみん
