Saavi 5 – workshop for teens - 29 June 2024

The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself. – Maria Montessori

Saavi 5 began with a wish to explore the connection between thoughts and hands. We designed an approach to take the participants to a journey whether they have an opportunity to make a connection between hands and how thoughts, emotions guide the actions in our everyday life. Each session was designed to build a layer to bring the connection between thinking and will.

Introduction

In the introduction session we spoke about meaning of the word “saavi”. Particpants shared their thoughts on the word “Key” and how it can open new doors in life. Then spoke about the rules for the day and the details of the physical space. Rules and orientation bring an ease to the participants.

We started a discussion about the pamphlet for this month session. This gave us an opportunity to discuss about how hands are connected to the thoughts. Participants were encouraged to share their experience where they felt their actions were guided by their thoughts or emotions. One of the participants spoke about how we use our hands during anger or happy. Other participants shared about how we feel frozen or our hands tremble during fear. They were also able to share and connect with their experiences in own life.

Session 1 – Plants or Rain

               We gave participants a choice between Plants and Rain. This time all the participants chose plants as the topic for the day. We made a mind map together using plants as the central topic. Students came up with a vast list of topics which they like to explore. One of the students said that there are also many possibilities to create products using plants.

               The idea was to explore a naturally available material and create a product using it. WE chose to make a coconut shell planter and fabric hanger. Many participants had prior experience of working with coconut shell.

As a facilitator I had a question “Whether students lose interest as they already knew how to do it?”. But it was other way around, students enjoyed the process more as they knew the material well and helped each other. Students made the planter in an hour and it was time for creating a plant hanger.

               The idea was to use an old saree to make the ropes and do macrame knots. As the ropes came out lengthy it created an opportunity to divide the lengthy thread into 6 equal pieces. This brought the question “how to split a lengthy rope into 6 equal pieces?” Students tried different ways some made 8 strips, some 4. What started as a handwork session became a mathematical exploration. Each one of them tried many different ways, yet it was challenging to split into 6 without using measuring instruments.

               AS a facilitator all I was telling myself is to hold myself so that they can find their own ways. Many times I feel simple things make life interesting and challenging, It is not the things we know but how we do it brings the joy of doing. After we made the ropes, it was a real challenge to make the knot at equal distances.

It took an hour to make the planter as they need to redo the knots many times. In the process many discussions came about knots and where it is used and also about flower braiding. One of the students said she would go back home and practice flower braiding.

Once we made the planters, we went to our terrace garden and chose a plant. Students planted the chosen plants in their own planters. At the end of the session few of them were so happy and expressed their joy though a short song and dance.

Session 2 – Plant observation

Plant observation

The idea of this session is to introduce participants to observe a plant and write a nature journal about it.  The Participants need to choose a plant from the terrace garden, plant it in the planner and use the plant for observation. Participants need to write about the plant and draw the plant as well. Participants were given a time of 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, each participant shared their work and also about the process. Though few students faced struggle in sitting in a place and being quite, they were able to observe more than they thought they know about the plant. One of the participants shared that the colors looked different than she was thinking about it before. Another one said there is so many lines I never noticed before.

Session 3 – Seminar

In this session we explored a short text on Emotions and its connection to language.  The author spoke about the importance of emotions and its connection to language. Participants were able to 

During the sharing session, participants were able to share about their own emotions and some words they use frequently during a particular time or feelings.

Session 4 – Journal

With the heads up in session 3, we all sat together to explore Rose, bud, thorn journal. Participants were introduced to the way of journalling and writing the journal for the last week. Participants need to identify a rose moment, thorn moment and bud moment in the last week.

Initially participants struggled to identify or recall moments in last week. But after few moments they felt they were not able to stop the list.

Session 5 – Hand clap Skit

Skit presentation

This time we want to work together as a team and try something new. So, we proposed the idea of practicing hand clap with rhythm. Together we watched a skit and decided to make our own rhythm. Participants made a simple gesture with hand claps. They were very excited to practice and present the skit along with their peers.

Today’s reflection

Initially we felt the idea of planter as a very simple idea. But when we made it along with the students’ we were able to see how much they struggled to make a knot. This brought us to think about taking up simple ideas and working with students.

Similarly, the text about the emotions set the stage for the journalling session. Participants were able to connect to the journalling activity more because of the reading seminar and the journalling session led to deeper discussion about the session. This helped us to understand the importance or possibility to connect a reading text and a hands-on work together.

Finally, the hand clap skit brought out the importance of music, rhythm and the necessity to try new ideas. Participants were enthusiastic to work together as a team and it was wonderful to watch them help each other in the process.