8 • MODULE TWO: KNOWING MYSELF
Linking Learning With Life
For Older Children:
Form pairs or groups of three children to conduct a survey in their school, family or community. The
children can interview adults, older children and their friends. They should ask the question: why are
girls special? The children should then ask why boys are special. The number of interviews can be
limited if time is very short.
This may require some preparation. The facilitator might have to help children practice how they should
approach and talk to adults. If possible, the facilitator should also have a prior discussion with some
community members about this interview. Alternatively, an adult may accompany the children so they
are not rebuffed, and should remain in the background. The children can divide the interview among
themselves so that one child can ask the questions and the others record the answers. The children
may switch roles for each interview. The children can also be taught how to tick mark the responses.
For example,
Girls are special...
Parents Older boys Older girls Community members
Caring XXX XX
Work hard XX X XXX
Gentle XX X X
Intelligent X XXX XXXX XAlthough this follow-on activity will require planning, it will help the children to learn to apply what
they have learned from the first session. Children normally enjoy finding out information.
Once the children finish collecting the information, it needs to be processed and analyzed. Tallying the
information is simple and does not take much time. The data received can provide some valuable
background information to the facilitator on what examples to use and how to structure future sessions.Review
Some of the review questions could be:- Did people find it difficult to identify special qualities for either boys or girls?
- How did people respond for the questions on boys and girls?
- What were the differences if any?
Variation
For Younger Children:
If the survey cannot be organized, ask children to observe how girls and boys are treated at home,
school and community and discuss this in the next session. Talk about what they should observe, the
work they do, how adults talk to or behave with them.