29/03/2026
On Thursday, we rolled the kids down a hill in a giant ball. But before the Zorb, we did something just as important. The kids got to know their amygdala, the part of the brain that acts like a guard dog. Always trying to protect us, but sometimes barking when we're actually fine. They drew their own amygdala characters, figured out what makes theirs go off, and practised ways to calm it down so their thinking brain can take over.
Then we asked them to do something that would definitely make it bark. Every single child gave it a go. And the laughing and screaming on the way down said it all. We were also lucky enough to hear from Andrew, who shared the real story behind how the Zorb came to be. It wasn't a straight line from idea to giant ball rolling down a hill. It was trial, error, and trying again. Exactly the kind of resilience we talk about with the kids, and a good reminder that the things that look effortless usually weren't.
Back at base, the kids captured the experience through descriptive writing, then dove into the science of what actually makes things roll. Potential energy, kinetic energy, friction, gravity. All tested out by building their own marble runs. The creativity and problem solving in that room was something else.
A huge thank you to the team at ZORB Rotorua for making the day possible. We are so grateful.
