A good education begins with holistic development. All too often, everyone’s focus tends to be on academics and not on activities that promote physical, emotional, social, and intellectual well-being. However, field trips are an essential part of education. They give insights and opportunities.
On 26th of August 2023 the students of Ibn Al Haytham academy went for a field visit in Wayanad. This visit was done as a part of their data collection for research. There were 3 teachers and 11 students along with 1 photographer. The journey began from the campus at 6:00. A.M. After a journey of two hours, we had our breakfast. After spending there eating and enjoying the nature. We continued our journey to our destination.
After a two-hours journey we reached our first destination in a Tea Museum. Were we got a chance to go through the history of tea and coffee production and plantations of India. There we also got an opportunity to see the old machines which was used for the works of tea and coffee production. We also tasted different teas and coffee. Among them white tea was the special one. Which is said to be the original form of tea. There were perfumes which was in the same flavour of tea. Then we left from there by 12:00. P.M. Then we moved to our second destination which was the tea plantation of a company. There we got an opportunity to interact with the plantation workers were they shared their experiences. The workers were above 58 years and above. They work even after their retirement period. They shared their experiences about the place and their work and also about their daily routine. They also taught us how to pluck the tea leaves and which all leaves are being plucked in such a way that considering their age and leaving the one with disease.
Then we moved to our third destination which was a tea factory. Where we had a guide who showed us how these leaves are being transformed to tea powders. The entire process was shown from grinding the leaves to drying it then giving it air flow and to categorising it to 6 types. We also got to see many machines which helps in manufacture, pack and label the powders. Along with that we got to know that how this tea powders are being categorised into brand and reach the market. We also visited their store and some of us brought different types of tea powders. Then we headed to our next destination.
Our fourth destination was Kurichyarmala which was a beautiful destination. Were we had trekking and finally we ended it up near a waterfall. Were we enjoyed the divine nature. We also had an interactive talk with Shihas sir, our Deputy Director. He urged us to think about the brisking nature and asked us what we felt throughout the hiking. Then we enjoyed the falls and played in the water. Then we went back and had a delightful lunch together.
Then we travelled to Ummu ul Qura hifz school were we got a fresh up and visited the campus. They have a very good infrastructure and other facilities. That was end of our journey. At 5:30 we returned back to our hostel.
Take-aways from the field trip
➢ Tea Museum
• The history and geographical mapping of tea and coffee plantation in India
• About the plantations such as teak, bamboo etc…
• The machines used for tea manufacturing, production and making.
• Tasted traditional and different types of tea and coffee.
➢ Tea Plantation
• Interaction with tea plant workers we got to know about their working
condition.
• Learned to pluck the tea leaves also got to know which all leaves can be
plucked differentiating it from the one that caused diseases and colour.
• Also got to know about their family and daily life routine.
• Their experience during the land slide and flood.
• Their happiness of doing that work.
• The difference between the retired working workers and normal workers.
• About the paddy which is located in between the plantations.
• How the newly planted tea leaves are being differentiated from the one which
is at the age of plucking
• Got to know how they work in different climate.
• Equipment’s and safety tools they have been using for their job.
• How danger their working place is.
➢ Tea Factory
• The process of making tea powder. How a leaf is being made into a
powder.
• The process of drying leaves, to making it paste and then to powder,
oxidizing, aeration and to the nice tea powders.
• The categorization of this into 6 types according to their quality.
• We also got to know about how this powder is being sold in market.
➢ Kurichyarmala
• This breath-taking view helped us to look for the beauty of nature.
• It let us think about the nature and gave us more insights.
