As I was walking down the Year 7 verandah today, I couldn’t help but notice a group of boys gathered on the grass just outside the Year 7 classrooms. As I wandered over closer, I could smell something somewhat different … and see smoke coming from this group of boys. While my first thought, having worked with boys for quite a few years now, was to go for the fire extinguisher – I soon I noticed their teacher sitting in the middle of this group.

When I approached the group it was wonderful to see how involved all the boys were. They were learning and enjoying it! However, the practical learning didn’t stop there for the lesson as I was quickly invited to join the group back up in the Resources Centre where they were to wrap toilet paper around each other! Why? Well … Michael Icely (East Lindfield) has taken the time to explain what exactly the smoke I saw and later the toilet paper were all about! This is his report:

Today at my history lesson Mrs Schofield, our teacher had told us that we were to go to Seminar 1 where she would tell us what we were going to do during the lesson. The bell had rung and my class had gone up there where she was waiting for us with some bags.

We had no clue what the plan was … but then she told us that we had to walk silently behind the language room. When we had got there she told us about what the first of two fun activities.

The first was that she was going to show us how the ancient Egyptians made smoke while talking to the gods. We had to stand 2 metres away so no one would get hurt. After a few interesting questions and answers Mr. Sidgreaves came down with a camera. He said “I could smell the smoke a mile away and decide to find out what it was.” I thought he knew because some how our history teacher Mrs. Schofeild told him before hand or Mr. Sidgreaves was very smart when it comes to smoke signals. After a few great snap shots Mrs. Schofield told Mr. Sidgreaves to come up in 15 minutes time to the Seminar room.

Then the better of two great activities happened. We had to get into groups of three and mummify one of our partners. I was lucky enough to be mummified with my two partners Mitchell Johnston (Drummoyne) and Ibbi Warfield (Longueville). The best mummifying got a Fredo Frog and I was confident that we were going to win! Mitchell started at the legs and had done most of it in 3 minutes. Mr Sidgreaves walked in and everyone was pretty much finished except my head. When we had finished it was time to decide who won … the make or break time! Problem was … I could not see or hear who it was that won except for knowing that everyone was ripping and throwing the toilet paper around in celebration becasue Mrs Schofield decided to give us all Fredos … and three lucky boys had two. Then Mrs. Schofield said that I could right the report for Mr. Sidgraves and … well … that was the best History lesson ever.

Pictured in Photo 2:  Jack Campbell (Gladesville), James Goodman (Hunters Hill), Mitch Frater-Baird (Killara), Ben Rooney (Avalon), Jarryd Yun (Castle Cove), Michael Icely (East Lindfield), Dylan Chin (Killara), Will O’Connell (Gladesville), Ibbi Warfield (Longueville), Harrison Fricot (Glebe), Max Taylor (Riverview), Will Wennerbom (Birchgrove), Chad Hazouri (Hunters Hill), James Pope (Russell Lea), Adam Dolin (Lane Cove), Ewan Spinks (Tennyson Point), Mitchell Johnston (Drummoyne).

Pictured in Photo 3:  Mitch Frater-Baird (I think), Harrison Fricot and Adam Dolin