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Helping the Easter Bunny
Wednesday 30th March 2011
Exploring the world!
We were all worried when we didn't hear anything from the Easter Bunny in the morning or afternoon - but at half past one we found that a mysterious pink envelope had appeared! We opened it and found a letter and a map inside. The Easter Bunny wrote to us that he wanted to find a new home. He wants the children to help him choose a country to move to, and then to help him with making a palace! He also promised that if they could help him before the Easter holidays (four weeks from now) he would send Year 1 a special present!
The children were very excited. We looked at the map he had sent and talked about which countries he would like. He has asked us to find a country that was not too big or hot, near the sea and with mountains and rivers; no dangerous animals, and a country where the people speak English, like chocolate and celebrate Easter! He also wanted a country that had lots of palaces, like the one he wanted to make, and a king or queen.
The children had lots of ideas! They looked at the map, and then went to the school library where we found lots of books to help us. We will need to think carefully about all the different countries, and how suitable they are. We're going to write back to the Easter Bunny on Friday with our decision. I wonder which country we will choose?
The children were very excited. We looked at the map he had sent and talked about which countries he would like. He has asked us to find a country that was not too big or hot, near the sea and with mountains and rivers; no dangerous animals, and a country where the people speak English, like chocolate and celebrate Easter! He also wanted a country that had lots of palaces, like the one he wanted to make, and a king or queen.
The children had lots of ideas! They looked at the map, and then went to the school library where we found lots of books to help us. We will need to think carefully about all the different countries, and how suitable they are. We're going to write back to the Easter Bunny on Friday with our decision. I wonder which country we will choose?
Thursday 30th March: Talking to Teachers
and Friday 1st April: Writing back
On Thursday the children began to research which country would be best for the Easter Bunny to live in. They split into groups, working with Miss Lucey, Mr. Kohll, Miss Helen and Miss Lulu, and went aroudn the school to interview different teachers. They asked teachers about America, Canada, China, Korea, Spain, Africa, Japan and Britain. They learned about the animals, weather, queens and presidents, mountains and cities and buildings of these countries. A very interesting experience! At the end, they came back to class and we shared our new knowledge.
On Friday we reviewed our findings about the different countries and decided that, altough each one had its advantages and disadvantages, the one the Easter Bunny would like to live in the best would be the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The children wrote and illustrated letters and we sent these back to the Easter Bunny.
On Friday we reviewed our findings about the different countries and decided that, altough each one had its advantages and disadvantages, the one the Easter Bunny would like to live in the best would be the United Kingdom of Great Britain. The children wrote and illustrated letters and we sent these back to the Easter Bunny.
Tuesday and Wednesday, 5th and 6th of April 2011: Learning about the United Kingdom.
Now that the children had chosen the United Kingdom of Great Britain for the Easter Bunny to live in, they were asked to learn more about it. The Easter Bunny had many questions; he asked them about the royal family, about the countries and flags of the United Kingdom, about the food and weather there, and about the buildings, cities and places to see.
The children set about learning about Britain. They read books on it, searched websites for information, and looked at photos that Mr. Kohll and Miss Lucey showed them of their time in Britain.
The children set about learning about Britain. They read books on it, searched websites for information, and looked at photos that Mr. Kohll and Miss Lucey showed them of their time in Britain.
Week 3 of Summer Term: Building a Model Palace
The children now began the second part of the project: helping the Easter Bunny to build a home in his new country (linking to the science of pushes and pulls, which they will need to know about in order to construct a model palace).
Then the children went outside in groups and practiced making palace models out of building blocks.
Easter Fun
To thank us for helping him, the Easter Bunny sent Year 1 a present - dyes and colours and instructions on how to make Easter eggs. We did, and it was great fun!
(This is a class project based on the Mantle of the Expert system in which Year 1 will be working on the combined topics of Easter, Geography (learning about foreign countries) and Science, Forces - Pushes and Pulls).