21: Perspective
It's not only moving that creates new starting points. Sometimes all it takes is a subtle shift in perspective, an opening of the mind, an intentional pause and reset, or a new route to start to see new options and new possibilities.
What do you see when you look at this picture?
In the story of The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, many people see it as a hat when it is actually meant to be a boa constrictor that swallowed an elephant.
Perspective is a powerful concept that changes how we navigate the world. Apart from its importance in helping us deepen our relationships and bridge cultures, perspective also allows us to think outside the box. Whether we see the drawing as a hat or a boa constrictor, it's okay because the way we see the world is different from each other.
A few months ago, we read two books in class by Antoinette Portis that highlight the concept of perspective.
We revisited these books to ignite the power of our imagination and start looking at trash with a different lens.
We focused on one kind of trash that has been dominating our disposable culture, one that we see everywhere we go: the plastic bottle.
I read a book called The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle for the children to help them understand where plastic bottles come from, and where they end up if we do not know how to throw them properly. We discovered that plastic comes from crude oil (and it's a non-renewable resource -- which the children will learn more about when they get older)
After the story, the children said,
"Ms. Pam, this is NOT a plastic bottle!"
I asked them,
"If it is not a plastic bottle, what do you imagine it to be?"
They said,
a butterfly
a bug
a race car
a rainbow
a cloud
a house
a baby
a Barbie doll
(Can you guess which child imagined each one?)
As always, the children have such wonderful ideas on how to transform their plastic bottles.
After which, we gave the children agency by letting them explore the recyclable materials in the classroom and making their imagination come alive through recycled art.
Their masterpieces are still drying up before they can share them with the class, but I'm so eager to hear about their Not-a-Bottles and to imagine what it is the way that they do.
Learning concepts is such a powerful tool for lifelong learning. Such is the case with the concept of perspective and how we use it outside the classroom setting. In Maishima, Osaka, there is a peculiar building that truly makes you wonder and imagine what's hidden inside.
When you look at the building, what do you think about?
It's definitely a work of art, one that was designed by Friedensreich Hunderwasser, an Austrian artist and architect. The building, when viewed from outside boasts of many interesting and creative details that also come from the imagination of its creator, but its purpose is quite unexpected from what one might think.
Amidst the beautiful architecture is an incinerator plant.
What exactly is an incinerator plant?
To help the children unlock what it is, I read the book called the 3Rs, which talks about how trash ends up in landfills, and how some are burnt to reduce the waste that goes into the landfills.
There were some clues that were left by the artist in the design of the building, such as the orange and red streaks that represent fire, and the color blue to represent water.
In our field trip to the Maishima Incinerator Plant, the children were able to learn about the process of how trash is burnt and turned into ash. Their favorite, of course, is the crane with the robot claws that carry the trash to the different burning areas. The claws are so big that one can carry the weight of at least 7 elephants in one go!
It was such a beautiful learning experience for the children (and us, adults, too!) to help us become more mindful of the trash that we produce. Seeing where the trash goes really gives us a different perspective on our daily choices and whether or not it really is necessary to buy, use, and dispose of that one plastic bottle, for example.
The power of perspective is truly powerful because it not only allows us to see things in different ways, it gives us an opportunity to learn and change the way we think and make our choices.
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Your Kindergarten teacher,
Pam
P.S. Welcome to Kindergarten 2, Luca!
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Upcoming Events
- 19 - 23STEM week
- 23Open Day9:30-12:00
- 29Assembly (K2)9:00
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