Hato Juli Classroom Visit

As part of our clinical experience we were given the amazing opportunity to each visit one of the schools in our communities. For days preceding the visit, our group spent much time planning ways that we could make our time spent there beneficial to the students. We bought supplies and thought of important topics that we could educate a group of students on. After meeting with the director of the school, she selected a kindergarten class for us to visit. That morning, when we walked in to the classroom, I immediately saw the excitement in the children's faces. Even the older students were gathered around the windows and doorways, trying to catch a peak at what was going on inside the classroom. We began our education with a presentation on handwashing. It was surprising to me to learn that most of the children had never even washed their hands before. Our next bit of education was on proper dental hygiene. Following this information, we handed out toothbrushes to each of the students, as well as to many of the students who were peering in to the room. The last, and most exciting event, was teaching the children about the different nutrients found in fruits. Lourdes was great with the children, and she turned the vitamin teaching into a game that the children really seemed to enjoy. She asked the children to throw the fruits to the corresponding nursing student who was holding the sign with the correct vitamin letter on it that the fruit contained. Finally, before leaving the classroom we gave each of the children one of the goodie bags we had prepared for them. The excitement on their faces made the experience so much better. The smallest gifts (such as markers and stickers) made them all so happy. It was a great feeling to know that we had made such an impact in each of these children's lives. I am extremely grateful to have had this experience, it is definitely one that I will never forget!