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Jackie Child, Dr Sarah Prestridge, Year 5 Girls
ST AIDAN'S ANGLICAN GIRLS' SCHOOL |
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During Year 5 library lesson ‘Nat Geo America the Wild’ was used with the girls as an information book by selecting different episodes to challenge themselves. For example, after one group heard girls talking about their experiences with a particular chapter, it encouraged others to select it. This is a method used when interacting with an information book in text. Information books are rarely read from cover to cover but chapters or sections are read as desired or required.
The exciting bit was that the children ‘became the animal’ following tracks to find prey or shelter. Through their actions they were analysisng, evaluating and applying their knowledge to survive in the wild. ‘Its that step closer to actually interacting, being with them, which you don’t get in a physical book, and you don’t get in the zoo’. The children were actually being the animal and taking the façade of the animal. |
What is the time frame of the project?
Year 5 library lesson 3 week rotations, so the girls worked for 3 lessons of 45 minutes on this activity in small groups. What are the outcomes and achievements for this project? For mean AHA moment when I thought of Xbox game as an information text. For the children it was Active learning through action and collaboration. The discussions between the girls were educational, supportive and encouraging. Introducing Edmodo brought another dimension into the X Box experience. A few even created ‘Keep Calm’ posters to add! It helped girls to reflect on their play, collaborate and to be reaffirming. Testimonials about the benefits of this project. "Yes, using the X Box Kinect the girls critically discussed the game, the presentation and information being delivered. They experienced new words and phrases, expression, intonation and delivery of information and were motivated to research more about the animals…..or read fiction (as one student did…The Call of the Wild by Jack London). As the TL I was ecstatic!!!" Jackie Child What is next for this project? I have purchased ‘Puss in Boots’ for the library and it is being used during lunch times for the girls to enjoy, problem solve and challenge themselves. |