Multiple Intelligences Xplored

On 17th January, 2009, over 300 children from 9 leading Bangalore schools participated in Multiple Intelligences Xplored (M.I.X.) – an interschool event organized for the second consecutive year by Inventure Academy, Bangalore. Exclusively for students from grades 1-7, this event challenges the contestants across eight intelligence categories, as propounded by Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, and has been designed to distinguish inherent talents and bring about a powerful positive impact on the children’s self esteem. The unique events were conceptualised and designed by MI experts at Inventure.

The Think-a-thon!!! Event tested logical, interpersonal and spatial intelligences. A sample of the challenges:

Division 3 [Grade 5 students] had to construct a glider from a collection of materials like thick plastic sheets, broom sticks, plastic sticks, twine and wire. The glider would then be released from one of the buildings carrying two eggs and had to land as far away as possible, without breaking the eggs!

Division 4 [Grades 6 and 7 students] had to make a propeller powered boat using ice cream sticks, broom sticks, paper, rubber bands, twine, glue and cardboard!! The boats were tested in a huge roundabout tank filled with water.

Creative Sparks tested the musical, kinesthetic, interpersonal, spatial and linguistic intelligences; the different divisions were given different challenges.

Students of Grades 1 and 2 had to create a “vocal orchestra” – using just their voices to create the effect of a symphony!

Participants from Grades 3 and 4 had to actually create a set of musical instruments using plastic bottles, glass containers, coconut shells, coffee seeds, rubber bands, pins, buckets and water. They then composed songs [lyrics and music!] and performed with their “created” instruments as accompaniments!

Teams from Division 4 got 3 unrelated pieces of material – a prop, a CD with instrumental music and a message. Using mime or dance [no words permitted!], they had to convey their message using the prop and set it to the music on the CD! One team got a mop as a prop and a piece of fast-paced music to convey the message, “Sleepless!”

Wild Wide World tested the Naturalist intelligence of participants from Grades 1 and 2. They had to “create a new species of animal”, dress up a team member as that animal and get him/her to enact it. They were given old clothes, paint, thread and papers to “make their creature”.

Colours of Our World challenged the hidden artist and his spatial intelligence. Events varied from a rangoli based on tessellation patterns, rock painting using natural dyes, to wall painting and painting handmade paper with the aid of foot and hand prints! The themes for all art events were the core values / core purpose of Inventure Academy, phrased in a manner that could be understood by children of specific age groups.

Josh was the event for the sports oriented. The children had to run an obstacle course, do a complex route on the Climbing Wall, “cross a river ” suspended in mid-air, do some serious dunking on the basketball court, and sprint to the finish!

All by Myself was all about getting in touch with oneself and one’s inner strengths. This was an individual activity and required participants to design a Coat of Arms that portrayed them best. For the second year running, Inventure Academy emerged the overall champions!

Co-Founder and CEO of Inventure Academy, Nooraine Fazal, summed up the purpose and spirit of the day through her very apt words... “As members of the learning community, it is our responsibility to adapt to and promote new methods of learning, to acquire higher levels of achievement in education and prepare our students not just to survive, but to excel anywhere in the world. We have organized this event to make each and every one realize that they are gifted in some unique way, and equip them with the ability and conviction to realize their full potential.”

After much excitement, drama and competition, the day brought forth the following champions in the four divisions.