An Education Programme for Teachers and Students from St. John’s Primary School, Ikiṣẹ
From 30th June to 11th July, 2025, the G.A.S. Farm House in Ikiṣẹ hosted My Story of Food: On The Farm!, a two-week creative learning programme in partnership with the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative (FCI). Bringing together teachers and students from St. John’s Primary School Ikiṣẹ, the programme transformed their classrooms into a collaborative space where food, art, and storytelling intertwined. Guided by Titilayo Mathias, programme manager at FCI, with support from St. John’s teachers, sessions explored indigenous foods, food systems, and sustainability through hands-on workshops in doodling, stitching, and paper craft. Alongside nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and tactile skills, the programme also supported teachers with co-learning and facilitation models.
Day one of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Monday, 30th June).
Week One: Monday 30th June – Friday 4th July
On Monday, 30th June, the programme began with a warm welcome from Titilayo Mathias, who introduced the week’s activities. This was followed by a lively doodle session inviting children to draw their happy place, filling the room with bursts of colour and imaginative scenes. Next came an introduction to cassava, which encouraged the children to share what they already knew about garri while sparking new curiosity about its origins and uses. In the afternoon, the focus shifted to hands-on craft as participants were introduced to embroidery stitching. They learned to measure, cut, and prepare their materials before carefully practising foundational techniques such as the running stitch and back stitch.
Day two of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Wednesday, 2nd July).
On Wednesday, 2nd July, the day began with an engaging oral survey on cassava, prompting the children to share their growing knowledge and personal experiences with the crop. Energised by the discussion, they returned to their embroidery work, this time starting their individual textile pieces. Each stitch, patch of fabric, and choice of colour contributed to what would eventually become a vibrant, collaborative appliqué.
Day three of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Thurday, 3rd July).
On Thursday, 3rd July, the children set out on a guided visit to the G.A.S. Farm House with Mrs. Monsurat Giwa (Alhaja), the Farm House supervisor. They walked through cassava fields and other crop areas, gaining a tangible connection to the week’s earlier lessons. Back in the workshop space, they channelled this fresh experience into a lively Five-Minute Doodle challenge, sketching continuous line drawings of cassava leaves, before winding down the day with a relaxed colouring exercise.
Day four of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Friday, 4th July).
The first week wrapped up on Friday, 4th July, with a Five-Minute Doodle challenge, this time using their non-dominant hand, pushing the children’s creativity and coordination in new directions. The day flowed into a hands-on session that blended drawing, fabric cutting, and stitching, as they transformed their earlier illustrations into textile works.
Day five of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Monday, 7th July).
Week Two: Monday 7th July - Friday 11th July
The second week began on Monday, 7th July, with the children returning to their collaborative appliqué, building on the embroidery skills developed in week one and learning new techniques to refine their work. The day also included a drawing exercise, where participants sketched imagined bird’s-eye views of the cassava farm, inspired by memories from their recent visit to the G.A.S. Farm House.
Day six of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Tuesday, 8th July).
On Tuesday, 8th July, the children explored drawing with their feet, discovering unexpected lines and shapes through this unconventional approach to mark-making. The session continued with a symmetry activity, introducing concepts of balance and proportion, before concluding with a hands-on paper craft exercise that encouraged precision, creativity, and the development of fine motor skills.
Day seven of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Wednesday, 9th July).
On Wednesday, 9th July, the G.A.S. team joined the programme alongside resident Dr Tinashe Mushakavanhu and interns Savannah Woodson and Nina Gilbert, who assisted the facilitator with the day’s activities. The session began with a drawing exercise using both hands, challenging the children’s coordination and imagination as they sketched fruits using a variety of coloured pens and markers. This was followed by a group storytelling session paired with a box-making activity. The children were divided into groups of five, with each participant assigned to create boxes of different sizes—ranging from 4 to 8 inches. Once assembled, the stacked boxes illustrated how small things can grow into something larger, and the children wrote stories inspired by their constructions, linking their narratives to the visual metaphor of growth.
Day eight of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Thursday, 10th July).
On Thursday, 10th July, the workshop opened with an observational drawing exercise, in which the children sketched a friend, focusing on detail, proportion, and character. The session then returned to the group appliqué project, which measured 58 x 58 inches at this stage. Participants layered the remaining pieces of fabric, secured patterns, and refined their stitching, completing the final touches on their collaborative artwork.
Day nine of My Story of Food – On The Farm! (Friday, 11th July).
On Friday, 11th July, the younger children, guided by teachers, crafted vibrant cassava leaves from paper, carefully cutting, shaping, and layering them into intricate designs. Meanwhile, the older participants finalized the group appliqué, tidying loose threads and ensuring the piece was ready for presentation. The programme concluded on a celebratory note, with shared snacks and a group photo marking the end of their two-week creative journey.
Event Details
Date: 30th June - 11th July 2025
Time: 10am - 2pm daily
Location: G.A.S. Farm House, Ecology Green Farm, Yinka Shonibare CBE Street, Ikiṣẹ, Off Omu ljebu Road, ljebu.
ABOUT THE FACILITATOR
Titilayo Mathias
Titilayo Mathias is an artist and educator with the Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative (FCI) and serves as programme manager at the Kano branch. Her practice focuses on integrating creativity into learning, encouraging children to explore their environment through art, play, and storytelling.
ABOUT THE FIVE COWRIES ART EDUCATION INITIATIVE
The Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative (FCI) uses arts and culture for improved learning outcomes, advocacy, and empowerment. Founded in 2018, FCI designs develops and delivers programmes for classrooms, communities and households. Through our core programmes, we deliver our projects – ‘My Story of Food’, ‘My Story of Water’, ‘My story of Energy’ and ‘My Story of Balance’. Our projects are structured around the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Mu Shuka Iri, delivered in North-West Nigeria focuses on empowering women in communities. Ibadandun, delivered in the South-West focuses on developing the capacity of classroom teachers.
This programme is generously supported by Deutsche Bank and delivered by The Five Cowries Arts Education Initiative (FCI) in collaboration with G.A.S.
