What is a Young Master? Someone born with gifts. A Young Master is YOU. This is what each and every child in the extension program at Naudain Academy is learning. They are indeed Young Masters. This week they continued to explore friendship as they reviewed the Secret of The Heart they are focusing on for the first month. They began as always.
“Let’s stand and say the Young Masters Pledge,” said Stephanie Pelly, the program’s director. Proudly they stood with peace sign over their hearts and said the pledge with and without the CD. “I promise to use my gifts every day, in every way, for I am a Young Master. The children already remember the pledge and state it with great enthusiasm.” said Stephanie. “With each meeting they understand a little more, what it means.”
They reviewed the book they read at their first meeting. Many children recalled not only the title of the book The Friendship Seed, but were also able to share the author’s name, Bunny Hull and the illustrator Kye Fleming. They discussed the names of the characters in the story and she then asked them if they could remember, “what was the Friendship Seed that was shared in the story…who can tell me?” she asked. Together the children cheered – a smile.
They talked about how plants and flowers grow transition from a tiny seed and how a friendship can grow from one single smile. They talked about how it’s important to take care of our friendships, to nurture them and they explored how to do that. Together the class created a “friendship flower.” On each petal they wrote an idea that could help their friendships grow in school. They could “be kind”, one child said, “and say kind words.” Another child said, “I could help a friend or cheer a them up if they were sad.” They talked about how
they could “include others,” or “share with a friend.” “What about unkind words,” asked Stephanie. ” Those are like weeds that don’t help friendships grow,” they all agreed. “We don’t want those in our garden!”
Stephanie then invited one child at a time to come to the front of the classroom and hold a “friendship flower”, this was a beautiful red rose that she had brought to class. Each child said something they liked about their friend, until everyone had a turn. This activity made each child feel that what they had to say was indeed important and valued. They were showing kindness to their friend.
The children were given an activity sheet to take away so they could complete their own friendship flower at home and discuss it with their families. The Young Masters Journals were introduced for the first time. The children were excited about receiving their new books which will allow them to track their journey of discovery as they learn how to use the Secrets of the Heart.
Before the program ended they listened to new songs from the Friendship Seed CD and sang THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE in English and Swahili, which they learned was the language of Kenya. Finally they listened to Hey Young Masters and played air guitar as began to learn the words. “The music is one more important way the children begin to grasp the very important concepts they’re learning,” said Stephanie.
It was good day at Naudain today as the children moved one step closer to learning what powerful little beings they are and how their creativity as Young Masters can create a world of friendship, for them and for the world they live in. They’re learning they make a difference. Stay tuned for the next adventure as the children of Naudain Academy continue their quest to the Secrets of the Heart.