The World - our Meta Project

Endangered Animals

Following on from many children's interest and engagement in endangered animals, we have shared more books and viewed some short videos on the subject. These have generated discussions about the actions that people could take, following on from the earlier suggestion of a child...

                                           "People should stop and do something."

Thoughts and ideas shared by the children were…

"If the hunters cut the trees down that means they'll fall and make fire and only the animals will die."

"People  kill tigers for their skins, and to make aircon for their houses."

"Pandas are endangered because people cut down the bamboo."

"We can take out all the rubbish."

"We can help the tiger by making more trees."

"Ask the hunters to stop killing the animals."

As you can see, the children's thinking is deepening as our inquiry develops further!

Last week, the class had worked collaboratively to represent the earth in 2D on a large black circle. Endangered animals were drawn and cut out by many children, and attached to this Earth. Some children were interested in finding the countries of the animals on the world map displayed in our classroom.

I shared with the children the picture book Big Bear Little Bear by David Bedford which details the family life of polar bears in their habitat. I posed the question "What might happen if the ice melts?"
A week earlier we had learned through non-fiction books that the sun is shining hotter as the earth is warming, so it was great to see the extension of children's thinking in their answers...

"The bears might drown."

"No...polar bears can swim."

"How would they get fish?"

I then set up a provocation with a slab of ice, a sun and polar bear figurines for the children to explore. Over the day we observed the ice melting, which also opened the chance for a discussion about different states of water. 

Clouds

Our inquiry into clouds has extended into an exploration of the water cycle, with children making rain using pippettes and sponges. Observations of the melting ice of the polar bear's habitat has led into discussions of the properties and states of water. The properties of water were explored in our outside area.

What is around the Earth?

The class have explored Google Earth on the iPads, and were very excited to find their school, Singapore, and in some cases their home country. I posed the question "What is around the Earth?" in response to a child's comment that it was black everywhere. Many children were interested in what surrounds the earth, with suggestions such as the sun, the moon, planets, rainbows, and shooting stars.
I look forward to continuing this inquiry with the children in coming weeks!

UWC Day

On Wednesday 3rd October, we spent a lovely day connecting with a Grade 12 class who shared presentations about their home countries with our class. The children really enjoyed learning from the older students, sharing commonalities, and seeing other UWC's plotted on a world map.

This is our last class blog before the October half-term break. I hope your child has a restful and enjoyable holiday.