Field experience is over. It was fun getting to know the students in 5th grade. It was challenging, but fun to teach from our lesson plans.
Our cooperating teacher liked our lessons and so did the students. They enjoyed learning social studies in a more creative way. We taught from a primary source which was a painting of "The Death of John Wolfe", taught them the "Turkey Dance", had the students write and illustrate posters, create journals of Lewis and Clark (some included sketches), and probably the most memorable was the debate between the Loyalists and the Patriots.
The students enjoyed these activities that we implemented art into. I plan on continuing to compile ideas for creative art activities for future use in the classroom.
Friday, November 26, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Reflection #11 Field Experience
On Monday, I got up and interrupted the class after the Pledge of Allegiance and "stepped down from the Loyalists Party". I told the students that I decided I thought it was important to have freedom and have our own government where I could vote for the things I wanted. I tied it in with the words of the Pledge of Allegiance and it was really good. I even tore up my Loyalist Party sign and it was awesome! I hope that my students will always remember this drama activity and the importance of the meaning of "liberty and justice for all". I know I will.
We also taught about Lewis and Clark and the students took actual journal entries and created their own in a journal I constructed for each of them. We told them to be creative in decorating their covers and some of them even sketched animals and plants that they learned about during the activity to go along with their entries.
Our cooperating teacher had told me earlier that they don't do a lot of art activities because her students don't like it. I know they take Art Specialty and Music Specialty classes during the week, so I think it is hard to justify spending more time in those type of art activities.
I think I would like to continue to integrate drama activities into my lessons. I think it is my favorite art activity, which surprises me because I didn't think I would prefer it over music. I believe it can be the most powerful teaching strategy.
We also taught about Lewis and Clark and the students took actual journal entries and created their own in a journal I constructed for each of them. We told them to be creative in decorating their covers and some of them even sketched animals and plants that they learned about during the activity to go along with their entries.
Our cooperating teacher had told me earlier that they don't do a lot of art activities because her students don't like it. I know they take Art Specialty and Music Specialty classes during the week, so I think it is hard to justify spending more time in those type of art activities.
I think I would like to continue to integrate drama activities into my lessons. I think it is my favorite art activity, which surprises me because I didn't think I would prefer it over music. I believe it can be the most powerful teaching strategy.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Reflection #10-Field Experience
We have been teaching Social Studies in a 5th grade class. We have taught the students about The French and Indian War, The Sugar, Stamp, and Townshend Acts, and the Boston Tea Party.
Yesterday we integrated drama into our lesson. I represented the Loyalist Party and my partner Sarah, represented the Patriots. I campaigned for my party by saying a few things and asked the students who wanted to join my party to come up to the front of the class with me. Then, Sarah spoke for her party and the rest of the class came up to be in her group. We had a debate and involved the students in it. At first I was a little worried that I hadn't explained any rules before the activity about talking in turn, but in hindsight, I was able to emphasize how angry the colonists would have been. It was probably okay anyway, because when it started to get out of hand a little, I told them that one person could speak at a time. The students then wrote a persuasive letter to a family member or friend notifying them of their joining one of the parties. I think it helped them to understand the significance of the conflict that the colonists suffered through.
I also taught them the "Turkey Dance" as an activity to get the wiggles out before my first lesson. The students loved it and we did it again a couple of days later before another lesson. I think it really helped.
In art specialties, the students learned about texture and studied some paintings on postcards to find different textures. We get to go to art specialties again this week and I am interested in what we will learn. It was fun seeing students do activities we did in Creative Arts class.
Yesterday we integrated drama into our lesson. I represented the Loyalist Party and my partner Sarah, represented the Patriots. I campaigned for my party by saying a few things and asked the students who wanted to join my party to come up to the front of the class with me. Then, Sarah spoke for her party and the rest of the class came up to be in her group. We had a debate and involved the students in it. At first I was a little worried that I hadn't explained any rules before the activity about talking in turn, but in hindsight, I was able to emphasize how angry the colonists would have been. It was probably okay anyway, because when it started to get out of hand a little, I told them that one person could speak at a time. The students then wrote a persuasive letter to a family member or friend notifying them of their joining one of the parties. I think it helped them to understand the significance of the conflict that the colonists suffered through.
I also taught them the "Turkey Dance" as an activity to get the wiggles out before my first lesson. The students loved it and we did it again a couple of days later before another lesson. I think it really helped.
In art specialties, the students learned about texture and studied some paintings on postcards to find different textures. We get to go to art specialties again this week and I am interested in what we will learn. It was fun seeing students do activities we did in Creative Arts class.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Reflection #9 Music Part 2
I learned that it is easy to write songs to help students learn facts. It was fun creating a song to present in class. Using the melody from folk songs and other popular songs made learning easier, since all we needed to teach and learn was the lyrics.
It was really fun to participate in the other groups' presentations. They had a lot of fun ideas that we can incorporate into our classrooms. I liked learning fun ways to warm-up, and it wasn't hard to learn the songs to be able to sing them in rounds. I liked learning and clapping beats and rhythms and I'm sure the students will enjoy doing this as well.
Music has always been my favorite activity to participate in since I was in grade school. I remember learning a second part to Silver Bells and it was so fun to harmonize. I want my students to have a positive experience in learning and participating in musical activities in addition to their music specialty class lessons (if they are available).
I plan on reading more about implementing music into academics. I think I will start writing more songs, besides, it was a lot of fun, and I can still remember that General George Washington asked Betsy Ross to sew a flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes. I'll probably never forget it, thanks to music.
It was really fun to participate in the other groups' presentations. They had a lot of fun ideas that we can incorporate into our classrooms. I liked learning fun ways to warm-up, and it wasn't hard to learn the songs to be able to sing them in rounds. I liked learning and clapping beats and rhythms and I'm sure the students will enjoy doing this as well.
Music has always been my favorite activity to participate in since I was in grade school. I remember learning a second part to Silver Bells and it was so fun to harmonize. I want my students to have a positive experience in learning and participating in musical activities in addition to their music specialty class lessons (if they are available).
I plan on reading more about implementing music into academics. I think I will start writing more songs, besides, it was a lot of fun, and I can still remember that General George Washington asked Betsy Ross to sew a flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes. I'll probably never forget it, thanks to music.
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