Unit of Inquiry
To foster scientific learning in the primary years, active, hands-on learning is very important to lay the right foundation.
Children understood the functioning of lungs by carrying out a simple experiment, under the guided supervision of the class teacher. They later recorded their findings with the help of a flow chart.
The book on ‘Human Body’ helped students find out information about the circulatory system. To understand the system further they performed a role play describing the flow of blood in our bodies. This activity helped them to develop their intrapersonal skills.
Students were tuned into the skeletal system with a book ‘The skeleton inside you’. Visual presentations helped in understanding the concept further. This was followed by a brain storming session that raised questions about the need for having bones, their numbers in the human body and so on.
A guest speaker session was organised with a leading paediatrician who shared information about the various body systems and the ways in which we can take care of them. He spoke about the food pyramid and the benefits of eating a balanced diet. He shared ways to keep our body clean and the benefits of maintaining a correct posture during an activity.
The session was followed by students asking some relevant and meaningful questions about the mechanism involved in vision and if veinous blood is blue thereby making the session an informative and engaging one.
As a part of an assessment, students were engaged in sorting and placing cut outs of the digestive and respiratory systems under appropriate headers.It was followed by writing the process of digestion in the journal.
Students discussed various ways in which we can aid the well being of the body systems.
Students were apprised about different professions and names of the professionals related to the medical field.
A take and talk helped students make connections with their learning of the respiratory system as they spoke confidently.
Unit presentation
The culmination of the ongoing unit on ‘Body Systems’ was marked with a Unit of Inquiry presentation. Students enthusiastically showcased their learning and understanding of various body systems much to parent delight.
They shared the importance of yoga and exercise, a balanced diet that leads to a healthy lifestyle. They talked in detail about different body systems while describing their functions, importance and interconnectedness.
Students engaged in role plays to share ideas about leading a healthy lifestyle while drawing on the perspective of various famous personalities who have influenced people in leading a healthy lifestyle.
To mark an end to the presentation, students engaged in Zumba, a high energy workout dance form that promotes the importance of exercise for a healthy body and mind.
Post the presentation, students handed over a thoughtful gift, an ecofriendly plant, to their parents thereby symbolizing their commitment to health and well-being.
English
Prior knowledge on articles was assessed using the letter box strategy. Students wrote their understanding about articles on a slip of paper and put it in a letter box, then coming together in groups, they assessed and summarized their understanding. They further discussed the rules and exceptions that apply to articles.
Students constructed meaningful sentences using appropriate articles.
They read a short story ‘Know your organs – through rhymes’ and attempted a Visible Thinking Routine – Colour Symbol Image for the same.
[KS1] https://storyweaver.org.in/stories/13045-know-your-body-through-rhymes
Knowledge of spellings was assessed with a spell bee.
A listening activity of a conversation between a doctor and a patient was followed by answering a few relevant questions.
Students were tuned into adjectives with an activity where they wrote compliments for their classmates. These describing words were then highlighted and discussed as adjectives. Furthermore, they wrote few lines describing themselves.
Math
This fortnight students continued learning about the concept of volume. They were encouraged to collaborate and take initiatives during class activities which were focused on estimation, recording and comparing various quantities of liquid.
Going further with the unit on measurement, the concept of temperature was introduced. Students estimated and recorded the temperatures prevalent in Gurugram. They engaged in a compare and contrast activity to record the temperature readings from other places to make connections at local and global level.
Learner agency
Learner agency can be described as voice, choice and ownership which enables students to play a part in their self-development, initiative, responsibility and ownership.
Students were engaged in reflecting on the previous concepts covered in Math and English and posted their reflections under the appropriate headers like movers, shakers and challengers. Tasks were attempted depending on their understanding of the concepts.
Hindi
Language provides a vehicle for inquiry.
During their Hindi lessons students were read a story ‘Judge capsule kee adaalat’. They listened to and enjoyed the story . Further, they attempted a listen and answer activity which helped them to make meaningful connections.
To enhance their writing skills, students wrote new words and constructed meaningful sentences using appropriate adjectives.
A read aloud session of the story, ‘Hawa aur Sooraj’ helped them to enhance their reading and comprehension skills.
Students displayed their social and self-management skills by working in groups for a quiz activity.
ICT
Students were introduced to Virtual Tee app which is based on the Augmented Reality technology. They used an iPad app to view different body systems while using it.
They were also introduced to the app Vittle, where they explored different tools like draw, add, select and record.
They practised typing to improve their typing skills through an online educational program.
Students also reinforced the math concept of addition and subtraction with an iPad app.
To enhance their coding skills, students actively participated in an event conducted by Apple – ‘Play date with byte @ coding playground’. They worked on the app namedswift playground.
Music
Music classes provide an environment that stimulates and challenges students.
Students were given the opportunity to identify and describe various musical elements such as rhythmic and melodic patterns. They learned about different types of articulators and their use while singing. They learned a few Christmas songs too.
Physical Education
Students developed their basic motor skills with the help of different lead-up and recreational games, which included jumping, running, hopping. They are practicing their motor skills with the help of an obstacle course, mini cricket and mini football.They are practicing walking, balancing, speed on the skates during their skating lessons.
Library
Students were shown, read and explained Carson Ellis’s award-winning picture book ‘Du Iz Tak?’ This book is based on Translanguaging and showcases conversation between about a group of bugs and how they discovered a new sprouting plant. They watched it grow and change through the seasons.
What made this book so unique was its imaginative and fictionalized language that the author has used to convey meaning of the dialogues. It was a great way to get children thinking, imagining and working on their interpretation and decoding skills. The illustrations were also very detailed, predictable and intriguing, which helped in taking the story further. There were lots of opportunities to embed thematic learning experiences like seasons, plants, insects in the book.
Students were given the task of preparing a book using translanguaging, and illustrations that drive the story. Students worked on their story and characters in the library under teachers’ guidance. A checklist was co-constructed to enable students to keep important points in mind during the course of the task.
Grade 2C 