Our Purple Crayon: 2017

I couldn't believe my eyes when my son who is 2 years old, called my attention and told me he wrote 'A'. and he continued to write the whole alphabet!

Many parents struggle to teach letter sounds and writing to their child. It was no exception for me since I didn't know much about how to present it other than the traditional way. After trying several methods, one or combination of these might work for you.

1. Wooden letter Puzzle
I took advantage of his obsession in repetition until the item is mastered.
I encouraged also his need for order, he always matches in alphabetical order A-Z.

Choose one that has a pincer grip,

it will also help them prepare for pen writing later

2. Letter books and Music

Read, read and read, add a tune, singing makes it easier to remember.

check version sung by the author

Go to a local Market and match the fruits and vegetables

take a careful look
Find and frame letters around your city

3. Sandpaper letters and Movable letters
Trace with two fingers, say the letter sound.
Ideally, limit up to three for introduction of letters.
Read more on Montessori method of presentation.

image from http://www.infomontessori.com/language/written-language-sandpaper-letters.htm

4. GAMES: A-Z sound
During traffic, we take turns in thinking words that start in letter A and so forth. You'll be amazed at what words kids think of.

5. Handwriting Without Tears
This has helped us build the uppercase letters with fun.

Building Mat Man

Image from Mrs, smith singing the Mat Man song

Building Letters

made our custom made pieces from foam board,

you may purchase or make wood for sturdier pieces

My childhood memories of Nayong Pilipino has been wonderful, the theme was the country’s landmark. A mini Philippines, where you could go up the the perfect cone of Mayon Volcano,Albay, see the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, and have a nice afternoon boat ride.

The new Nayong Pilipino has changed it’s theme to a historic landmark. For a 5 year old child, all the buildings might be uninteresting , however the interactive activities prepared by Early Achievers Learning Center made the learning experience different. Let us now start our journey.

Overview:

Location: Clark Expo, Centennial Road, Clark Field Pampanga, Philippines

Activity: Team is grouped per family and activities are done per color group. Starting point at the ampitheater, where we run and start with our first clue.

1^st Stop : Find the first Filipinos Alamat ni Malakas at si Maganda

Legend of first Man and first Woman: Bathala (God) created the world, He sent a bird and pecked into a bamboo. It split into two there came out Malakas, (meaning strong) , the first man and Maganda, (meaning beautiful), the first woman.

2^nd Stop: find the famous house where the Philippine Declaration of Independence from Spain was declared, answer 10 questions correctly

10 facts about the Philippine Independence

1. Proclamed at: Kawit, Cavite, Philippines

2. Where: window (not balcony as many depictions show) of Emilio Aguinaldo’s ancestral home
3. Date: June 12, 1898

4. Time: 4-5pm

5. The proclamation was made in Spanish

6. 1^st time to unfurl the Flag of the Philippines

7. The flag was made in HongKong

8. The flag is sewn by Marcella Agoncillo, Lorenza Agoncillo, and Delfina Herboza

9. 1^st performance of the Marcha Filipina Magdalo as the national anthem, now known as Lupang Hinirang

10. National anthem composer: Julian Felipe

3^rd Stop: Head to Barasoin Church and choose two options

Option 1: present a Philippine currency with the Barasoin Church

It is found in a 10 peso bill which is already out of circulation, chances of having this is very slim

Facts:
1.Barasoin is a national shrine.

2. Major events in Philippine history happened here: the convening of the First Philippine Congress, drafting of the Malolos Constitution, and the inauguration of the First Philippine Republic

That would be us spoofing a weeding photoshoot

Option 2: eat 4 pieces Polvoron without drinking water

Definition: from the Spanish word polvo means powder, made of toasted flour, sugar, large amount if powdered milk, butter , sometimes with pinipig (crisp rice)

Without water, it is very hard to eat and swallow one, let alone four, imagine swallowing heaps of powdered milk in a hurry. I am the one who did this challenge!!!

4^th Stop: learn to dance the Tinikling

Facts:

1. Tinikling is the National Folk Dance of the Philippines, it originated during the Spanish Era.

2. The dance involves two people beating, tapping and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance.

Tinikling has a rhythm and sound that is both exciting and fun. Careful not to let your feet get caught in the closing of bamboos!

My daughter made a short performance after learning the basics

DETOUR : A choice between Carvers or Dancers, in the Ifugao Village.

Option 1 Carvers: learn the art of Ifugao by doing it hands on, task is to achieve a wood carving sculpture per approval of a native Ifugao (local of northern province of Cordillera Region, Luzon)

Option 2 learn the Ifugao dance, memorize the steps, rehearse and perform

source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cPMiPYY5ws

source seventhbliss

Facts:

1. Banaue Rice Terraces, commonly referred to as the “Eighth Wonder of the World” a famous tourist attraction were hand-carved by the Ifugaos into the mountains 2000 years ago to plant rice.

2. Terraces was fed by ancient irrigation system

3. Gradual erosion of the step needs constant reconstruction, 2010 drought also posed problem

EXTRA CHALLENGE for other groups:

We cannot resist but have a stop and try this one.

A native Ifugao (means earth people, from northern Luzon of Philippines) is there to demonstrate, teach and assist.

Try and get a bulls eye with this native bow and arrow. I had a great laugh missing the target way off, my husband had a great luck (chamba) on the bull’s eye on his second try.

5^th Stop: Go to far north, find the “House of Estrella” also known as “House of Dakay”, and locate the famous work of world-renowned artist who is from this province.

Ah, my daughter chose the best looking one from the set and it so happens to be the right answer!

About the Artist Pacita Abad (1946-2004):

source : https://www.artsy.net/article/jack-garrity-pacita-abad-woman-of-color

1. born in Basco, Batanes, a small island in the northern most part of the Philippines

2. Her painting is characterized by vibrantly colorful mixed media, painted textile, collages, abstract assemblages and trapunto paintings, a number of small works that include hand stitched textiles, tin , mirror and many other found objects.

About the House of Estrella (House of Dakay)

1. Made of limestone, Oldest stone house of the Ivatans (local people of Batanes island)

2. Built during the Spanish Colonial Era 1877, regarded as cultural treasure of the province

3. Survived some of the strongest calamities such as typhoons and even a magnitude 8.30 earthquake back in 1918

6^th Stop: Travel to the City of Marawi and roam around the Torogan House, find the next clue amongst the pillars, wall, doors

Facts:

source seventhbliss

1. to the Maranaw family, it is a symbol of high social status, it was home to sultan or Datu (equivalent to a chieftain)

2. it is more than a hundred years old

3. Designed to resist flood by being elevated 2.21 meters above ground using tree stumps, Raised flooring braces the structure against termite attacks, rats and wood decay

4. Elevated piles rest on rounded boulders to act as roller supports during earthquakes

5. Walls are covered with plywood sticks and roof thatched with dried coconut leaves, no interior partition, the wealthier, the more intricately engraved design of the flowing geometries of Maranaw design system called Okir (geometric and flowing design)

6. A Torogan is never complete without the display of the legendary bird Sarimanok (sari means cloth generally of many colors; manok means chicken) displayed inside

ROADBLOCK: Memorize a poem written by our National Hero, Jose Rizal

The Song of Maria Clara

Entering the repica of Jose Rizal's House

7^th Stop: go to the Chinese Bridge and find 20 Filipino words / food that are inspired by Chinese heritage

Facts:

1. Chinese merchants came to the Philippines , and Chinatown was established in 1594 by the Spaniards

2. Chinatown is in Binondo Manila near Intramuros but across the Pasig River

3. Binondo is a hub of Chinese commerce even before the Spaniards came

4. Some words coined from Chinese:

Bakya (Native Wood Sandal)

Bihon (Rice noodle)

Betsin (Monosodium Glutamate)

Tsaa (Tea)

Ditse (second sister)

Ingkong (grandfather)

Lauriat (a wide variety of food)

Lumpia (wrapped meat or vegetable)

Mami (Meat & Noodle Soup)

Pansit (Noodle)

Petsay (Chinese Cabbage)

Siyansi (ladle)

Siopao (steam meat in bun)

Sotanghon (glass noodle)

Suahe (Shrimp)

Suki (regular customer)

Susi (Key)

Tikoy (Chinese New Year Cake)

Tokwa (Tofu)

Wansoy (Cilantro)

8^th Stop Challenge: Palarong Pambata, choose three games play it

Going to the Bandstand area and you will find games commonly played by children using native materials or instruments. Due to limited resources of toys, Filipino children invented games without much items but the players themselves, most are outdoor games.

1. Jack ‘n’ Poy / Bato bato Pik (Rock Paper Scissors)

2. Piko (hopscotch)