Blog grade 1 E

Blog 10^th Feb – 20^th Feb

UOI

To further develop conceptual understanding of materials and their properties, different stations for materials like glass, wood, metal and plastic were created. Students in groups explored the properties of these materials and recorded their observations.

Under the guidance of their facilitators, students performed experiments to discover the interesting characteristics of materials, thereby categorisingthem as heavy or light, good or bad conductor of heat, heat insulator, waterproof etc. Later they reviewed their observation sheets.

A guest speaker session by an in-house electrician helped the students to engage further with the topic. He shared his knowledge about the properties of materials.

Students collected and validated information using different resources like books, iPads and engaged in discussions with their facilitators thereby taking the learning further.

They further enhanced their critical thinking skills by observing objects within and outside the class and inquired about the need of amalgamation of two or more materials to make an object.

Students further enhanced their critical thinking skills by observing various objects within and outside the classrooms. They inquired into the need of amalgamation of two or more materials required to create an object.

Field trips provide an opportunity of experiential learning, making it fun and long lasting. Students visited ‘Sanskriti Kendra, Anand Gram’ and observed the artefacts made from different materials. Later, students followed the split screen strategy to reflect on their learning from the trip.

Math

A formative assessment helped students strengthen their understanding of length and weight.

Going further, students were introduced to temperature. Class discussion helped them to understand the need to measure temperature.

English

To build their understanding on paragraph writing, students were read the book, ‘Stuck in the mud’. Later, using the 5Ws and 1H strategy, they attempted writing a paragraph of their choice.

Language lessons were integrated with the ongoing unit on materials where students were read the poem, ‘Build me a castle’. They were encouraged to list down different materials used in building a castle. Later, students illustrated their understanding of a castle matching the text.

A Formative assessment marked a reflection on the understanding of adjectives.

Knowledge of spellings was assessed with a spell bee.

Students undertook a reading assessment by reading aloud ORT books according to their reading levels.

Concept of ‘a’ and ‘an’ was further strengthened with creative writing. Students were provided with different objects and they attempted writing a small story using the names of those objects.

A formative assessment on articles was taken too.

Students participated in a magic-e word game using flash cards of e words placed on the tables. They formed meaningful words by adding the alphabet ‘e’ to the incomplete words. Later they wrote the words and created sentences using the same.

As a part of a listening activity, a story was narrated to students, they were then asked to identify the main character of the story. Students enhanced their comprehension skills by writing a paragraph describing that character. Students also highlighted nouns, adjectives and articles occurring in the paragraph, thereby practicing grammar concepts.

Hindi

To focus on listening and speaking skills, students recited a Hindi poem, ‘Rasoighar’.

Later, they wrote names of materials appearing in the poem, thus enhancing their writing skills. They also sorted ‘kriya shabd’ from the poem.

During their show and tell activity, students spoke about different materials (samaagri) from the poem, ‘Rasoighar’ and described their uses.

Students were introduced to ‘ai’ maatra’ and wrote few words using the maatra.

Social Emotional learning (SEL)

Students were introduced to an activity with focus on impulse control through a listening game ‘red light, green light’. The game involved students to follow multiple instructions and control their impulse to comprehend the next instruction.

To conclude the activity students wrote their experience on a reflection sheet.

ICT-

‘Safer Internet Day’ was celebrated to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology amongst children. Students were informed about information that should be kept private and not shared on the internet. Later they participated in a quiz to reflect upon their understanding.

Students started creating books on materials using an iPad app ‘Book Creator’ and made a chart displaying different kinds of materials.

Dance

Dance lessons were focused on complex combinations and patterns using different parts of the body. Students learned the technique of smooth transition with the flow according to music. Class discussions enabled students to know how materials and their properties are linked to dance and performance.

A scavenger hunt activity was conducted where students found various props that could be used in a dance performance and the material used to make them.

Art-

To integrate with their current unit on materials, students inquired into different mediums of art like oil pastels, wax crayons, pencils colours, etc. They observed art materials like pastel sheets, kite paper, fluorescent paper, etc.

Students inquired into the technique called mixed media which they will be using to create their artwork for the ongoing unit on materials.

Music

Music lessons were integrated with the unit of inquiry on materials. They explored different material compositions of various musical instruments.

They were also introduced to a new song called “Aashayein” and practiced singing it in groups.

PE & Skating

Students developed their basic motor skills with the help of different lead-up activities and recreational games, which included jumping, running and hopping. Students have begun to learn new skills in basketball like passing and ball handling drills.

Skating lessons were focussed on walking, balancing, speeding on skates

Library

International Mother Language Day is observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism across the world. To mark this day in the library, students were acquainted with the most spoken languages around the world. The purpose and importance behind the celebration was discussed and students were encouraged to speak a few words in their mother language. Children spoke languages like Bengali, Kashmiri, Punjabi, Kutchi, Spanish and Chinese.