Initially, I was half-worried that I would not know what to do with my students after their national exams.  

I need not have worried. I’m such a Creative and Resourceful teacher that everything would pan out.  

So I scurried to the school library to borrow brand new copies of “Young Scientist” before marching into class to distribute one issue to every student. I gave each of these sixth graders one name of my 4th grade student and instructed them, “Write a letter to your junior to inform him or her about 3 interesting science facts you pick up from the magazine.”  

Authentic writing!   Of course, the kids were not into it but they had no choice because I was busily copying away.   So they gradually and grudgingly began writing. And that’s how I learnt:

- Seahorses have no mouth and no digestive system. Food passes their bodies so fast that they must constantly eat to stay alive.

- Some sea slugs can actually photosynthesise because they absorb chloroplasts from the algae they consume.

- Egg-laying mammals have no belly buttons because they have no need for the umbilical cord.  

In an ideal world, learning should be about arming yourself with trivial facts like these so that your esoteric knowledge will come in handy during product design and problem-solving. If we have to think out of the box, we ought to hone our sensitivity towards anomalies and how they contrast with norms and general principles. I have taught imperative and infinitive verbs enough for a good nine months. Time to broaden my, ahem their, minds!  

Yes, I really gave some of my fourth graders their seniors’ letters. More on the way.  

Good day at work enhanced by the old-school ice cream I happily devoured on my way home.