I had the opportunity to teach arts and crafts to children from a nearby SMC public school over the course of three weekends. The workshops were centred around the theme “Best Out of Waste,” where the children used recycled and discarded materials to create useful and decorative items. Through this experience, I interacted closely with the students, encouraged their creativity, and supported them as they explored new ideas and skills. It also allowed me to contribute to a positive and engaging learning environment while promoting the importance of sustainability and resourcefulness.

LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills

Teaching arts and crafts to children helped me develop my communication, patience, and ability to explain instructions in a simple and understandable manner. I had to consider how to guide students through different stages of an activity while allowing them to explore their own ideas. Working with children with different interests and abilities encouraged me to adapt my explanations and support them according to their needs. Through this experience, I developed a better understanding of how to communicate effectively in a learning environment.

LO3 – Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience

The workshops required activities to be approached in a structured and understandable way so that the children could participate effectively. I contributed to the activities by helping guide the students through the steps involved in creating items from recycled materials. The theme, “Best Out of Waste,” encouraged us to think about how discarded materials could be used creatively rather than thrown away. This experience helped me understand the importance of having a clear purpose, suitable activities, and an organised approach when supporting a learning experience.

LO5 – Demonstrate the skills and recognise the benefits of working collaboratively

Working with the children and other participants during the workshops showed me the importance of cooperation and communication. I supported students as they worked on their crafts and interacted with them to help them understand the activities. The experience demonstrated how sharing ideas and offering guidance can make group activities more engaging. It also helped me recognise that collaboration creates opportunities for people to learn from one another and work towards a common goal.

LO6 – Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance

The “Best Out of Waste” theme helped me understand the importance of reducing waste and using resources responsibly. By encouraging the children to create useful and decorative items from recycled and discarded materials, the workshops demonstrated that materials often treated as waste can have further uses. This connected to Sustainable Development Goal 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), which promotes the responsible use of resources and reduction of waste. The experience also highlighted the value of providing children with opportunities to explore creativity and develop practical skills, connecting with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (Quality Education).

LO7 – Recognise and consider the ethics of choices and actions

Interacting with children from the local school reminded me of the importance of treating each student with patience, fairness, and respect. Each child had different ideas and ways of approaching the activities, so it was important to encourage participation without making students feel that their work had to look the same as others’ work. I learnt to appreciate individual creativity and the importance of creating an inclusive environment where everyone could participate. This experience strengthened my understanding of responsibility when working with and supporting others.

Learner Profile Attributes

This experience helped me develop as a Caring learner by supporting the children and contributing to an engaging learning environment. I strengthened my skills as a Communicator by explaining activities and interacting with students. I became more Open-Minded by appreciating the different ideas and approaches the children brought to their work. I also became more Reflective by considering how my guidance and communication could help make learning activities more accessible and enjoyable.

Overall, teaching arts and crafts at the SMC public school was a meaningful service experience that allowed me to contribute to the children’s learning while developing my own communication and interpersonal skills. The three weekends helped me understand the importance of patience, inclusion, and encouraging creativity. The “Best Out of Waste” theme also reinforced the value of sustainability and responsible resource use. Most importantly, the experience showed me how sharing skills and supporting others can contribute to a positive learning environment.