Skip to main content

Curiosity Kits



So, Jen got me thinking about ravioli of all things, which led me to thinking about judging books by their covers and how everyday objects can hide stories.  To me, growing up in the Welsh Valleys, I had no idea what was inside these pasta treats! This got me thinking about my suitcase:
This may seem like a battered old suitcase, but it can be full of wonder.  Many scoff at the idea of 'feely' boxes, but I like to take this bad boy into a lesson when introducing a new place.  This needn't be an exotic location, last time I filled it full of stuff I'd have in Brighton.
Or a walk in Wales, a visit to Goa, anything really. Ice axe, bus ticket, tent, riot shield, gum shield, fleece comfortable old man shoes.
I get the objects out and let the class explore them - it could be fifty maps.  The idea is for them to discuss the environment and use their geographical vocabulary  to describe the place in terms of:
//feel
//touch
//smell
//taste
//sound
The writing that comes out of this is exceptional.  If students can talk and question like a geographer, their writing develops along side.
By the end of the lesson I share an image or video of the place - it's always surprising how accurately most of the class get.
So, how do you add mystery and develop curiosity about a place?

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What makes a learning experience profound? Personal reflections and possible implications for classroom practice.

I have recently begun a Leadership Pathways journey.  As part of the first core day, we were asked to reflect on a profound learning experience. This got me thinking about how many profound learning experiences I have both been involved in, and how many I have been able to give to others.  Our group came up with a huge long list, but these are my five. Emotional Connected Demanding Reflective Collaborative As always, these are personal thoughts and quite mixed up.  I put them here so that I can look back on them (plus they’d get lost inside my world-cup-free brain) 1. Emotional I can’t think of a time where deep learning hasn’t engaged my emotions.  From being awe inspired to that tingle feeling when a student gets a light bulb moment.  From this-is-the-happiest-day-ever, to I-think-I’m-about-to die.  How often do we engage the emotions of those we teach?  Here, I would argue that having a safe learning environment i...
4 comments
Read more

Banned Word Board

Today I want to share some simple ideas that I have found to be very effective in the classroom. I can't say that they are my own original ideas, although I have played around with them. The first is the Banned word Board. This is a simple display in the classroom that lists a number of words that are not allowed to be used by pupils in their written or oral answers. The effect has been an increase in the quality of written work, and I have almost made comments such as 'Sir it's simple, the stuff just affects the thing and causes people problems'. Pupils are now more able to use specific language, something that is vital especially at GCSE. I have had to make a few modifications, such as the introduction of 'Heavenly Words' This is an additional display placed on the ceiling. I found this necessary as pupils needed some stimulus in finding replacement words. After advice received after posting the idea on the SLN forum , I have also introduced semi-banned words...
Post a Comment
Read more

Year 10 need your help! Can we get Twitter and Facebook in to a GCSE project?

I’ve been told that social media has no place in the classroom.  Now, this post is not to battle that argument head on.  Let’s smash it. This week, Year 10 are visiting Hengistbury Head .  They are investigating whether this piece of coastline should be protected.  They are wondering what you think? You may know the location well, you may not know it at all.  But we’d like to hear from you all the same.  This will either result in some usable data and comments, or not.  Either way, we'll know and I’m sure that your comments will help spark discussion in class! What would Year 10 like me to do? Just simply comment on this post or tweet me, with an answer to this question: ‘Should Hengistubury Head be protected from the Sea? Just answer Yes or No and give a brief reason.  It would also be useful if you could tell us whether you know the area or not. Many thanks in anticipation……   Image – my own.
23 comments
Read more