As the sun blazed down and the school closed for summer break, a sense of excitement filled the air. Summer Sunshine, a week-long camp, a place where days were packed with laughter, learning, and a dash of the unexpected, designed to blend fun outdoor activities with enriching educational experiences was organised for the students of classes IV & V of DPS Dwarka from Monday, 13 May – Friday, 17 May 2024. Students participated in a variety of sports and recreational activities which catered to the varied interests of students.
The day for children began with a Yoga Session, which offered a holistic approach to their well-being. Through Yoga, students not only enhanced their physical health with improved flexibility and strength but also learnt essential skills for managing stress and maintaining emotional balance. This Group Yoga session fostered social skills such as cooperation and respect, enriching the camp experience with positive interactions. Moreover, the Yoga exercise was planned to instill healthy habits early on, ensuring a foundation for lifelong well- being.
This was followed by the Sports Activities. Through collaborative sports such as football, basketball, cricket, volleyball, badminton and athletics, children learnt to resolve conflicts and develop leadership skills. These sports activities promoted physical health and fitness among children, facilitating social interaction and teamwork.
Students also participated in a variety of indoor Recreational Activities. From a wide range of options, they could choose two activities of their choice such as Cooking Without Fire, Art and Craft, Classical and Western Dance as well as Music, Public Speaking, Language Development, General Awareness Quiz Sessions, Hands-on Science Experiment-based sessions and Mathematical Fun activities. In academic based fun activities like Bilingual Pathways, students were taught how to weave stories and narrate them by bringing the characters to life in both English and Hindi. They were also taught idiosyncratics and their Hindi parallels. In Articulation Arena, students were given a platform to express their views and present themselves as news anchors. They were given a chance to speak on the microphone in the multipurpose room to boost confidence and get rid of stage fear. In Math-e-Magician, students made symmetrical paintings of real life objects that have bilateral symmetry, created 2D and 3D puppets by using cut-outs of shapes etc. In Science - at Work, students made a working model of a Parachute and a Sun Dial. A demonstration was shown to the children on Decantation, Filtration and the concept of saturated solution and density. These hands-on science experiments strengthened the understanding and were a good learning experience for children. Students also made a replica of a zoo by pasting dried and pressed leaves.
In the Quiz Whiz activity quizzes related to the environment, sports, epic fables and famous taglines were conducted. The students of Gourmet Gang learnt about nutrition and hygiene and also made healthy recipes like quinoa salad, fruit pudding and vegetable pizza. Additionally, they learnt table manners and how to serve food to guests. Art and Craft activities such as Palette Perfection and Purpose is to Repurpose helped students learn how to make Bubble Wrap Painting, Leaf Painting, Canvas Painting and Pointillism art. A special origami craft class was also held. Students made flower vase, paper bag and designed wrapping paper. In Twinkle Toes activity, classical as well as western dance sessions were taken up. Basic foot work, mudras and facial expressions were demonstrated including warm up sessions, Zumba workout, Jazz and various other dance routines. Group and individual singing sessions were an integral part of the Radiant Rhythm (Indian and Western Music) activity. Songs were given for memorization. Harmony exercises, coral warm-up, and tongue twisters for articulations were also done.
All in all, ‘Summer Sunshine’ offered children a delightful chance to engage in diverse activities, fostering social skills, independence, and resilience in a supportive environment. Children immersed themselves in the fun activities and thoroughly enjoyed all the indoor and outdoor exercises, thereby building confidence and lifelong memories. These experiences contributed to students’ holistic development, shaping well-rounded individuals, ready to face life's challenges.