This school year was going to be a new experience for Hope. Since the hood had not yet found a replacement for Jessica's position as the elementary school teacher, Hope was going to be pulling double duty.
She gave the older students some brief instruction while the younger children were at recess, then set them up on independent study, doing research papers and preparing oral presentations.
The students had expressed an interest in robot building and the school was able to budget some money to purchase the tools to allow the students to experience shop class as well.
With the older students settled, Hope focused on the younger students. She knew this must be a confusing time for them, so she wanted to make sure they felt comfortable and felt free to discuss any feelings they had or ask any questions that were on their minds.
She decided to push the desks aside and sit in a circle on the floor and have a little chat before starting their lessons for the semester.
Bridget's metaphor of her mother's passing being like her leaving on a very long trip to a place far away, provided a natural segue to the day's lesson on geography and foreign cultures.
"What are some things you are curious about places that are far away from here and about the sims that live there?"
Bryce spoke up, "I would wonder if they play the same kinds of sports and games that we do."
"I bet they do," Lance added. "Just think, if you lived where there was snow and mountains, you;d probably go skiiing all the time. There's no where to ski here."
Melody added, "Other places might have different kinds of birds and animals."
"Those are all good thoughts. What about food? Do you think sims in other lands eat the same type of food that we do?"
"No, and I don't think I'd like the kind of food that they eat. I only like my food."
"You never know," Hope replied. "If you tried it, you might find something new that you really like."
"I heard in some places around the world, sims eat bugs."
Bryce frowned at his sister. "That's disgusting. Can we go back to talking about sports instead?"
"I heard there are even places where sims eat rats."
"Ew. Seriously, stop it. Let's talk about something else."
Hope posed another question. "What do you think about traveling to other nations and meeting sims from around the simworld?"
Elsa thought it would be great to make lots of new friends. Bryce thought other sims from places far away would be too strange and foreign.
Hope then shared with the students the culture of her homeland, a nation that constantly had to rebuild, that was ravaged by continual storms, and considered the number three, incredibly unlucky.
After their discussion, Hope sent the children to the art room to work on creative projects.
The older students, Kendra and Lance used the easels, while the younger ones gathered around the coloring table.
They were to come up with their own civilization and draw a picture to represent it.
When it was time to break for lunch, Hope continued the international theme, by ordering Chinese food. Even Bryce, who seemed so adverse to foreign foods gobbled it down quickly and was asking for seconds.
I love how Hope did an international focused study, I might have to borrow that idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I kind of wanted to do more with it, like have the students give presentations in traditional costumes from around the world, but I didn't take the time to hunt down the cc.
ReplyDeleteI loved Hope lesson plan for the kids. I wonder how long she can juggle being teacher for both grades.
ReplyDeleteThe district needs to find a replacement before they wear her out.
Thanks, oasisvalley. Hope really does need more help, especially since she's on the hood council now too. I have a new teacher now, but I'm going to have to think about how to divide the grades up, since I'm only going to have 2 high school age kids left next round. Thanks for commenting!
ReplyDelete