"Fun Corner" - Enrichment Activities for a Time of Distance Learning...
The first couple of weeks after the abrupt closing of school left me in a protracted funk; I imagine many other teachers experienced the same. It took me the better part of two weeks before I realized that the main missing emotional element in my life was the daily smiles, groans, silliness, and laughter that permeate a healthy learning environment. Teachers need to be able to laugh at their own mistakes and teaching flubs - and to have children seeing that that is the case. This helps nurture and maintain a culture of children learning to do the same. So often, resilience is a matter of turning off the cold self-critic and looking on the funny side.
Karl König carefully describes this aspect of our human condition: laughter and tears reset our balance, in opposite ways. I bet many students are feeling the same effect. “Distance teaching” removes almost all possibility of teacher-shared and classroom laughter in the lessons we post, and at the same time will by its nature increase the likelihood of student struggles, frustrations and even shut-down.
And as down as we teachers and students may feel about the sudden separation and 180-degree shift in methods, imagine the plight of most parents: tasked, with maybe one day’s notice, to turn themselves into teachers, to take up the burden of academic progress in countless new topics. I hear of many who feel stressed out, overwhelmed, at sea. Too many fears or tears, not enough laughter to keep learning in balance.
For these reasons, I’ve added a “Fun Corner” to some of my school’s google classroom offerings. This is a spot where a little extra lightness can be added to students’ (and parents’) daily schoolwork. Please note that these pleasant activities all serve an academic purpose as well as a break for fun.
The first couple of weeks after the abrupt closing of school left me in a protracted funk; I imagine many other teachers experienced the same. It took me the better part of two weeks before I realized that the main missing emotional element in my life was the daily smiles, groans, silliness, and laughter that permeate a healthy learning environment. Teachers need to be able to laugh at their own mistakes and teaching flubs - and to have children seeing that that is the case. This helps nurture and maintain a culture of children learning to do the same. So often, resilience is a matter of turning off the cold self-critic and looking on the funny side.
Karl König carefully describes this aspect of our human condition: laughter and tears reset our balance, in opposite ways. I bet many students are feeling the same effect. “Distance teaching” removes almost all possibility of teacher-shared and classroom laughter in the lessons we post, and at the same time will by its nature increase the likelihood of student struggles, frustrations and even shut-down.
And as down as we teachers and students may feel about the sudden separation and 180-degree shift in methods, imagine the plight of most parents: tasked, with maybe one day’s notice, to turn themselves into teachers, to take up the burden of academic progress in countless new topics. I hear of many who feel stressed out, overwhelmed, at sea. Too many fears or tears, not enough laughter to keep learning in balance.
For these reasons, I’ve added a “Fun Corner” to some of my school’s google classroom offerings. This is a spot where a little extra lightness can be added to students’ (and parents’) daily schoolwork. Please note that these pleasant activities all serve an academic purpose as well as a break for fun.
Contributions welcome!
Here are some distance-teaching resources you are free to use... and if you've posted things for your school let me know. I'll be adding a few more each week now. You are welcome to use the items on this page for your school - link to them, copy what you like for yourself, use them in any way that helps. If you've developed or found things in this vein and could share them, or if you have a question, please use the contact page.
Here are some distance-teaching resources you are free to use... and if you've posted things for your school let me know. I'll be adding a few more each week now. You are welcome to use the items on this page for your school - link to them, copy what you like for yourself, use them in any way that helps. If you've developed or found things in this vein and could share them, or if you have a question, please use the contact page.
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From Jeff Tunkey, Aurora Waldorf School...
April 29th Juggling - Steps to success Attached are: a video of a juggling progression, and an instruction sheet. Since most students will not have juggling balls at home, I offer an easy homemade alternative that works very well. --> video --> instructions Memory Drawings Attached is a sheet with three strips of memory drawings. The idea is to use one a day: let the student look at the one of the strips, take it away, count to 50, and then the student attempts to duplicate the drawing. Beyond these three, have fun making up your own! --> drawing pdf May 1st - Two card games for strengthening numeracy Playing cards concentration - supports memory; spatial intelligence For 2 to 4 players Materials: Playing cards - one deck per playing group. Adjust number of cards to be used for group size and ability level, i.e. perhaps remove all face cards for beginners. Description: Shuffle all cards and then put them face up in a grid arrangement. After cards arranged and studied for a minute, turn them all over - face down in the same spot. The students in turn try to find pairs (either any two of a number, or two of the same number and color). If successful, player picks up the pair and adds to his/her pile. Winner is one who finds the most pairs. Can be played either as single-pick turn, or as a player keeps picking as long as he/she finds a pair. Double Digit War - Card Game - number bonds or times tables For 2 players Materials: One or two decks of playing cards with face cards removed (shuffled together if two decks) Description: Players split deck(s) so each has half. Game is played just like regular “War” (i.e. higher number takes both cards) except that they slap down their first card and then the next card. For number bonds, the winner is the higher sum; for times tables, the higher product. Tricky Riddles and Sad Jokes
Memory Strip Drawings Show student a strip of shapes; let him/her look for about 30 seconds to a minute (depending on age/ability); then take strip away and let student draw from memory. Three sample drawings attached - make up more if student likes the activity. --> drawings |
From Jen Mishkin-Krause, Coastal Grove Charter School...
May 6th - Mystery Class activities for teachers to do with students on Zoom Pancake hands: Pour pancake batter on the griddle (place palms flat on the table) and pike hips up to 90 degree angle with legs while skip counting, counting by square numbers, or just counting to 12. Always count in the same manner backwards again to the beginning. For mental flexibility, have the students start at a random spot and count to a random number and back again. Ex: 5-17 and back by ones, or 20-55 and back by 5’s. See stunning footage attached! The Grand Old Duke of York: Student makes sure to have a chair next to them with in view of the screen. Teacher leads by singing and modeling stepping up onto the chair with “UP” , stepping down off the chair with “DOWN” and crouching on the chair with “HALFWAY UP”. See electrifying video! Palmer, Finger and Hand Dexterity Exercises: Click on links below --> Hermit Crab hand walk --> Finger dexterity --> Pencil Roll P.A.C.E Great way to start a lesson. --> Watch the video here: Pummeling: --> video Take Time exercises - (if everyone has a bean bag…) See terrific series from youtube: Exercises 1-3 Exercises 4-5 Exercise 7 That’s it for now - more coming later! I’m happy to respond to requests. If there is an activity you kind of remember, but can’t recall how it’s done, let me know, and I’ll do my best to get it to everyone. Jen |