The "Wild Wednesday" learning journey of our Grade 1 boys

The Ateneo de Manila Grade School’s Grade One boys had a “wild” Wednesday during their Learning Journey last February 1, 2023 at the Singson Hall. 

The fun day was made possible by the grade level’s special guests, namely, the animal experts from Wildlife Matters. Together with her team, Teacher Jazz Torres-Ong started the session by sharing interesting facts about various animals.

This was followed by an engaging activity that saw the Grade 1  boys excitedly trying to look for the animals that camouflaged themselves in pictures shown on the big screen. It was a challenging game that had both students and teachers actively participating.

The students were then introduced to five fascinating animals. These creatures are normally perceived to be scary, but the boys learned that these animals can be friendly, too. To help prove this, some of the Grade One teachers were able to come up the stage for a close encounter with the animals. The students enjoyed guessing what the animals were that came to visit them by using the clues given as each one was introduced.

The first creature the boys encountered was the iguana. Some students thought it was scary because it had the fierce looks of a dinosaur. The teachers who got to touch the iguana, however, proved this wrong as they described how it felt to hold it, and showed everyone how calm the animal is.

The next animal the boys saw was smaller than the iguana. The gecko that the Wildlife Matters team brought was so small and cute, it could actually fit into someone’s pocket!

The highlight of the Learning Journey was meeting the next two reptiles that visited the school. The students were in awe as they saw a boa constrictor and a python being brought to the stage by the Wildlife Matters team. Some of the members of the audience, including the teachers, seemed to be a bit uneasy upon seeing these animals. However, they learned that these reptiles shouldn’t be feared. They were also taught what they can do in case they encounter a snake in the future.

The last two special visitors were somewhat more tame than the first ones that were introduced. Two parrots were brought to the stage, and the students saw how curious the birds were about their new environment. One bird even spent the entire morning up on the ceiling of Singson Hall as it observed the Grade One students having a good time. The boys who attended the afternoon session were  luckier to see both parrots up close during their Learning Journey.

After meeting the various animals and listening to the informative talk, some students were asked to play a game to see how well they listened. The Grade One students showed that they paid attention and learned a lot as they were able to finish the game quickly.

The boys were also given time to ask questions from the members of the Wildlife Matters team. It was amazing to hear the questions they asked and to hear the facts that they discovered.

The Grade One teachers would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Teacher Jazz Torres-Ong and the rest of the Wildlife Matters team for giving our Grade One boys such a fun-filled learning experience. It was truly a wild, wonderful Wednesday for everyone.