About To Get Messy ... And Loving It!
I think that the smile on this student’s face says it all. When my students got ready for home today, one child said to me, “Miss Dunsiger, today was the best day ever! It was awesome!” And you know what? I completely agree! I was still giggly with excitement when I got home tonight.
Today was Winnie the Pooh Day for my Grade 1 students, and while they had a special celebration with the other Grade 1 classes, my Grade 2 students stayed with me for an Experiment Day. We’ve been learning about liquids and solids since just before the Winter Holidays, and today was the day for the students to apply what they learned.
As you’ll see in this Animoto slideshow, the students were happy all day long. They worked in partners to complete five different activities. They mixed liquids and solids and reflected on what they learned about liquids and solids. They created, they problem-solved, they collaborated, and they got very, very messy: it was amazing!
A couple of years ago, I read Fish For Schools, and the Fish Philosophy emphasizes the importance of play. I remember when teachers were being inserviced on “Fish,” and the question was, do we have time to play with our students? Today was just one of many experiences that showed me that we do!
We need to play with our students. We need to talk to them, and laugh with them, and have fun with them, and learn with them too! Today, I definitely did all of this, and that’s why, at 6:30 on a Friday night, I’m still smiling about my day at school.
And even with all of this play, and all of this fun, when my Grade 2 students worked together at the end of the day today to add sticky notes to a Lino Wall discussing what they learned, here is what they had to say. They learned a lot! Yeah!! I can’t wait for our next fun learning day. Please share your “fun learning experiences” here too. I would love to hear them!
Aviva
P.S. A special “thank you” to @nsharoff, who suggested that I put my iPad in a Ziploc Bag before putting it at the Slime Centre. I think you saved the iPad! Glad I got your tweet with only moments to go before the bell. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!
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Glad to hear that the ziploc came in handy! I actually heard that tip for those interested in using the iPad in the kitchen to read recipes, yet protect the device. When I heard what you were about to do the light bulb went off!
Thanks Nancy! I’m so glad that you shared the tip. I don’t think that the iPad would have survived the slime without the Ziploc Bag!:)
Thanks for your comment!
Aviva
So great to read about a learning through play day!
Thought you may like to see a video my friend in Northern Ontario made last week on the same day your class enjoyed their fun…I was reading your post and remembered this…
-39C and a pot of boiling water…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpFJaCIRC4I
Thanks for your comment, Amy! This is a great video link. What a perfect connection to the day!
Aviva
Wow, from your description, it sounds like an awesome day! The slideshow looks like students were super engaged and into it. The post-it style reflection looks like a great summary.
We’d love to hear any tips and tricks you’ve learned when it comes to merging learning and play at Educated Exchange:
How can I make teaching and learning feel like playing?
Thanks! It was a great day, and the children definitely enjoyed themselves and learned a lot too. I really appreciate your comment!
Aviva