FLOWER POWER!!

The Shaloom Flower Garden!!

Since we are into our rainy season now in Mwanza, and we just planted our flowers, fruit and vegetables, I thought a crafty project along those lines would interest the students. Today we made flower masks! The children were very pleased with the idea and, as usual, did their very best to make their families proud. To save time, and to lessen the chaos that inevitably arises during our craft time, I prepared some of the materials ahead of time. I cut the eye holes in the paper plates and cut out the flower petals, but the children colored their own faces on the paper plates and glued on all of their petals. We used our homemade glue (flower and water), which is really great! Even if the children try to eat it, it won't hurt them. It's healthier than eating pencils and erasers, which they often do.

A few of the children usually walk to the dala-dala (small bus) with me after we close the school each day, so of course, today they all walked together with their masks on. We heard plenty of comments from people of all ages! The children really enjoyed that! I thought the boys might feel a little silly with "flower" masks on but the boys enjoyed it just as much as the girls! 

Update on our planting project... 

Four of the children were absent the day we planted so last week they were able to catch up with the rest of us and get their watermelon seeds in the soil! 

Jeremia, Mwaju and Aglipina

Justina

Our Shaloom gardeners

As of today, Sept. 9th, almost half of the "planters" have little sprouts starting! We're so excited! I hope they continue to grow so no one will be disappointed.