Our journey started in Baabda forest. Every morning, as the children arrived at the entrance of the forest, they noticed the train tracks. They would walk along the trail and jump between the metal sleepers. This playful routine soon developed into a genuine wondering.
Many questions emerged: “Where does the train come from?”, “Where does it go?”, “Who rides the train?”, “Does it really exist?”…
Over the weeks, we set out on a journey to find the core concepts around which our inquiry will revolve. The questions on trains involved connection, relations, speed, distance, and time. We designed immersive experiences incorporating narratives, pictures, maps, books, videos, field trips, and above all playfulness and imagination. As a starting point, we crafted the story of Mantoura and Sami, an adaptation of the fable The Country and The City Mouse.
The story focuses on how the worlds of both mice connected with the help of the train. Traveling by train made it possible for each mouse to experience what lies beyond their living environments. The narration depicted the trip from Baabda to Beirut by train.