A Talk on Broken Hill

Walking with a grade 3 girl to her lesson, we started talking about NAPLAN (groan). 

Girl [excited]: But the good thing is, we don't have any homework next week!
Me: Well, that's a nice thing.
Girl: But - we did have three assignments this week.
Me: Three?!
Girl: Yep.  Well, one of them was a talk.  We had to talk about a town.
Me: Which one did you do?
Girl: Broken Hill.
Me: Ooh, what can you tell me about Broken Hill?
Girl: Ummm... Ahhh...
Me: Well, where is it?
Girl: It's, like, in the middle of Australia.
Me: Which state is it in?
Girl [in the "I'm giving a talk" tone of voice]: It's in outback New South Wales.
Me: Now, this is something I've always wanted to know - why is it called Broken Hill?
Girl [obviously pleased she could divulge knowledge]: Well, it's because when Charles Sturt jumped off the boat, he saw this ... hill... and thought it looked... broken.
Me: Ah.  So, is there a river or something?  For him to jump off the boat?
Girl [looking a bit confused]: Um... No, when he sailed on the ocean.
Me: Hang on a minute.  Australia looks like this [I drew a very quick squiggly outline of Australia in the air, with a tiny Tasmania at the bottom which made her giggle].  You just told me that Broken Hill is in the middle of Australia [vigorous nod] - so, how is Charles Sturt jumping off a ship on the ocean and seeing Broken Hill.
Girl: Ooh.  I mean, a lake.
Me: A lake?  Really?  Are you sure it wasn't a river?
Girl: Oh yeah.  Yeah, it was a river.

Well, I did learn 2 things.  Even more, really (I might include the end-of-lesson discussion soon).  But I didn't know why it's called Broken Hill, and I didn't know that Charles Sturt was the one who discovered it.

Conductors

A little one, 7 or 8 years old, had been learning for a couple of years.  So she was one of the youngest in the school ensemble.  Plus, very bright (if a little shy).

Girl [a bit excited and nervous]: Um... At school this week... In ensemble... I got to conduct.
Me: Did you?!  Wow!  How exciting!
Girl [grinning]: Yes.
Me: Were you scared at all?
Girl [matter-of-factly]: No.  Not really.  No-one watches the conductor.  I was pretty sure they wouldn't watch me either.

So true.

Of Stairs and Modesty

7-yr-old girl.  Her classroom is on the top floor of a 3-storey building with external stairs.  As we start descending the stairs on the way to her lesson, both of us bend to keep our skirts in place - the wind creates rather a 'Marilyn' effect and our hands rushed to our knees for modesty.

Girl: Ooh, I hate these stairs.  That always happens, and if there are boys behind, they can see our undies!  It's not very ladylike.
Me [smiling]: I agree.  That's not the kind of thing we want happening.
Girl [thoughtful]: Unless... Unless we were in a play, and we had to have that happen...
Me: I suppose...  But I'm not sure that's the sort of play we would really want to be in, do you?
Girl [rather primly]: No.  Of course not.  Not. Very. Ladylike.

On My Holidays - Weird Weather

First week back, and I ask nearly every student how their holidays were.  This conversation was with a 7-yr-old girl, who is still young enough to tell stories in a very dramatic way (one parent I know blames this on the Wiggles).

Me: How was your holiday?
Girl: It was ... SO ... GOOD!!
Me: Ooh - what did you do on your holidays?
Girl: Well... Okay, first, we went to Stradbroke Island for... about 2 weeks ... I think.  Oh, and then we went CAMPING!  It was... It was so cool.
Me: So you pretty much spent the whole holidays outside?
Girl [grinning]: Yep.  Oh, and then we went to Sydney!  For a wedding. 
Me: Oh how exciting.  Did you wear a pretty outfit?
Girl: Yes.  Well.  Um.  Yes.  But - when we were there - it was cold.  It was really strange...
Me: I know what you mean!  I was in Melbourne for a few days, and one day it was 39 degrees-
Girl [shocked]: Whoa!!
Me: -and then the next day it was only 20 degrees.  So I went from really cool clothes to jeans and a jumper.
Girl [slowly]: That is ... So... Weird...

The Giraffe Joke

At this point, I was teaching a girl of 7.  Her 5-yr-old sister was always in the lesson as well (very well-behaved).  Neither girl was particularly tall - the younger one was about as tall as my navel.  At the end of this lesson, the little one gave me a hug (fairly standard procedure), and, still with her arms wrapped around me, looked up.

Girl: Miss Anna, do you know why giraffes have such long necks?
Me [smiling at the irony]: No... why do giraffes have such long necks?
Girl [starting to giggle]: Because... because they have smelly feet!!!

Biggest Loser

I have a fit ball in my living room, which is possibly the most popular item in my house.  One Saturday morning, I had this conversation with a 7-yr-old - possibly the longest sentence I'd heard him say.

Boy: Um, Anna?
Me: Yes?
Boy: Were you on The Biggest Loser?
Me: Ah... no... [????? What are you saying??? - oh wait, it's a Biggest Loser brand fit ball] NO - I mean, no.  I bought that at a supermarket.  I had a choice of that one or some girly pink thing.
Boy: [Doesn't look convinced.  Thanks a lot, kid]

Five Husbands

This is the beginning of quite a saga.  In 2008, I was teaching a girl in grade 2, still 7 years old but nearly 8.  She was unpacking, and I was writing something in her notebook. 

Girl: um, Miss M?  Are you married?
Still looking down, I held up my left hand, to indicate the absence of a wedding ring.
Girl [incredulous]: You have five husbands?!?! You must do a lot of cooking!!!
It was probably a couple of minutes before I could stop laughing and explain to her that most people, when married, wear a wedding ring on their ring finger, and by showing her that I wasn't wearing any rings, it means I'm probably not married. 

It didn't work though.  Since then, she has been working on My Life With Five Husbands.  Which is far more interesting than my actual life.