Kerala woman aged 85 teaches children using sand and a stick
Indira Amma has used traditional methods to teach Malayalam, Hindi, English and mathematics for nearly a decade.
An 85-year-old woman, Indira Amma, has been teaching young children in Kerala using sand and a stick for nearly a decade, according to The Times of India.
Known affectionately as Ashaatti Ammumma, she teaches at the Temple of English School in Alappuzha. She uses a layer of sand on the ground to demonstrate letters and numbers, which children then trace with their fingers.
The lessons cover Malayalam, Hindi, English and mathematics. The method allows children to observe the shape of characters and practice repeatedly by smoothing the sand to start over.
The practice is connected to Kerala's traditional educational methods, such as Ezhuthiniruthu, where children trace their first letters on sand or rice. This approach is also associated with the Aashan Kalari system.
A video of her teaching recently went viral on social media after being shared by the Instagram account Mom of Safachiiii. The footage shows her preparing the sandy surface and demonstrating letters for the children to copy.
The method provides an opportunity for young learners to practice writing without the need for notebooks, pencils, blackboards or digital devices.