सूरजआग लगाए रे,
धरती तपती जाये,
गर्मी के दिन आये ।
Our young children of Pre Primary and Primary years merrily sing songs and welcome the hot summer days. Their day routines continue to involve both outdoor and indoor engagements. They cater to their Oorja needs at the beginning of the school day when it is much cooler. An exercise planned under the shade of a tree sees them involved enthusiastically in the physical challenge that it offers.
The themes and experiences give them opportunities to develop a sense of enquiry about the weather at this time of the year. “Why has this crayon become soft when I kept it outside?”, “Slide अभी गर्म है! Morning में गर्म नहीं होती। ", “Oh! Don't touch the gate. It is very hot”.
Exploring ways of keeping themselves cool, they indulge in ‘water play’ and relishing different summer fruits with gay abandon. Looking for cooler places to play in during ‘Choice Time’ sees them naturally gravitate towards the sandpit or choosing to be indoors.
Our children look at the flora and fauna around them as an extension of themselves. When they are feeling hot, they will lend a thought to the plants, trees, ants, the rabbit and other creatures in their midst. Leaving bird baths and feeders for their avian friends, watering the small plants and setting up shades for them with didi’s help are some things they do compassionately.
While adults around them insist that they stay indoors, our young friends learn to respond to their body rhythms and choose their engagements accordingly. For them summer time is a time for “A lot of fun!”