Saturday Activities: Learning, Connection, and Growth Through Play

• Sandhiya Bala, Saranya, Ajay I, Poovizhi, Tamil, Jayabharathy, Poonguzhali, Pravin, Vaishanvi, Preethi P, and Sandhiya Saravanan

Every Saturday from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM, we come together as an office team to step away from our regular work and spend quality time with one another. These Saturday activities are designed to strengthen connection, care, and collaboration through cleaning, gardening, shared learning, and play. This time allows us to slow down, connect beyond work roles, and build a sense of togetherness within the team.

Last Saturday was especially meaningful as we focused on learning and personal growth by exploring STEMland games. With the support of the STEMland team, colleagues who were already familiar with the games explained the rules and purpose to everyone. We then split into groups and played together. It was heartening to see people learn from one another, support each other, and work as a team. The session highlighted the power of peer-to-peer learning, where learning felt joyful, engaging, and natural in a relaxed and playful environment.

 Insight from our team:

My name is Ajay, and I stand for self-awareness for myself and others. While learning and playing games at STEM Land, I observed strong teamwork and collaboration among the team. I noticed that learning through games created a safe space where mistakes were accepted and curiosity was encouraged. I understood that collaboration not only improves learning outcomes but also builds trust and self-awareness within the team.

My name is Saranya, and I deeply care about equality and perseverance, both for myself and for others.  Last Saturday, I learned about STEMland games, and the experience made me feel calm, focused, and fully present. The games required my complete attention and awareness of what was happening in each moment. As I played, I noticed how these games strengthen focus and memory. Observing, remembering patterns, and staying attentive kept my mind active yet peaceful.

Working with the team supported my learning and helped me stay aware of others. This experience reminded me that calmness, focus, and awareness are essential for meaningful learning. As a teacher, I feel inspired to bring such mindful games into my classroom to support children’s attention, memory, and emotional balance.

My name is Vaishnavi. K I stand for kindness and respect for myself and for others. During the Saturday activity, we learned and played games from STEM Land, where I learned new games and spent time playing together in a way that made learning happen naturally. This experience helped me realize the importance of slowing down and living in the present, instead of always running behind work. Sharing time, play, and learning together made the process meaningful, and the way learning and teaching grew as a group was clearly visible. I sincerely acknowledge and appreciate everyone who took the initiative to make this experience happen, as it gave us a wonderful opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together.

My name is A. Pravin, and I stand for equality and compassion for myself and others.

As part of this week’s Saturday activity, we came together to explore different games in the STEMland. First, the people who already knew the games and their rules explained them to everyone in the group. This made the experience more fun and interesting, as everyone was actively engaged asking questions, clearing doubts, and eagerly waiting for their turn to play. After the game explanations, we split into groups based on the games we were interested in. I played Jungle Speed, a game focused on pattern and color matching. The goal was to quickly grab the object placed at the center when the matching pattern appeared. My teammates and I were very keen and competitive, trying our best to grab the object first and give penalty cards to others.

Throughout the game, there was a lot of laughter, focus, and enthusiasm. It required sharp observation and quick understanding, which made it even more exciting. The game gave us a great opportunity to spend quality time with our team members. The game felt almost endless because of how engaging it was. Those who won early began supporting and encouraging others, helping them stay focused and succeed. Overall, it was a joyful and meaningful experience that strengthened our bonds and created a positive team spirit.

My name is Poonguzhali. I stand for courage for myself and others. On Saturday, I participated in various mathematics games with my team. I felt happy and excited. I learned to think faster and solve problems in a fun way. I shared my ideas and listened to my team members. I enjoyed working together. This Saturday’s activity helped me understand that learning can be fun when we play and learn as a team.

My name is SandhiyaBala and I stand for Courage, care, and happiness for myself and others. This Saturday’s activity demonstrated that learning does not always require a formal setting. When people come together with openness, playfulness, and respect, learning becomes joyful, deep, and lasting. Seeing teamwork, encouragement, and shared growth reminded us of the power of community and collective learning.

My name is Jayabharathy. I stand for care and courage for myself and others. Saturday activities bring strong collaboration among various team members and help us work together with a positive spirit. I feel truly happy and joyful whenever I see the plants we have planted growing well and giving us beautiful flowers and fresh vegetables. Every Saturday, after completing these activities, I feel a deep sense of accomplishment because I know I have contributed my part in taking care of our campus. I also notice that when we work together as a team, the work gets completed much faster, and the entire process becomes more enjoyable and fun. These activities not only improve our campus environment but also strengthen teamwork, bonding, and shared responsibility among all of us.

My name is Preethi P. I stand for courage and happiness for myself and others. From the Saturday activity, I noticed that many participants were deeply interested in playing the games. Beyond just playing, they demonstrated strong teamwork, supported one another, and used different strategies and creative tricks to succeed. Through this activity, I learned the importance of team collaboration, trust, and adaptability. I also noticed that when people feel safe and happy, they naturally show courage to try new ideas, take initiative, and contribute their best to the group.

My name is Tamil, and I stand for courage and compassion for myself and others. While learning and playing games at STEM Land, I observed strong teamwork and collaboration among the team. The activities created a safe space where mistakes were accepted, and curiosity was encouraged. I realized that learning through games makes everyone feel comfortable to participate and try new ideas without fear. Through this experience, I understood that collaboration not only improves learning outcomes but also builds trust, connection, and self-awareness within the team.

My name is Poovizhi, and I stand for equality and equity for myself and others. Playing STEM Land games on Saturday was very enjoyable, and everyone had a great time. It served as a meaningful team-building activity, and we also learned new games along the way. I felt happy seeing everyone participate, play, and enjoy themselves. It had been a long time since we all played games together, and last Saturday was a good experience.

My name is Sandhiya Saravanan. I stand for progress as happiness and love for myself and others.
Every Saturday, we come together to clean up our campus or repair and fix things that need attention. This time, as a new step, we decided to play Stemland games. Many of these games are not used regularly, and even when they are, their purpose is often not fully understood. So this Saturday, we chose to explore and play them together. It turned out to be a joyful and meaningful experience. Playing as a team brought everyone closer—people connected, collaborated, and laughed together. More than just games, the activity united us and strengthened our sense of togetherness.