Vitality and Courage — The Ren He little Tree House
It did need big courage and vitality to complete each challenge
when interview proceeded all the way.
The little Tree House of Ren He Elementary School.
When a series of interviews were going to finish, the activity which we expected for long finally was going to start. We were going to build a little Tree House that belonged to Jan He Elementary School.
Two days ago, we went to the Er-Kong Tree House and before we proceeding the little Tree House building meeting, we found that Uncle Huang had prepared a lot of interesting materials. We took time to see how Uncle Huang transferred the garbage to “Golden House”.
Especially how to use the tools, all of us had never touched hammer at home. We did not understand how heavy it was until we took it. Trying to knock several times, our hands went numbness.
It was hard to image that the Tree House was built by each nail and hammer. No wonder Uncle Huang need to spend 3 years to such scale of Tree House.
To Make Tree House Spirit Sustainable —
Make Good Use of Recycling
That looked like not attractive recycling stuffs were going to change to little Tree house.
Brought the dying back to life.
One of important consciousness of Ren He Little Tree House was to continue Uncle Huang’s real intention of building the Er-Kong Tree House—made the house to use recycling stuffs.
Before we started the activity, we had been discussing with Uncle Huang that what tools and stuffs we could use to build the little Tree House. Uncle Huang also provided us some recycling objects that he kept from past, such as wood plate, tile, old window etc. He also discussed with us manufacturing opinion and exchanged mutually the creative idea.
“How did you want to design the roof? Did you want to use wood piece or other material on two sides?” In order to build the Ren He little Tree House smoothly, these issued needed to be considered again and again.
Uncle Huang also suggested that we could prepare something we liked to put in the little Tree House so that we could build the “dreamy little Tree House” which actually belonged to us.
The day was coming. We were more and more expecting the day. What kind of creative little Tree House would come out that was by way of these young kids’ clever brands and skillful hands. Let’s see.
Let’s Start !
All things would start with difficulty. Although we had seen hammer, we were still scary.
Still scary...
Although the young kids participated activities vigorously, they were kind of shy and close at the beginning of the activity day. Even though rough ideas and plans had been in mind, they walked all around the materials and thought over and over, took them up and laid them down when activity started.
When facing the hammers and nails which they rarely touched in general, they somehow appeared helpless. Most of time, they just waited and looked, not even mentioned to touch the terrible saw.
When Uncle Huang and teachers leaded the way to practice and piloted the students one by one to proceed slowly, everyone gradually became vitally and bravely.
Finally, everyone found that as long as you remembered main points and concentrated on each detail, build a Tree House was much easier than you imaged.
Remembered the Main Point — Intended to Give Full Play
From fear to proficiency, as long as you paid attention on detail and safety,
everything could be overcome.
Listened carefully and practiced step by step, no doubt,
you will be skillful.
“When you sawed something, you needed to slightly bend your finger to shore up the saw. Doing so was safer and would keep you from hurt.” “Needed not to be rush, took time to saw a slot first and then it would became easier”.
“Stepped on the wood stick steadily, you could saw it beautifully”. “Started gently, held the nail right direction and gradually put your strength”. These thoughtful reminding words were from Uncle Huang and teachers continuously to remind every kid in research team at that day.
When the activity continued to carry on, everyone found that as long as to pay attention on the detail and do thing carefully, it was not as difficult as you imaged. It was true that to be brave and careful was very important.
But there were so many innocent nails died in the process. The saws which should be tough were twisted right and left several times. After everyone was familiar with and used to it, the process and progress went very smoothly.
Even though we never had the experience to remove nails from discard, never sawed the wood sticks that was thicker than the arms, after practiced we became skillful and excellent.
Threw in local spirit — secret weapon was on the stage.
Overlapping piece by piece to bring out atmosphere of
Er-Kong Servicemen's Residential Compounds.
To bring the painted dragon to life by putting in the pupils of its eyes Deeply experience Er-Kong where we lived.
When we discussed the Tree House construction, we mentioned we hoped to achieve a goal that was to throw in the unique characteristics of Servicemen’s Residential Compounds to our little Tree House.
Therefore Uncle Huang prepared a secret weapon for us attentively— tiles.
What could the tiles do? It was to use it on roof recordation. To paste the small tiles that had been cut on the wood plates, we made the Tree House roof complying with the characteristics of Servicemen's Residential Compounds.
Uncle Huang cut the discarded tiles in advance and then used resin overlapping the tiles piece by piece. Although the angle and position were rearranged several times in the process, the Tree House was incautiously turned down that caused the tiles falling all around, we needed to start over.
Such test let every kid understand the structure and form of a tile roof. It made them understand the unique construction elements of their community. Except the visible finished product, this was the most precious invisible experience brought by the activity of building the Ren He little Tree House.
Looked at the gradual shaping up tile roof, we would like to copy Uncle Huang’s pet phrase “it was awesome”.
Priceless Memory — Completed the Task Perfectly
Took pictures with new born Jen He little Tree House!
Short moment contained immeasurable precious memory.
After pasted the tiles piece by piece to roof, the task of Jen He little Tree House would be completed. It was just a short afternoon time. To recall the whole process, everyone was timid from the beginning and finally they joined the activity positively.
Experienced the pleasure of DIY and the happiness of team work achievement, we knew we had big success today. Finally, we must have group photos with Uncle Huang. Say “Cheers~”.
