Year 2

Year 2 Field Trip to Godong Ijo, Depok

Our Year 2 students enjoyed a joyful and hands-on field trip where they explored nature, learned about basic plant science, practiced simple animal care, and participated in traditional games. The experience provided meaningful opportunities for learning beyond the classroom in an engaging and interactive environment.

Prior to the trip, students participated in a short classroom session to review respectful behavior around plants and animals, discuss safety guidelines, and go over reminders about uniforms and lunch procedures to ensure a smooth and successful day.

When we arrived, students began the day with a lively welcome dance focused on caring for nature and protecting the environment. Following this, they participated in a guided nature walk through vegetable gardens, ornamental plants, and native trees. During the walk, students observed different leaf shapes, colors, and sizes, and learned about various types of plants.

They also had the opportunity to create their own kokedama using a Sansevieria plant. Each student brought their kokedama home and made a promise to take responsibility for caring for it.

What is kokedama? Kokedama, translating to “moss ball” in Japanese, It is a 500-year-old gardening art form where a plant’s root system is wrapped in solid, covered with moss, and bound with string, eliminating the need for a pot.

After that, students participated in animal care activities. They enjoyed the safe, supervised interactions with tame, friendly animals, including snakes, geckos, hermit crabs, iguanas, and a cockatoo. They also enjoyed feeding animals, such as pigeons, turtles, hedgehogs, and koi. They learned how to approach animals calmly and gently, offer food correctly, and the importance of clean water and shelter. Students developed empathy and a sense of responsibility toward living creatures. 

Moreover, students were overjoyed during the traditional games session. They did “lari bakiak” or running clogs, blowing a ping pong ball in a glass, and “engrang”.  The games emphasized teamwork and gross motor skills. In addition, this activity improves coordination, turn-taking, and cooperative play, as well as experience with cultural traditions and oral rule transmission.

Before lunch, students enjoyed a nature walk, observing medicinal and edible plants, including palm trees, fruit trees, turmeric plants, galangal trees, and more. 

It was a wonderful field trip that placed curiosity, responsibility, and teamwork at the heart of the experience. Students left feeling inspired to learn more about plants, animals, and how they interact within ecosystems.