Games and Fun: Indigenous and African Matrix | Teachy Summary
Once upon a time, in a small town full of charms and learning, there was a group of inseparable friends: Ana, Beto, Carol, and Diego. These young people were known for their insatiable curiosity and contagious energy, always eager for new discoveries. One day, while exploring the old school library, a dusty old book caught their attention. The title, 'Games and Play from Our Roots', shone in golden letters, and the cover was adorned with colorful figures that seemed to offer a mysterious invitation.
'Look at this!', exclaimed Ana, holding the book with trembling hands. 'This talks about games and play from indigenous and African cultures!' The friends' curiosity was immediately piqued. Beto, who loved going back in time with ancient stories, quickly flipped through the book. As he turned the pages, his enthusiasm grew; he discovered that those activities were not just fun but carried deep and valuable cultural teachings.
The friends decided that this discovery could not just be an occasional read; they wanted to dive deep into that universe. With their cell phones and computers, each immersed themselves in research. Carol became fascinated with 'Peteca', a tradition from Brazilian indigenous tribes that expanded across the world. She learned that the game involved a small ball made of leaves and feathers and required agility and collaboration. Diego, on the other hand, was enchanted by 'Ampe', an African game involving rhythm and a lot of skill. He spent hours practicing the movements in front of the mirror.
Technology became the perfect ally for this knowledge journey. The friends formed groups and became digital influencers for a day. They created detailed videos, took vibrant photos, and shared stories on social media. Ana recorded a tutorial explaining every detail of the Peteca rules, while Beto, talented with music, made a video showing step-by-step how to play Ampe. Beto's video went viral on TikTok, introducing these games to cultures from different parts of the world.
The following week, the teacher, impressed with the class's enthusiasm, proposed a new challenge: creating an educational app that gathered all the information learned. Using App Inventor, they divided into groups again and began sketching out the app's content. Every detail was carefully considered: they included historical information, tutorial videos, interactive quizzes, and even testimonials from real players. The result was an app so good that the whole school wanted to download and use it.
But Ana, Beto, Carol, and Diego’s adventures did not stop there. They decided to turn learning into fun by creating quizzes on Kahoot! and Quizizz. Each question presented a challenge for the class to reflect on cultural importance and the rules of the games. The friendly competition gave way to laughter and reinforced knowledge in a fun and engaging manner.
At the end of the project, the whole class gathered to share their experiences and reflections. Each group presented their learnings, recounted the difficulties faced, and how they managed to overcome them. With a rich exchange of insights, the students realized that besides the knowledge gained, they understood the importance of respecting and valuing traditions in everyday life. Ana talked about the importance of teamwork that she learned from Peteca, and Diego shared about the cultural connection he felt through Ampe.
And so, with a spirit of cooperation, respect, and fun, Ana, Beto, Carol, Diego, and their classes discovered much more than just games and play. They understood that these activities were rich representations of indigenous and African cultures, carrying invaluable lessons about inclusion and diversity. The adventure of these friends left deep marks, and they lived happily, always exploring new cultures and using technology as a powerful tool for learning in their future journeys.
