The cognitive tool of playing involves students taking part in a meaningful task that inspires, or creates a spark of interest. This task should be experimental, fun and open to individual interpretation.
The main aim of the activity is to bring together the work I have done in the previous six modules, and consider a task that I can present to my students. This task would be an introduction to the topic Healthy Living within my Health class. It relates to the numerous thinking tools and tasks I have experienced in this course. In addition, the students, despite being in Grade 9, are very academically focused. I love teaching Physical Education because it brings out their youthful side that is sometimes dismissed in the structured classroom environment. This is why I have enjoyed creating this playful introduction task for them!
The task asks students to create a character aged Grade 5 or 6. I was inspired by the exploration of the term “neoteny” in the TedTalk from Stuart Brown. I have called the introduction task “Bringing back the neoteny” because I want to encourage the students to consider what it was like for them to be in Grade 5 or 6 (a mere three years ago for them!). So much changes at this age, and I hope that by considering this perspective, they are able to break down what it means to be healthy, and to respect what is important through a younger persons eyes. As a result, I hope they can remove themselves from their academic based lives and ultimately center themselves on the important things in life. Ultimately, I am looking for them to consider sleep, happiness, diet (that includes chocolate!), spending time with friends, love, balance, smiling… the list goes on. Sadly, I identify that some of my students have lost these aspects that, when we think literally, make us healthy! In a nutshell, I am hoping to discuss and reflect on how this playful and meaningful task connects with their life now in order for them to be empowered and commit to prioritize within their teenage lives. I would give personal feedback, or moreover offer essential questions to narrow their focus. From here I can present tasks that relate to more specific aspects of the topic Healthy Living.
Under the explanation of the task, you can see an example of something like what the students might produce. I hope they have fun in this playful task. I hope to hear them laugh, and see them smile as they take time to draw, scribble and write their thoughts. The second image shows an annotated version to show how I would plan to link this to the other tasks I have done in this course and modify them for use in the classroom. A second thought I have is to let them draw round themselves (as we did in elementary school!) as an outline for them to create their character.
Previously I regarded the course as individual components, but completing module 7 has let me see the bigger picture, as each thinking tool is a piece of one interlinked puzzle.
The main aim of the activity is to bring together the work I have done in the previous six modules, and consider a task that I can present to my students. This task would be an introduction to the topic Healthy Living within my Health class. It relates to the numerous thinking tools and tasks I have experienced in this course. In addition, the students, despite being in Grade 9, are very academically focused. I love teaching Physical Education because it brings out their youthful side that is sometimes dismissed in the structured classroom environment. This is why I have enjoyed creating this playful introduction task for them!
The task asks students to create a character aged Grade 5 or 6. I was inspired by the exploration of the term “neoteny” in the TedTalk from Stuart Brown. I have called the introduction task “Bringing back the neoteny” because I want to encourage the students to consider what it was like for them to be in Grade 5 or 6 (a mere three years ago for them!). So much changes at this age, and I hope that by considering this perspective, they are able to break down what it means to be healthy, and to respect what is important through a younger persons eyes. As a result, I hope they can remove themselves from their academic based lives and ultimately center themselves on the important things in life. Ultimately, I am looking for them to consider sleep, happiness, diet (that includes chocolate!), spending time with friends, love, balance, smiling… the list goes on. Sadly, I identify that some of my students have lost these aspects that, when we think literally, make us healthy! In a nutshell, I am hoping to discuss and reflect on how this playful and meaningful task connects with their life now in order for them to be empowered and commit to prioritize within their teenage lives. I would give personal feedback, or moreover offer essential questions to narrow their focus. From here I can present tasks that relate to more specific aspects of the topic Healthy Living.
Under the explanation of the task, you can see an example of something like what the students might produce. I hope they have fun in this playful task. I hope to hear them laugh, and see them smile as they take time to draw, scribble and write their thoughts. The second image shows an annotated version to show how I would plan to link this to the other tasks I have done in this course and modify them for use in the classroom. A second thought I have is to let them draw round themselves (as we did in elementary school!) as an outline for them to create their character.
Previously I regarded the course as individual components, but completing module 7 has let me see the bigger picture, as each thinking tool is a piece of one interlinked puzzle.
The Task - Bringing Back Neoteny
Pre Task: Watch students in grade 5 or 6 as they go about their daily lives.
How do they move in corridors? What do they do at school?
When are they looking bored/interested?
When are they fully involved in the activities?
What do these youngsters look like/act like?
Try to put yourself back in their shoes. What was it like to be that age?
Discuss
Discuss the pre task and see if you and your partner observed similar things. Create a 5 minute mind map that will accompany the main task.
Create a visual representative of an imaginary student who is in Grade 5 or 6. Create a character! Draw the student, name them; give them an identity, visualize how they look; add their interests and whatever else you like! Represent the questions above using words, drawings, symbols or any other pictorial way. Be creative and play with your ideas.
How do they move in corridors? What do they do at school?
When are they looking bored/interested?
When are they fully involved in the activities?
What do these youngsters look like/act like?
Try to put yourself back in their shoes. What was it like to be that age?
Discuss
Discuss the pre task and see if you and your partner observed similar things. Create a 5 minute mind map that will accompany the main task.
- What does your student need to be healthy? Think of 3 to 5 main things they need.
- How do they live their lives so they can go about their daily lives as you have imagined?
- What is important to them a) Directly and b) Indirectly (i.e. what do they think is important and what is important that they might not realize, but you do because you are older).
Create a visual representative of an imaginary student who is in Grade 5 or 6. Create a character! Draw the student, name them; give them an identity, visualize how they look; add their interests and whatever else you like! Represent the questions above using words, drawings, symbols or any other pictorial way. Be creative and play with your ideas.
Example
Image Source:
Created by J. Keyte
Created by J. Keyte