This trimester in science class, we are studying the ecosystem so the seventh grade classes went on a trip to FRIM, Forest Research Institute Malaysia, where we studied some of the relationships, habitats and organisms that people might find in the rainforest of Malaysia. During this trip, we managed to fit in some math activities and a Humanities activity based on the book we are reading, the famous 'Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins. During this activity, we had to think of the best way to survive in the wild using some things that were provided for us.
My group, James, John H., Solange and Natasha, decided that it would be best if we used Flint, so that we could start a fire to keep us warm and to cook food that we catch. Then we decided that we wanted mosquito spray because there were some mosquitoes that carried diseases and if you don't get a disease, you can definitely survive longer. We also got the first aid kit because if you got an injury, you can treat yourself and you would once again survive longer. We also had camping crockery so the we can eat the food we cooked using the fire. We also wanted the twine so we could make a rope so that we could climb and we could have also made traps so we could trap food and people. Instead of getting the twine, we got a mosquito hammock instead which could have also helped us climb up the tree to avoid floods and attacks.
People have different opinions about different things and my opinion about this activity is that this activity was not my favorite mainly because it was unfair. I understand that the point of this activity was so that we can survive however if we could have just explained our strategy and why we chose our spot to survive, I am sure we would have survived. I also think that if people are going to do an activity like this, then they should give every one an equal chance in order for them to survive. I also think that if my group got to show our skit, which was a war dance from New Zealand called the Haka, we would have had a better chance of surviving because if the other tributes saw that then they would have been scared and they would have left us alone.
I think the point of this activity was so that we could understand what the 'Hunger Games'is kind of like. This activity really showed me that it is very difficult to survive when you don't have the proper materials you need. This also reminds a bit of the poverty cycle that we were studying in Global Issues this trimester.
The FRIM trip was very exciting and educational for me. I loved getting to choose my tent mates, staying up till after midnight whispering and giggling with my best friends and learning new things about nature which I love, I also loved getting my first leech in a creepy kind of way. There aren't many things I didn't like about this trip. The one major thing that bothered me was how unfair the Hunger Games activity was. My advice for the kids next year is DO NOT disturb the teachers while they are sleeping, just listen to them. And to the teachers, kids just want to have fun so let them choose their tent mates and let them hang out with their friends but be just a bit more strict with them.
