Audio Visual Lesson on Shadows

This is one lesson I would definitely love to talk about all the time. Our Kindergarteners learnt about Shadows recently. So my job was to give a reinforcement to the topic through the Audio Visual Lesson.

Before beginning to frame my lesson, I go through numerous lesson plans on the internet to see how other teachers handle this topic and how it is talked about specifically to Kindergartners. I found lots of interesting topics and links related to the topic and now my resource list is ready.


Another thing I do is I coordinate with the teachers to see what all they talk about Shadows to the children. This helps me in understanding how I can frame my Presentation.


I begin my presentation asking the kids if they can tell me what as shadow is. You can get 1001 responses from these kids. My next question would be: Should I be scared of my shadow? Here is where, few kids come out telling that they dont like their shadow. We need to give them a re assurance that there is no need to be scared of the shadow as it is our friend.


Now our Kindergarteners are learning a lovely poem on shadow, where the first few verses go like this:


My shadow is a quiet friend
Who always sticks along me..


So when I say the shadow is my friend...i remind them of the poem by pointing out that my shadow isnt a noisy friend instead it is my quiet friend. I also tell them that whatever I do, my shadow does...hence it is my very good friend, who always sticks along me..


I also talk about when we can see shadows and why we cannot see it during the night.


The next few slides of my presentation would focus on where all we can see shadows..on the sidewalk, on the grass, on water. I specifically enjoy showing the picture of a tree and its shadow on the ground and I ask them (pointing at the shadow) , "has another tree fallen down on the ground?"


In kindergarten, they are taught briefly that we need three things to make a shadow: light, object and surface. First, I depict this pictorially to show the three things required. Then, another interesting way I do is. I close the projector light with my hands to completely block the light and make a child stand up and ask the children if they can see that child's shadow. When they say No, my next question is Why? The importance of light is clearly explained this way. Now, I remove my hands from the projector to make the light appear and the standing child's shadow appears. The children now tell me why the shadow has appeared. By keeping the projector in Picture Muting Mode, the light will be dim and a very faint shadow is produced. There you go, another concept also told: dim light means fainter shadow.


My next area of the presentation focusses on how certain people make shadows with their hands. I used the help of this site:

http://www.daily-tangents.com/RefPage/Bursill/B07.shtml

to get some interesting shadows made using the hands. Honestly, I do wish I can also make some interesting shadows. Well, I can make the one of the flying bird shown here.





The next stage is using this interesting link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/scienceclips/ages/7_8/light_shadows.shtml

This is a very useful link to show many concepts regarding Shadows. There are two sections in this - Shadows you see Inside and Shadow that you see Outside. In the " Shadows Inside" section, a watering can is kept and the light falls on the can, the kids understand that you will get the shadow of a watering can only. This is an interactive link. I can keep changing the object and the shadow keeps changing. Another interesting thing I can do is that i can change the brightness of the light to see how the shadow changes from being faint to being clear. One more thing is that the children understand that when I bring the light source close to the object, the shadow becomes larger and vice versa. I absolutely love the interactivity of this site!!!

The "Shadows Outside" section is also great. Here, they see the differences in shadows of various objects under day and night time. They also get to see how the shadow moves and changes in
size as the sun goes from East to West.

Finally I close my lesson by playing two wonderful videos from my favourite site: youtube.com.
My first video is from one of my favourite shows: Sesame Street. The link is -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCm7j-lZ-KQKQKQ.

This is a video on Grover who is talking about his furry little friend, his shadow. It is a great song which both kids and teachers enjoy watching. The interesting part is that Grover tells so many facts in a sing song manner..I have viewed this video umpteen times but I still laugh and enjoy watching it.

My second video which I close the lesson with is a video - Amazing Hand Shadow show by Raymond Crowe. The link is -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KW-3KwXpkkM

Here, this wonderful guy Raymond Crowe creates such wonderful shadows using his two hands along with the wonderful song "What a wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. Before I start the video, I ask the children to observe the video and figure out the different shadows Raymond Crowe makes. Children love telling the shadows they can identify..well few kids have to be prompted. This song also has a wonderful calming effect too..

At the end, I also give them time to try out making the Flying Bird shadow using their hands. Kids love playing with the shadow..me too, though I wish i had the talent to make different shadows. At least, I am a master of the flying bird one!!!

A lesson I enjoyed working on..and I am sure the kids have enjoyed too!!

Just to add - These are the lyrics of the song - "What a wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong.

I see trees of green........ red roses too
I see em bloom..... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.

I see skies of blue..... clouds of white
Bright blessed days....dark sacred nights
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world.

The colors of a rainbow.....so pretty ..in the sky
Are also on the faces.....of people ..going by
I see friends shaking hands.....sayin.. how do you do
Theyre really sayin......I love you.

I hear babies cry...... I watch them grow
Theyll learn much more.....than Ill never know
And I think to myself .....what a wonderful world!!

Really, a wonderful world!!!

Annual School Report PowerPoint Presentation Format

This is a rough format of the presentation to be shown for the parents on the School Day. This will done in coordination with the Principal's address. I have drafted this format based on my reading and understanding of few Annual School Reports that are available on the internet. In a few days, the final format will be ready for the School Day.

ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT 2008 - 2009
FORMAT OF PRESENTATION

1. School Logo

2. School Location Details

Address, Phone, Fax, Email, Website

3. Introduction

a. Purpose
b. Vision
c. Mission
d. Motto

4. Our School at a Glance

A. School Profile

- Beginning of the school in April – Orientation Day
- Total Student enrollments and Enrollments for the next year
- Grades offered

- Coeducational School
- Accreditation Status

B. Curriculum

- CBSE
- Distinctive Curriculum Offerings
@ Promoting Love and Care for the Environment – Environment Day
@ Enhancing Creativity & Imagination – Storytelling, Puppet Show
@ Inculcating Family Values – Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day
@ Instilling Healthy Food Habits – Healthy Food Week
@ Awareness of National Pride & Belonging – U.A.E National Day and Republic Day
@ Awareness of importance of people – Teachers’ day, Childrens’ day & Gandhi Jayanti
@ Kinesthetic learning through events like Colour Day, Summer Cool Day, Sand Play Day and Kiddies Kitchenette
@ Educational and Fun Field Trips – Arabian Wildlife Centre, Dubai Dolphinarium & Planetarium

- Extra Curricular Activities
@ Swimming, Music, Art, Aerobics
@ Focus on Cross Curricular Integration
@ Enhancing Vocal & Public Speaking Skills – News reading for Assemblies, Recitation Competition

- Technology Integration
@ Provide Data Projection Facility in the Audio Visual Room where the lessons focus on reinforcement of topics covered in the classroom. Subjects like Maths, EVS, Social Studies, Languages ( Malayalam, Hindi, Arabic)
@ In addition to helping children attain basic and advanced computer skills, cross curricular integration is also handled. eg: Rocket Building and Launching ( KG 2 ), Means of Transport Puzzles ( KG 1)

C. Parental Involvement in Child’s Education

Forms of School – Parent Communication:

- Written ( School Newsletter, Additional Communication via circulars)
- Face – to – Face (Open House, School Events)
- Telephone (Positive Behaviour Reports/Calls)
- Computer ( Email, Website)

D. Facilities Provided

- Details about the school building
- Swimming Pool, Rumpus Room, Library, Music Room, Art Room, Computer Lab, Audio Visual Room, Aerobics Room
- School Auditorium
- New Play Area

5. Our Staff Profile

- School Key Personnel – Academic Director, Principal, & Headmistress
- Staff Qualifications
- Professional Development activities – Teacher Workshops
- Dignitaries Visit

6. Performance of Students

A. Academic

B. Extra Curricular – Sports Day, Musical Morning, Recitation Time, Annual Concerts, Art Competitions, Handwriting Competitions

7. Future Outlook

Specific Challenges/Goals for Upcoming Year

Book Review (Early Learning Skill-Builders)

I finally completed an interesting book that I took from the school library. Well, i began this book long time back. But managed to complete reading the whole book only now. Well, it is an excellent book for teachers, who are always on the look out for new ideas.

Here's a very short review:

BOOK: Early Learning Skill-Builders (Colors, Shapes, Numbers & Letters)

Author: Mary Tomczyk
Illustrations: Karen Weiss
Publisher: Dolphin Press, New Delhi

This book contains more than 50 developmentally appropriate experiences designed to be used for small children. They include hands-on activities and games to introduce and develop basic early-learning skills such as color, shape, number and letter recognition; counting; comparing and contrasting; and sorting.

I am pretty sure we can get lots of ideas from this book. I personally felt that some activities are those which already follow in school. The book helps us understand how & what exactly that activity can help us achieve, i.e. we can understand what our achievement objective is.

Another thing I would like to specify is the fact that books contain lots of pictures. They can be of great use for our newsletters!!

Enjoy the book!!! ( I did, even though it took me so much time)

Working with Language Fonts

While working on my Hindi AV lesson, I had downloaded the Hindi font (Shusha) for helping me in the typing of the Hindi words. Initially, when I planned to conduct this lesson, I thought of making the Hindi teacher write the words and I would scan the same, and cut, copy and paste what I require for the presentation. Once I downloaded a Hindi font which also included its keyboard layout or map, typing in Hindi was a breeze. Though i did have some difficulty in the "chandra kala" format, i did some some work on the same using paint. Chandrakala would not work in my font. hence i had to use the help of Paint to draw the dot for the Chandrakala. Maybe, when I get time, I should find a Hindi font which includes all the letters and letter formations clearly. This keyboard map didnt seem to be of full use since I wasnt able to get certain things. But the good thing about this Shusha font is that, even I could type easily. The letters a, s, d corresponds to the phonetic sounds in Hindi. Now that's what I call easy typing.

Anyways, on preparing slides for Malayalam AV, I did try looking for Malayalam font but somehow the keyboard map was not available. But recently, on the Malayalam teacher's request, I resumed my search. Along with the help of my uncle (who is pro in Malayalam typing), i searched for the Kaveri Malayalam font and luckily, I got the keyboard map along with it. The whole keyboard keys have a corresponding Malayalam aksharam or kootuaksharam (joined letters). Anyways, typing in Malayalam is not so easy as Hindi. Anyways, the keyboard map is of great use here.

I have come across a strange issue in school. At home, i have downloaded these fonts to my laptop and they are still in my system. But in school, once I copy the fonts to the Fonts folder in Control Panel or install the fonts in the Fonts folder, I can work on it immediately. But if i restart the system, the fonts disappear from the Fonts Folder and i have to copy it again. Havent figured out what I issue is. Maybe I should do some research on the same. ( When...I have no idea)

Working on a Skit

Well, my colleagues and myself are now working with the children for an upcoming School Day Program. We are planning a play on the Pied Piper. It seems an enormous task right now. But even the Sports Day seemed like a mountain for us but after it finished, it was just like you crossed a tiny hill.

Maybe it is the effort put in by all of us, which makes it all so wonderful. We can still see or hear sounds of discomfort from here and there, but the show must go on.

I am kind of enjoying my very first hand experience in handling a skit. All of us have been put in groups to work on different characters. Well, the only experience that I remember is putting my language skills in the English skit in college.

I'm also in charge of few characters in the play like the Mayor, Town crier, Councillors and Mayoress. The children are just having a wonderful time. They eagerly look forward for the Zero Period. The world of 'make and believe' is truly an exciting world for any child.

Well, coming back to the Pied Piper, right now, my part is in setting up the backgrounds for the scene, since the school has finally agreed to the use of an data projector for the show. ( Yes!! Yes!! Yes!!)

I would like to share this wonderful line that came in our circular - "Slipping into the world of 'Make -Believe' is an important part of growing up. Through the medium of dance and drama, young children learn to express themselves. "

I am sure we'll have lots of challenges on our path. Challenges make my day!! As long as Allah is with me, I'm sure these challenges are going to be a breeze. ( Do I sound too confident?)

Share...Share...Share...

SHARE...I dont understand why people dont understand the power of this word. If you are not ready to share, you have willingly decided to put a full stop to your life. Now, I am particularly concerned on how some people restrict themselves by not sharing information.
I always believe that each one of us are unique and as a result of that uniqueness, we have something unique to present to this world. As a teacher, I would say, I can learn from others and others can learn from me. Sharing your experience, is in no way, going to make you small. I would say, it would help you open your mind as far as the sky. Associating your big fat EGO with this lovely act of sharing, is a very BIG mistake.
Those who are not willing to accept this fact, are just going to restrict their personal growth. I dont think this would apply to just the profession of teaching.
Anyways, I would still keep my doors open for new ideas and suggestions from all my very good friends and friends-to-be, who are or may not be on the same wavelength as moi. Maybe, the others would learn as time passes, insha Allah.

Weather Audio Visual

The first week of January 2009 - Had an interesting AV lesson on Weather for Grade 1. Basically, they had to be just introduced to four types of weather - sunny, rainy, cloudy, and windy. My lesson composed of pictures showing how each weather can be identified. The children enjoyed discussing about the different things they can enjoy for each type of the day. Before taking them to the AV room, I did make them observe the weather when they were out of the class. Talked about the three types of clouds you can see in the sky. When they were going back to their class after the AV, the children noted the type of cloud they could see in the sky.
I also incorporated a the interactive story on the North Wind and Sun which, I am sure gives them a basic idea that the wind makes the weather cold and the sun makes it hot. Well, the story has a moral too.
Another interesting thing in the lesson was I played them a link which made them hear the different sounds the wind make. That was fun for the kids! I have learnt that introducing sounds to the lesson makes it more real to them. I guess that helps these young fellows to retain something about the lesson.
If I were to evaluate this lesson, I would give a A+.