As I stepped into the classroom, an empty class with just one kid greeted me, and I knew I had 10 minutes before recess ends and the kids stream in. I started to set up my makey makey gadget buzzer activity. Soon there were rows of thinsulated wires everywhere, running from the makey board hanging out of my laptop and terminating in real whole fruits - bananas, oranges, apples and guavas.
The class soon filled with the animated chatter of 6th and 7th graders, their faces beaming with anticipation as they trooped in. Today's agenda? A musical quiz, a classic "guess the musical instrument" game but the real attraction was going to be a mad science experiment. The room was adorned with wires and fruit, and my anticipation matched that of the learners'.
The best-laid plans sometimes take unexpected turns. As I unveiled the fruit-based buzzers, the initial excitement soared. But alas, my ambition soon faced technical hiccups. Wires snapped, terminals criss-crossed, fruit popped out of the conducting alligator clips, and melted into confusion. Plan B came into force. Abandoning the ethereal electronic buzzer, I assigned students to teams, each representing their respective house colors – blue, green, red, and yellow. It was an impromptu decision borne out of necessity. It would transform the dynamics of the entire session.
The first clue spread through the room and suddenly, the reigning chaos transformed into enquiry. Each team huddled together, conspiring on their next audio clue. The competition became a collaborative effort, each house passionately defending their answers.
The classroom came alive with the spirit of friendly rivalry. In the end, the failure of the electronic buzzer system turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The impromptu teams under house colors added a dimension of camaraderie and teamwork that I hadn't planned. It wasn't just about guessing the instruments anymore; it was about rallying with your housemates. The class ended after some 10 distinct instruments were identified and their sound and science discussed. The energy and excitement lingered.
An alternate classroom is where learning takes place beyond any specified subject or concept. It is driven by spontaneity, buoyed by curiosity, resilient to failure and rewarded by the experience. Thanks to a failed electronic experiment and a kaleidoscope of house-colored teamwork multiple boxes were checked this time.
