On a bright, warm afternoon in late March, our ESL students gathered outside for a spring picnic on the Anderson-Clarke Center lawn. With picnic blankets, delicious food, and lawn games to play, it was a nice break from classes and a welcome chance to get some fresh air.
The students were excited to try a variety of sandwiches, veggies, and chips for lunch, but not before enjoying some of the games that had been set out earlier.
Some of the games students played included paddleball and cornhole, but there were also some Easter-themed games to try. One of these required students to balance an Easter egg on a spoon and carry it all the way to the finish line in a race against their classmates.
This race was exciting, with some students able to balance the egg for the entire length of the course. While some students dropped their egg, and it hit the floor and cracked, they were quick to pick it back up and keep going to the finish line.
After the first round of lawn games, students grabbed sandwiches, veggies, chips, fruit and cookies for lunch and found spots on the picnic blankets to sit and eat. Students had the chance to sit and talk with peers from other program levels, which always helps form new friendships.
Next was the main event of the afternoon - the Easter Egg Scramble! Students lined up and heard the rules before splitting up into teams. Each student was given a gallon-sized plastic bag to fill with as many eggs as they could.
Each Easter egg scattered around the lawn had a point value assigned inside, which contributed to the teams’ scores. At the end of the event, while everyone rushed to collect as many eggs as possible, only one team could be crowned the winner.
After counting all of their eggs, each team presented their total number of points to the judges. The three students in the winning team each went home with a colorful potted flower in celebration of spring.
As our picnic on the lawn ended, students gathered their things to head home for the rest of the day. Some others stayed a while longer, enjoying the fresh spring air and throwing around a football. It was the perfect opportunity to bring back this annual event, one which students always enjoy!
Thank you for reading this social activity recap on our blog. There is always more to come, so stay tuned to our social media channels for more stories and recaps this month.
By Hadrian Barbosa