Summer Camp Taruwara—Weeks of Endless Creativity and Unforgettable Moment

"Life Skills Classes at Taruwara Primary are not about chores—they are about growth. They prepare children to face real-life situations with resilience, creativity, and confidence." At Taruwara Primary, we believe education should prepare children not only for academic success but also for everyday life. That’s why we introduced Life Skills Classes for our upper primary students—a special program where children learn practical, hands-on lessons that will help them grow into responsible, independent, and confident individuals. Many parents may remember the first time they washed a car, ironed their clothes, or managed their own shopping. These seemingly simple experiences actually stay with us, teaching discipline, care, and responsibility. Through Life Skills, we want our students to have the same opportunities, guided carefully in a supportive and fun learning environment. Ironing Clothes with Confidence Ironing is often considered an adult responsibility, but our students are excited to give it a try. With guidance from teachers, they learn how to handle the iron safely, smooth out wrinkles, and take their time to do the job well. The sense of satisfaction on their faces when they see neatly pressed clothes is priceless. Beyond the technical skill, ironing teaches patience, precision, and the importance of presentation. Washing Vehicles with Care Another day, the students head outside to wash vehicles. Buckets, sponges, and soap turn into tools of teamwork. Children quickly learn that washing a vehicle is more than just splashing water—it requires attention to detail and patience. This activity also sparks conversations about taking care of belongings and the effort that goes into maintaining things we use every day. It’s a fun, physical task that leaves students smiling at their shiny finished work. Shopping at the Bookstore Life Skills aren’t limited to chores at home or school. Our students also experience the real-world practice of shopping, such as visiting a bookstore with a budget in hand. For many, this is the first time they’ve had to make choices on what to buy while considering both needs and wants. They learn how to interact politely with shopkeepers, calculate costs, and make responsible decisions. The joy of leaving the store with a book they’ve chosen themselves is a bonus that strengthens both confidence and independence. Learning to Clean the Sink and Kitchen One of the first lessons takes place in the kitchen, where students practice cleaning the sink and keeping the area tidy. At first, some students giggle as they put on gloves and get ready to scrub, but soon they realize it’s not just about cleaning. It’s about taking pride in maintaining a space where everyone can work and feel comfortable. By learning this, children develop habits of hygiene, orderliness, and respect for shared environments. The Bigger Picture: Why Life Skills Matter Through these experiences, we want our students to realize that life is full of small responsibilities that matter. Cleaning, washing, ironing, and shopping might look simple, but they are stepping stones toward independence. More importantly, these activities teach values: caring for shared spaces, respecting belongings, managing money wisely, and feeling proud of a job well done. Life Skills Classes at Taruwara Primary are not about chores—they are about growth. They prepare children to face real-life situations with resilience, creativity, and confidence. Our hope is that, through these lessons, students not only gain practical knowledge but also carry with them the deeper understanding that independence and responsibility are keys to shaping a meaningful life. A Shared Journey with Parents We believe these lessons become even more powerful when reinforced at home. Parents can encourage their children to practice simple daily tasks, celebrate their efforts, and give them opportunities to take on small responsibilities. Together, school and family can nurture children who are not only academically capable, but also independent, caring, and ready for the future.

Background One day, Miss Ima found an egg laying on the carpet inside the classroom, and she moved the egg to the top of the cupboard. In the afternoon, Micol found the egg and asked “Where did you get the egg miss?” and Miss Ima told Micol where she found them. A few days after that, Miss Ima found another egg on the carpet and moved it to the cupboard. Not long after that, Micol found a couple of eggs inside the cupboard and she came up with an idea “Miss, why don’t we make an incubator for these eggs?”. Miss Ima agreed to the idea and shared the idea with the others. The discussion started with a question “Who likes animals?” and all students raised their hands up. During the discussion, they also try to find out how to make an egg incubator and how to take care of an egg until it hatched. We were using the internet as our source of information. The discussion happened for another couple of days, we also asked students to discuss this project with their parents. After we have gathered all the information, try to make the incubator and calendar in the class. We use the incubator to lay the eggs and warm them until they hatch. Inside we have rice husks, some cloth, water inside a bowl to keep the humidity balanced, and a fluorescent lamp (20 watts). Other than the incubator, students also made a calendar as a reminder of the days, because based on the information they found, it took 21 days for the egg to hatch. After the incubator is done, all students are asked to take care of and be responsible for the eggs. Based on the information they got, they are supposed to rotate the eggs 90 degrees 3 times a day, in order to give an even warmth on all surfaces, so the embryos can grow healthily. Based on the egg needs, students came up with a duty schedule to share the responsibility together. This project was their second project. The first project was not successful, because the egg didn’t get enough warmth, they were using a 5-watt lamp. Another thing that played a part in the failure was they moved the egg around during checking time and moved it to the darker side inside the box. Learning Resources Internet           : Tutorial on how to make an egg incubator, How to make a good egg incubator Resources       : Teachers, Parents, Poultry Expert (Bali Bird Park Team)           Learning Orientation Student-oriented learning. In this project, students are directed to become subjects and objects that they learn from the egg incubator project. Children are encouraged to think critically about the problem they face and find solutions to problems during the process. The teacher’s role in this project is as a facilitator and helps students get a real and authentic learning experience. Learning is considered and adapted to previous experiences and students’ intellect because each student has different learning experiences and potential. Research Stages a.      Research on how to make a good egg incubator. b.      Research about how long it takes for an egg to hatch. c.      Research on how to treat eggs properly. d.      Prepare the tools and materials needed to make an incubator. e.      Make the incubator and calendar as reminded. f.        Routine inspection. Documentation Documentation activities are carried out by the teacher at each stage of the activities carried out by students starting from the preparation stage, making the incubator, to the routine inspection stage which is carried out entirely by students with assistance from the teacher. Discussion about egg Prepared the necessary electricity and lighting for the egg incubator The children prepared some husk and placed the eggs inside it to keep them warm The students listened carefully to the teacher's instructions The process of making an incubator Learning more about an egg before we start the project Decorated the incubator Children took turns on duty to check the eggs The students placed the eggs in the incubator.

Sometimes, all it takes is one good book to start a new habit. 📚✨ At Taruwara, we believe that reading and writing are more than just academic skills — they are the foundation for lifelong learning. From an early age, we encourage our students to see reading not as a task, but as an adventure that opens their imagination, strengthens their focus, and builds empathy through stories. For young learners, developing these skills early helps them express their thoughts more clearly, understand others’ perspectives, and grow confident in communicating their ideas. That’s why we continuously create meaningful opportunities for children to read, write, and reflect in ways that feel enjoyable and personal. 🌱 This semester, our Primary 3–4 students began a small reading challenge, to finish 40 books in one month. What started as a simple goal soon became an exciting surprise: together, they reached 50 books! 📖✨ Every morning, students spend time reading books of their choice. Afterward, they write short reflections or reviews to share their thoughts, feelings, and favorite parts of the stories. This routine helps them slow down, think deeply, and express themselves in writing, turning reading into a joyful habit rather than a duty. Teachers observed how this activity not only improved students’ reading comprehension and writing fluency but also changed their attitude toward learning. Many children now pick up books on their own, curious about new stories and eager to talk about what they’ve read. “At first, we simply wanted to help students improve their literacy skills,” one teacher shared. “But what touched us most was seeing how reading became something they truly look forward to. They now talk about books with excitement — and that’s when we know the love for learning has begun.” 💚 Through consistent practice, students are building self-discipline, critical thinking, and a genuine love for learning, values we hope they’ll carry far beyond the classroom. 💚 At Taruwara, our goal is to help every child grow into a confident, curious, and thoughtful learner. Because when children discover the joy of reading and writing, they don’t just learn, they transform. 🌿 How do you encourage reading time at home?We’d love to hear your ideas and experiences! Share your tips in the comments below 👇