Day 4

Monday morning we woke up around 8 AM to start off our day. We each had breakfast with our host families which ranged from fried sweet potatoes and coleslaw to very sweet oatmeal and fresh bananas. After breakfast, we were sure to apply our DEET and sunscreen and then we started our day at the clinic at 9 AM where we met Vanessa and Eutin to head up to Minto Primary School. When we got to the school, the young kids came running out excited to see us and see what we would teach them that day. We went straight upstairs to the computer lab to get organized for the lessons and get settled at the school. After we were all organized, we went downstairs to greet the first graders and teach them more about engineering. We went over which shape is stronger: a triangle or a square?. Then, we revealed the activity we would be doing that day. As we took out three large bags of marshmallows, their eyes light up like we have never seen before. We split in to six teams of three and the challenge was to use the marshmallows and toothpicks to create the strongest building possible. The winning team was to get ten marshmallows to eat as snack. Yea right, as if that was going to work. Immediately as we started building, we looked around to see puffy cheeks as children were shoving marshmallows in their mouth. The cuteness took over and even though they were eating every other marshmallow, their structures still looked great! When it was time to test them, "All-Mighty-Joh" came to shake the tables to act as an earthquake. All structures survived and we left the classroom feeling proud of what we taught them about buildings. We then enjoyed a nice lunch at the Minto School provided by the Minto School Chef. After a few good conversations with Vanessa over lunch, we began to get ready for our next lesson with the 5th and 6th graders. Mary, Jon, Sam and Minh handled this lesson while Joh and Connie talked to the 5th and 6th grade teacher in regards to the possibility of a computer program to help the kids get ready for the GSAT. When we entered the room, it was chaos. The kids were so excited they could not sit down. When they finally sat down, we began to teach them about Newtons 1st and 3rd law. They were able to answer a lot of our questions and certainly impressed us when it came to forces. Then we passed out material to make their own toy car to race against each other. But, when the balloons came out, the kids broke lose. Balloons began to fly everywhere and popping left and right. While some actually made a toy car to race, others jsut had fun blowing up the balloon and watching it deflate. So while it may not have gone as planned, the kids still had fun and learned about Newtons Laws. After leaving the Minto School, we went to see Eutin's farm and to meet his parents in Penelyn Castle. We treked up and up the mountain and could feel the temperature drop. Standing in the farm, the cool breeze stroked our arms and we sat and listen to Eutin talk about how he started his very own (and successful) coffee farm. Afterwards, we went back to Eutins parents coffee farm and tasted a sweet banana. This was not just your regular Kroger banana, this banana tasted as sweet as a pineapple; very weird. Then, Eutin took us to taste a grapefruit. In the US, grapefruits are usually a bit sour and bright pink, right? But not here in Jamaica, these were THE BEST grapefruits I have ever had. They were perfectly sweet and refreshing. Eutin even gave us a few to take back to our homestays! To wrap up the day of taste, Eutin took us to his house where his wife had a jack fruit ready for us to eat. Connie and Minh love jack fruit and have tried it before coming to Jamaica. The jack fruit was so sweet it nearly tasted like a sweet tart candy. Eutin kept dishing out pieces and everyone seemed very happy with what they were tasting up in the mountains. We eventually made our way back down to our homestays to have dinner. And just like any other night in Jamaica, the boys played soccer (or should I say futbol) with the locals and the girls played some cards with the kids. After a long day, we went to bed anxious for the next day at Minto Primary School.