Follow your dreams Clare Family Resource Centre I noticed the children were building with the blocks and I listened as they discussed mountains and how big they were. I have mountains beside my house and my mammy named me after a mountain said Callan. Me and my daddy climb up the mountain all the time I asked if he had heard about the man from Clare who was climbing the biggest mountain in the world which goes up past the clouds. No mountain is that big said Callan. Recognising the potential learning opportunity, I printed pictures of Mr. John s journey and of Everest itself. Wow said Callan that s way bigger than my mountain, and it has snow. All the children then became curious about Everest. We spoke about how this has been Mr. Johns dream since he was a little boy and asked the children if they had a dream for when they grow up. I might climb Everest too said Callan. Maybe we could build our own Everest from our junk box suggested Sean. great idea said Tadgh. We got a sheet of paper and began to spider map what we would need. We had suggestions about making tools, ice, and snow. Zoe asked What kind of food would we eat. Lily wondered How do we climb the ice. We had a look on our ipad of videos of men climbing Everest and the children discussed how we would need a ladder, ropes and a pick for climbing. We discussed how cold it would be and what other types of weather he would come across. Does your mountain have ice Luke asked Callan. No replied Callan. Zoe said my mam will make us hot tea and buns everyone will love them. On the day we set up two tables, one for making the mountain and one for making all the things you would need to climb it. We provided lots of materials and invited the parents to get involved by bringing in any materials from home that would allow the children use their imagination in building Mount Everest. I m making a rope said Fionn. Why asked Jan. So he won t fall down replied Fionn.
Dawn I m making a ladder. It will have to be very long to get to the top. said Mary Jane I will help you Luke: I m gonna make snowflakes Dominic Cool, me too Tegan: My mam gave me plastic from my brother s buggy cos it will be ice Sean: Wow, it s too high to put snow on the top Zoe: I made an ice pick to smash up the ice To extend the children s learning we sat inside the tent and showed the children the vacuum packed food. I think I want Zoe s mom buns instead of this food said Aleisha we also had a bowl of ice and asked the children to hold a piece of ice for as long as they could so that they would get some idea of how cold it would be for Mr. John on Mount Everest.
Ada: Ahhh it s so cold Lily It s freezing Tadgh It s very squidgy Aleisha: how would you eat this kind of food Callan: we are real explorers now The Morning after Mr. John summited Mount Everest we were very excited. Our Manager Maureen came outside with the Clare Champion to show the children just how special and exciting it was that Mr. John Burke completed this climb as he was on the Front Page. We discussed again with the children what Mr. John meant by follow your dreams and what it means to feel proud of yourself. We watched the video of a speech by Mr. John talking about his climb and about how we should all follow our dreams.
The following day we revisited this activity by asking the children if they would like to draw their reflection on the day. I did my picture of Mr John smiling said Ella. Why is he smiling? I asked her coz he had a happy dream that came true We are hoping to meet Mr. John soon as he was very impressed by our mountain and has text to say he will visit us soon. Response from Mr. John Burkes wife Aoibhín Garrihy after sending pictures of our Mount Everest. Mr. John Came to Visit Mr. John Burke s visit to Clare Family Resource Centre on June 26 th, 2017.
Mr. John Burke presenting the Montessori class with a picture of Mount Everest. Callan presenting Mr. John Burke with our Learning Story Follow Your Dreams