Learning does not take place in a vacuum. As teachers, we want our students to apply
what they have learned in class to real world situations. This is where I think a blog activity would be
useful. I would have students blog about
what they learn outside of the class and how they apply what they learn in
class outside of the classroom.
Examples of assignments:
- Students search for geometric shapes around town and post pictures of their results on the blog. Their classmates could then try to guess where the picture was taken.
- Students write of something they learned on a trip.
- Students write of a talent or activity they have learned outside of class, such as a sport, playing an instrument, or something they have learned in scouting our 4H.
The learning goals for this activity are to get the students
to think about learning and to actively discover ways to apply what they are
learning in class to real world activities.
The students’ posts would enable you to judge whether they
were able to grasp the object of the lesson.
If they are accurately applying what they have learned in class you will
know that they have an understanding of what they are learning and if not you
will know where you need to go back and reteach.
I really like that you incorporated physical activity that encourages kids to go outside and play (while still learning)! I remember being in 4th grade and my science teacher requiring that we go out and collect leaves,press them in a book, and write facts about the different trees they came from. This is one of my favorite elementary memories, if you did this with your students I am sure they would never forget!
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate the fact you include that students can write about their skills that aren't taught inside the classroom. The ability to learn isn't in a vacuum and if students realize they can learn new information on their on in different settings, there is nothing stopping them. Through the activity you are proposing, students will have a boarder sense of how to obtain information than just from a textbook. I love your ideas!
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