11-12
9. MAKING TEACHING AIDS FASCINATING AND FUN-
ESPECIALLY THOSE USED WITH CHILDREN
Example: Diarrhea and dehydration
Drawings
like these
contain
important
ideas. But
children,
especially,
may have
trouble
understanding
them. Also.
they are not
much fun-
even when
actual pots
are used
along with the
drawings.
LESS APPROPRIATE
A CHILD IS LIKE A POT
OF WATER
Water
tap
Pot
emptying
(dehydration)
Tap
FULL
on
Pot filling
(rehydration
4-6 hours)
Leak (diarrhea)
Leak (diarrhea
may continue)
Tap
still on
Pot nearly
full
(mend leak
with food)
Leak less
(diarrhea is less)
Leak
stopped
Tap
turned
on when
needed
Pot full
DIARRHEA
PREVENTION
We make the pot
wall thick by
better nutrition.
It is more fun and children learn better if they can make or paint their own ‘pots’
to look like babies. Model babies can be made out of clay, tin cans, plastic bottles,
or gourds.
MORE APPROPRIATE
CLAY BABY-
This can be
made with
the help of
mothers who
make their
own pottery.
GOURD BABY-
Gourds of this
shape are grown
in many parts
of the world for
use as water
jugs.
The children then experiment with
the model baby to find out about
dehydration. Because they make their
own teaching aid and discover answers
for themselves, learning becomes an
adventure. It is fun and they never
forget what they learn.
Children in Ajoya, Mexico use a gourd baby
to demonstrate signs of dehydration.
For more ideas on how to leach about dehydration using these model babies see
page 24-18.