The grade nine learners of Penryn College recently experienced one of those days which gave rise to the truism that one’s days spent at school are indeed the best days of one’s life. Last Tuesday they visited Sudwala Caves on an outdoor integrated-learning excursion.
Each of the eight different tutor groups had the opportunity to participate in the different activities over the course of four fun-filled hours. A variety of subjects and skills were covered, and the pupils responded with enthusiasm and verve.
At one station the learners could make jewellery from beads and natural material such as seed pods. These modern Flintstones then practised their rock art on parchment using prehistoric colours and styles to illustrate their group identity. They had to motivate their choices of colour and drawings both in terms of the ancient art and how it represented their group.
Similar motivations were required at the floral art station where they used the grass, stones and, in one case, even water from their water bottles to trace a map of Africa or a massive Penryn badge.
A cheerful assembly of rappers also needed to incorporate words such as “stalactites” into their raps at the rock rap station.
Furthermore, the learners identified trees, lichens and different rock types; emulate a bat and identify a smell. They also enjoyed a tour of the caves guided by the very enthusiastic and informative Edwin who is based at the caves
Two days later each tutor group presented the aspects of the day in power point and performed their “rock raps”.
