MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Volunteers from Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 12 visited a Japanese kindergarten class at Marifu Hoikuen elementary to play with a class of 3- to 5-yearolds Sept. 30.
“The children automatically start to get excited when we enter the school,” said Cpl. Marcie McWaters, MALS-12 community relations coordinator. “They already knew we were coming.”
The volunteers had a planned schedule with interactive learning activities designed to help the children learn English while having fun.
Activities began with the “Good Morning” song, sung in English. This song is used as an introduction, and the volunteers introduced themselves to the children shortly after the song’s conclusion.
The next activity was a counting game where the volunteers used flash cards with numbers and the children get to call out the correct numbers from one to 15.
“The children get really into the games,” said McWaters. “Eventually they’ll start screaming.”
Afterward there was a color-coordination exercise.
The children were given bean-bags of different colors and then the colors were called out. The children with the corresponding colored beanbags stood up and then everyone counted how many stood up.
The visits last approximately one hour, but are packed with fun for the kids’ entertainment. As much as they are having fun, they are also learning.
Another game the volunteers played with the children was shape association. A volunteer holds a different shape in a different part of the room. As the different shapes were called out they raced to the corner where the shape was.
“The kids are so much fun,” said Lance Cpl. Jeff Daly, volunteer. “As we were trying to leave, the kids ganged up on me and clung to my arms trying to see how many of them I could pick up.”
To close the activities, the children played duck-duck-goose. “Once the kids get to know you, you always get picked,” said McWaters.
MALS-12 hosts community relations events three to five times a month with 10-11 volunteers for each event.