Well I have had a very fun and successful first week teaching grades 4 and 5 out here! I have already learned a lot, and I am looking forward to the many weeks ahead! Some areas that I hope to improve in the next little while include interacting with the students of other grades, interacting with the staff, and creating fun activities to enhance the curriculum for the kids. Here is a recap of some of the highlights of this week:
Science - We didn't get much time for science this week because we had other things going on instead. We spent most of our class reviewing the previous "simple machines" unit because it serves as a building block for the "building devices and vehicles" unit. I decided to test their knowledge of simple machines by giving each class pod a "mystery bag" with a simple machine inside. The students had to identify the object, identify what type of simple machine it is, tell what type of work that object helps you to complete, and what force is needed to make that object do work. Below are some pictures of the mystery bags.
Science - We didn't get much time for science this week because we had other things going on instead. We spent most of our class reviewing the previous "simple machines" unit because it serves as a building block for the "building devices and vehicles" unit. I decided to test their knowledge of simple machines by giving each class pod a "mystery bag" with a simple machine inside. The students had to identify the object, identify what type of simple machine it is, tell what type of work that object helps you to complete, and what force is needed to make that object do work. Below are some pictures of the mystery bags.
Health - in health we have been talking about school rules and safety. I had the kids do a "graffiti walk" to brainstorm things that could been potentially dangerous in each area of the school. We then used the brainstormed ideas to create good general safety rules for being safe in each area. We also discussed how to make sure that other kids are being safe too. Here is a photo of some of the graffiti posters!
Physical Education - We have been playing basketball. We worked on dribbling drills and played many games such as knockout and musical chairs (dribble to a hoola-hoop when I blow the whistle). I have discovered that the kids really enjoy elimination games, so I have been trying to find lots of those games to play. We have also practiced some passing through games as well.
Social - The kids have been very intrigued during our "living with the land" social unit. After learning about different ways that aboriginals used to communicate, I had the students draw a pictograph story using aboriginal symbols, and then they shared their story while holding a "talking stick". Below is one student's pictograph story.
Social - The kids have been very intrigued during our "living with the land" social unit. After learning about different ways that aboriginals used to communicate, I had the students draw a pictograph story using aboriginal symbols, and then they shared their story while holding a "talking stick". Below is one student's pictograph story.
Math - The kids have been struggling to understand wording and arrays for multiplying by 10s, 100s, and 1000s. To help out, I decided to make some math games that they can play to practice. In "Zero War" the kids simply flip their two cards, and the first person to multiply them gets to keep the cards. I also created equation cards so that kids can kinaesthetically make an array using tens/ hundreds blocks to demonstrate the equation on the card and to prove an answer. The answers are on the back of the card so that they can double check their work or have a partner double check it.