Thursday 29 October 2015

Live Working Walls

Last week, Colin replied to one of our posts about using Padlet:
This got us thinking about how we could use them too as a Live Working Wall. In our classrooms, we have Working Walls and on them we place examples of work, screenshots, photos and other items related out our current learning in English, maths and other subject areas. That Working Wall (in my room) sits at the back of the classroom and can be seen by the children for the five hours a day they're in class. It'd be more useful to have one they can access more frequently...

As previously identified, Padlet would be excellent for this, but so could a Google Doc or Slides, Lino and other similar online tools. Ideally, this would be in a 1:1 device setting and all pupils could update the Wall as and when they need to. In another setting, pupils could update the Wall when they have online access. In another class, there may be one computer or tablet available to update the Wall. Alternatively, the focus could be on the children adding to it in their own time. 

Whichever is used, the children are creating their own resource for them and their peers to utilise. Again, depending on devices available, they can then use it to aid their learning in a variety of ways. 

Here's an example of a similar 'Live Working Wall' we've previously shared (was originally on Wallwisher!): 
As always, should you have any additional ideas, resources or feedback on this idea, we'd love to hear from you...



Friday 9 October 2015

Roads? Where We're Going, We Don't Need Roads.

In 1989, a film was released. It made predictions about the future. We're now in the future! In 'Back to the Future', Marty and Doc travelled back thirty years to 1955 and at the end of that film, set off to a place (thirty years in the future) where they "...don't need roads." The date they visited in Back to the Future II was 21st October 2015

On 21st October, why not spend some time with your class investigating the predictions made? Flying cars, hover boards, self-lacing shoes and more. Then, look forward, what might October 2045 look like? Also, design some time machines: explain how they work and draw them. 


On Wednesday 21st October 2015, I plan to teach maths (time differences), English (explanation text on how a time machine works) and another lesson (writing a letter to the future or past). Want to join me? Please do…

I ask only to things: at some point play the “Back to the Future Overture” and share this from the end of Back to the Future III, “...your future hasn't been written yet. No one's has. Your future is whatever you make it. So make it a good one…”, Dr. E. Brown, October 27th 1985.


In addition, if you're reading this after 21/10/2015, everything about above is still relevant. Still look at the predictions made. Possibly still look at how they've not come true (or how long after it took) and what technology we do have that wasn't predicted (smart phone anyone?).  

Update of what we got up to on the day...


Saturday 3 October 2015

More Estimation Displays

In addition to our recent posts about estimation in the classroom, we've now added some new displays to our year group.


We discovered the idea of using baby wipe lids for displays a long time ago via Twitter. We can't remember the origin, but are happy to add a reference if one is provided. As a new dad, I now have, for the first time, many, many baby wipe lids at my disposal. So, as they've become available, I've used them to set up estimation tasks around our year group and classrooms. Some are about the height and width of doors, others about the length of items and distances around the building too. 
http://www.tesco.com/direct/tesco-loves-baby-ultra-soft-fragrance-free-wipes-x64/718-2497.prd?pageLevel=&skuId=718-2497
 Image credit: Tesco

Got a baby? Know someone with a baby? Save up those baby wipe lids. Measure some items. Make some displays...