So I officially survived my first week! Key Learnings from My Week:
While I'm sure I learned infinitely more things that those stated above, I just wanted to reflect on two of my lessons from this past week. | Both of the lessons I've chosen to include were based in Grade 8 Social Studies, focusing particularly on the Aztecs pre-Spanish conquest. The first lesson (above) had a 'stand and deliver' method of presentation. I really wanted to try it, just to see how well students would respond. Here's the thing: they didn't. They were bored. I was bored. I stood at the front and gave them the run down on the Aztec hierarchy. They passively took notes on a lovely little graphic organizer. It was just so boring. Even with pictures from ancient codices and anecdotes about snarly priest hair (did you know they wore it all ratty to imitate the feeling of the underworld? Interesting isn't it? Apparently not!) The students were not active learners, they weren't active listeners either. It was just bad. Worst of all, I spent several minutes discussing (that is, taking at a classroom) the critical inquiry question for the unit, trying to dig deeper into the "40 Year Learning" or at least the deeper understanding. Crickets. Looking back, I understand that the question was too difficult for them to really understand, because they don't have the background in deciphering historical significance or understanding worldview. What I should have done, was scaffolded the questioning better, to have them come up with the inquiry question themselves. "Why do we learn about people from other countries? From other time periods? What can we understand from studying other cultures?" All good questions that I did not ask. |
The second lesson I have chosen to include is also Grade 8 Social Studies and also happened to be a stand and deliver type of lesson. Initially I had given the students a choice: watch a short video about Aztec civilization or discuss Aztec human sacrifice (something a few students had asked about earlier). The class unanimously chose to talk about human sacrifice instead. While some may argue that the aspect of human sacrifice is not necessary to the study of the Aztecs and lacks a strong correlation to the Program of Studies. However, within this lesson we were able to make connections to current events in terms of human sacrifice and duty for one's country, while at the same time bringing home the point that the Aztecs believed so strongly in their religion that they were willing to sacrifice themselves (or others) for its sake. To me, these make great connections to the P of S in terms of developing an idea of the Aztec worldview and how it influenced their society.
While these connections were great to make, they are not what I loved best about this lesson. The kids were so fascinated by all of it! Students fought to ask questions first. Some were jumping out of their chairs, so excited to ask a question. Several students stayed after class (that's right, last period of the day on a Friday) to ask more questions because they were just so interested. One of my favourite questions of the class was about whether or not the priest or emperor would have felt guilty in performing the sacrifices. How great a question is that? Bringing up a major philosophical debate in a Grade 8 classroom?
Yes I was thrilled that students enjoyed so much about this lesson. But I still struggle with how to replicate this excitement in further classes. I understand that the content was gory and gruesome, and thus infinitely more interesting to them. But how can I get them to love learning in all things, not just the blood and guts stuff? I'm still working out the details of this.
I'll be back to discuss it further on another night...