Tony and Laurie-Ann were invited by Carica and Louis Le Grange to be part of a Legacy Skills transfer pilot project, which started at Worcester Primary School in May 2019. Carica is interviewing other residents of Hooggelegen Retirement Village, where the Copples live. Tony volunteered to share music, Laurie-Ann art. Yet there may be more transferable skills, including sharing our faith. We found the grade one learners and their teacher very welcoming. They had a genuine sense of awe and wonder at L-A's artwork, and were excited when L-A shared that she would give teacher the colour sheets for her to copy. That meant all the kids could colour them later on.
They were eager to sing and to learn from other stories that arose from song lyrics and from drawing topics. For example, when L-A showed her drawing on Sutherland, she shared about how the stars look big and bright under dark skies, and about the huge SALT telescope on the hill she drew. So they got a mini-science lesson as well as art, music and Christian faith. We are thankful for the opportunity to love and encourage these kids in creativity and learning. We will resume after our home visit, in July 2019.
They were eager to sing and to learn from other stories that arose from song lyrics and from drawing topics. For example, when L-A showed her drawing on Sutherland, she shared about how the stars look big and bright under dark skies, and about the huge SALT telescope on the hill she drew. So they got a mini-science lesson as well as art, music and Christian faith. We are thankful for the opportunity to love and encourage these kids in creativity and learning. We will resume after our home visit, in July 2019.
On our return in July 2019, the learners got right into colouring after learning about plants in science and singing songs with the Copples.
This week after music and science, L-A was asked to share the story of ONE drawing. She picked "The Tree of Life is Love" - which was drawn within the context of soaking prayer, with our teen leaders from My Father's House Worcester. The model was Bella, one of our girls. L-A shared the story and invited the learners to add their own inspiration to the drawing - hearts, flowers, people, angels, footprints, whatever was within their hearts. This was all done to the background of soaking prayer music. Next week, we have permission for the learners to draw their OWN inspired drawings. The week after that, we may skip to geography and learn about Canada (and maple leaves)!
The following week (July 30th), Tony taught about flowers following the light, and seeds growing up. We sang, and L-A led the kids in drawing their OWN inspired drawings. Not all had a picture in their minds and hearts, but it was a start. Those who drew this way felt their hearts were unleashed. Some drew rainbows. Liam drew Adam and Eve with angels. One boy drew an angel saving someone's life. A girl drew elephants walking in a chain of love. Some drew crosses, others Jesus. And some copied. That's ok. Sometimes when you don't get a picture, it is completely okay to draw something or someone in the room.
On August 6th, L-A wasn't able to attend, since she was in Mediclinic hospital being treated for mastitis (which is still bring treated out of hospital). The teachers and learners both missed her, so made a project to make cards and give Rolo chocolate. Tony taught science as normal, and played some extra songs with the kids, playing L-A's shakers as well as her bodhran (Irish drum). The girl Tony chose knew her beats and did well. Then Tony played the learners an encouraging message to them from L-A via his phone and a speaker. They continued to make get-well cards. Afterwards, Tony took the cards to L-A, which were deeply loved.
On August 13th, L-A thanked the children for their love, cards and prayers. We sang, Tony taught on the solar system, and L-A switched topics from art to geography: continents, oceans, and Canada. This naturally led to stories of maple trees, how maple syrup and candy are made and about maple leaves. There was a contest to win four Canadian flags, but all received a Canada sticker and a maple syrup candy. Some kids asked L-A to bring back colouring for the next week, which we will do, before we return to Soaking prayer drawing.
On August 20th, L-A loved on the children while Tony set up for music. She told them that she would have a surprise for them about angels and that by request, they were going to colour. They were so excited. More and more of them are responding in love to both L-A and Tony. We enjoyed singing, where one of the teachers helped the children with the actions to "Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord." Tony shared that he messaged the composer, Paul Baloche with the news that this song was very much loved here in South Africa. Paul was delighted. Then Tony taught on the earth and the moon, and the simple science behind eclipses. He used a head lamp to simulate the sun's rays. Then we had art. L-A shared that sometimes when the eyes of our hearts are opened, we can see the angels, who are sent to help protect us and take care of us. God gave them this job to do. L-A read a simple version of Psalm 91 slowly and then shared two recent angel drawings for the kids to colour - with the encouragement and permission to add their own hearts, angels and the like. One boy coloured the background yellow, which excited L-A, since that's the colour of glory - and heaven is filled with glory and light. Next week, we return to soaking prayer drawing. After that, perhaps a group project of a painting together.
On August 27, L-A wasn't well so Tony continued art by having the learners continue colouring, but also drawing on their own. We believed that some were struggling and needed to learn about Christian symbols so it would be easier to express themselves. The following Tuesday, September 3, L-A and Tony read scriptures and stories while they drew symbols on a white board. This was followed up on September 10th, where Tony projected sketches of symbols for the learners to copy via the projector. This went so well that they made their OWN versions of the symbols! We followed up on the Christian and personal symbols over the rest of September, until we got to the spring break before term 4.
On October 8th, we began a group project using a 30 x 40 inch canvas and donated watercolour paint pencils. The learners were divided into four groups, and groups 1 and 2 coloured in their quadrants of the canvas. They will use two art sessions to fill in the quandrants with watercolour pencil, and L-A will embellish at home. Week three will transform the paint pencil into watercolour paint using water spray, brushes, salt and paper towel. L-A did a demonstration on how the paint can react to the water, to oohs and aahs. They understand that they will get to draw their very own symbols in their group quandrants, and in time, by the end of the term, they will have a beautiful group painting, where everyone will have a part, including Tannie L-A. We continued with adding water to turn the pencil into paint, then adding their personal Christian symbols, and L-A embellished them. Here is the final result, which we unveiled on the last day of school at the end of November 2019:
Pictures by Louis LeGrange or Tony/L-A Copple