The Alchemy of Nature: Reading for Meaning

The Alchemy of Nature: Reading for Meaning

Prose texts are often taught in rigid and boring ways. The teacher reads out the text, she reads it again and then explains each paragraph in great detail in the hope that students ‘understand’ it. What we don’t teach children is that the meaning of a story, poem or prose text is not cast in stone. Each reader is likely to find personal meaning in texts only if we bring our own experiences to our minds as we read them. Each one of us is free to interpret texts in our own special ways. When we do that we not only become better readers but it also holds the promise of us becoming better human beings.

This year, when it was time to do the prose extract, The Alchemy of Nature by Raksha Bharadia with the std. X students, I refrained from explaining it literally. Instead, I decided to go with the ‘learning by doing’ method wherein I asked them to first read the text and then draw different elements of nature mentioned in the text. I encouraged them to write a few lines on their own interpretation of the author’s words about how nature inspires us..

Even though the activity was carried through a virtual class, I could experience the active and joyful involvement of students. After students turned in their interpretations, I asked the class for feedback and its impact on their learning. Here are some responses from students,

Parshva: It was nice, understood the prose very well and it also brought out our creativity.

Kreena: The activity made us realise that we can learn a lot from every single thing in nature. It was thought-provoking and inspiring.

Isha: I personally enjoyed doing all the colouring and drawing. It had a great impact on understanding the concept on our own. It is rightly said that when we do, we understand. And this is going to be stored in my brain forever.

Hetvi: The activity was quite interesting. Usually, we get bored sitting continuously for online lectures. This activity included drawing which became very interesting for us.

Read More Stories from School like the Alchemy of Nature

Here are some student interpretations of the text, each unique and special in their own ways.

Watch video lectures from Sharon School

This activity was one small step among others that we as a school are taking to help children understand that reading is not a mechanical process. Reading is not about looking for facts and answering questions. Reading becomes more meaningful when we make connections with our past experiences and allow emotions, feelings and memories to wash over us as we read.

Student Contributors: Yukti, Hetvi, Dhairya, Tisha, Isha, Veera, Srushti, Heer, Bhoomi, Hitakshi

Lesson Planned and executed by Maher Madnani

Blog Compiled by Jennifer Thomas and Maher Madnani