“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

The day was May 17th 2013.  The place- Shortwood Teachers College.  The team was Crayons Count. The children? Adorable

The Learning Lorry was out in full force at the Shortwood Teachers College and it was quite a sight to behold.  The $50 million donation to Crayons Count in 2013  by the Continental Baking Company has been a blessing. The Lorry has been showcased on more than one instance but this was the first time it was being used. Color us excited!

The Crayons Count team opened our hearts to the different ages groups from the Shortwood Infant and Primary School. This Children’s Day had a great twist. Each infant class spent time in the lorry interacting with each tool. Teachers in training from the college took the lead that day, creating lessons and interacting with the children. It was an amazing way to involve both children and teachers in the learning process. The teachers were a little overwhelmed at first but eased right into it and stayed the whole day! How’s that for non-stop learning ? With each song, each child and with each smile, the teachers were exposed to learning and fun in action : a dynamite combination.

Crayons Count‘s Children’s Day 2013: Learning Lorry Fun saw three year olds, four years old and five year olds stacking pegs, creating letters out of colored blocks, making animals out of play-doh, watching and taking part in a puppet show, spelling their names with letter blocks writing and drawing on the dry erase boards with crayons , singing, using the lacing tools, dancing, coloring the Gleaner Saturday page and most importantly, learning. There was so much to do! One active little boy built a tall skyscraper, taller than himself out of pegs!  It was amazing but he didn’t stop there. He wouldn’t let go off his ‘masterpiece’ and then he started to write on the dry erase board. Wow, talk about multi-tasking. Everywhere you looked, children were discovering new things.

The learning lorry also received some curious visitors. Teachers and teachers in training all climbed inside the Lorry to be a part of the learning and fun. All were impressed by the lorry and it’s tools. Thanks again National Bakery! They were even more impressed when we told them that these same tools were donated to all registered basic schools in Jamaica. It didn’t take much for them to sit down on the alphabet mats and become children themselves for the day.

Each child in the Lorry benefited from snacks and drinks graciously donated by Wisynco and believe us, they were super happy about their goodies. The Crayons Count team was busy all day but it was worth it to see minds developing right before our eyes. It was inspiring to see what the right tools in the right hands could do.

Hold on! The day was not over yet. The best was yet to come. Miss Jana Bent, songwriter, musician and author of ‘Shaggy Parrot and the Reggae Band’ had arrived and for one hour thrilled group after group with her fun filled, action packed, feet stomping, body rocking, never stop learning. They were drums, shakers and tambourines all aboard the learning lorry. The children and teachers learned all about pollution, protecting the environment and listening to others. By the end of each reading session, everyone wanted to be in the Shaggy Parrot’s Reggae Band.

It was a fulfilling day and the Crayons Count team was more than happy to be there. Early childhood has been, is and will always be a great investment for Jamaica. It is only when ignorance and mediocrity is removed, we will see our nation’s children  truly reach their full potential.

Thanks once again to National Bakery and Wisynco. for their continued support for Crayons Count and early childhood education and awareness. A big thanks goes to Shortwood Teachers College for hosting our Children’s Day and for giving teachers in training the opportunity to learn something new. Thanks to all who support Crayons Count and children.

The Learning Lorry will be in action soon with more plans. Learning never stops, jump in!

Donate to Crayons Count and help us give the youngest generation the solid foundation they need.

To see more photos from the workshop, visit our Facebook photo album Children’s Day 2013