Modes of Transportation - Water Paint

Date: 9^th April 2013

Day: Tuesday

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Class: Pomegranate

Teacher: Teacher Yeong

Happy, Happy Transportation – Water Painting of the Mode of Transportation

After the round of revision yesterday, we continued with the mode of transportation today. As for the art and craft part, I divided the class into 3 categories, land transportation, water transportation and air transportation. The purpose of the water painting today is to paint the background of all those modes.

The children were divided as followed:

land transportation	Kern Ee, Yu Xin, Yi Jie, Wei Lok
water transportation	Yu Xi, Jia Jia, Phoeon, Jun Qian, Jiun Jie
air transportation	Kwan Ming, Wei Ni, Bee Chien, Yi Han, Derek

Each group will have to discuss of what to have in their mode of transportation. They were given about few minutes to do group discussion.

Wei Lok’s group was going to colour the background for land transportation. They decided to draw road and grass. They also managed to get to do the water paint today.

Kwan Ming’s group was discussing about the background for the sky. At first, they could work together to draw the sky. Somehow later, Yi Han started to dominate the drawing and all of the group members left her drawing alone. However, when they come to the water painting part, all of them work together again. They chose blue and yellow for the sky and the sun. Unfortunately, due to the clumsiness of the children, they accidentally mixed the colour of blue and yellow and it turned out to be green. Even though they were unhappy with the outcome of it yet, they learned the mixture of colours. I believe they will be more careful in the future.

Yu Xi’s group had the biggest argument of what to draw. I hinted to them that the whole paper is water. They are allowed to add in creatures in the sea. However, it took them quite long to decide what to draw and the argument continues. I strongly believe that children learn a lot from disagreement and managed to find a way to solve it. Unfortunately, they took up too much time today and couldn’t start with the water painting today. They shall do it tomorrow. 

Revision on transportation names & games

Date: 8^th April 2013

Day: Monday

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Class: Pomegranate

Teacher: Teacher Yeong

Happy, Happy Transportation – Revision on names of transportation

As it’s Monday today, so we did an overall revision on names of transportation – car, van, bus, train, motorcycle, trishaw, ship, motorboat, helicopter and aeroplane. I had prepared the flashcards of the transportations; the children need to match the picture with their names. Most of them can do it while some still need some guidance or hints. Tomorrow we shall categorize the mode of transport of all those transportation with some art and craft.

Simon Says…

Through this game, children learn to give instruction of actions. For example, point to your ears, stand up or sit down. Even though the children had to do a different action when some one says “Simon says…” Fortunately, most of the children manage to catch the message and do a different action.

We ended the day with the caboose game. This time, I noticed that the children can play the game even much better compare to the previous 2 times. At least, the train engine tried their best to protect their train. Those children who were following behind the train engine didn’t let go and run about like before. The children who acted as the caboose also know how to twist and turn around to catch his/her friend. I’m glad to see such improvement. 

I have tried.... & I have not tried....

Date: 5^th April 2013

Day: Friday

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Class: Pomegranate

Teacher: Teacher Yeong

Happy, Happy Transportation – I have tried…..

I had prepared some pictures of all kinds of transportation for our next activities. Before moving into that activity, I asked the children to share which transportation they had tried and which they had not. The pictures of the transportation that I had prepared were bus, car, van, train, motorboat, ship, aeroplane, helicopter, motorcycle, trishaw and bicycle.

Jun Qian: I have been on the motorboat. (Where did you go?) On the river. (What place is that?) I don’t remember. I have not ride on a trishaw. (Would you like to try?) Yes.

Yi Han: I have ride on a train. (Where did you go?) Port Klang. To look at the ship. (Did you enjoy the trip?) Yes, I enjoy the trip. I have not ride on a helicopter. (Would you like to try?) Yes, fly up to the sky.

Derek: I have ride on a car. (Where did you go?) Singapore. (Which one you have not try?) Van. (Why?) Can have more people in the car.

Jia Jia: I have ride the aeroplane. (Where did you go?) Singapore. (Did you enjoy the trip?) No, my ears pain. I have not ride ship. (Why you want to ride on a ship?) To see fish.

Yi Jie: (Which one you have try?) Bicycle. (Where did you ride your bicycle?) At home. (Which one you have not try?) Bus. (Why?) Can go far far. To see things.

Wei Ni: I have tried aeroplane. (Where did you go?) Pulau Langkawi. (Did you enjoy the trip?) Yes. I have not ride on a van. (Why you want to ride on a van?) Bigger.

Wei Lok: I have ride on a bus. (In Malaysia?) No, in Hong Kong. It’s a double decker bus. (Did you enjoy the bus ride?) Oh, yes. I have not ride motorcycle.

Phoeon: I have tried ship. (Did you enjoy the trip?) Yes, can see fish. I have not tried aeroplane. (Where you want to go in the aeroplane?) To Langkawi.

Yu Xi: I have ride on a car. (Where did you go?) Jusco. For shopping. I have not tried van. (Would you like to try?) Yes.

Yu Xin: I have tried aeroplane. (Where did you go?) To Singapore. (Did you enjoy the trip?) Yes. (Which on you have not tried?) I have not tried helicopter.

Kern Ee: Train. (You have tried train, where did you go?) Subang. Got toys. (Oh, you went there to buy toys.) Yes, buy train. (Which one you have not tried?) Motorcycle.

Kwan Ming: I tried car. Go to Giant. (To buy things? He nodded.) I have not tried motorcycle. (Would you like to try it?) No. (Are you scare?) Yes.

Bee Chien: I have tried all of the transportation. (Really? Pick the one you wish to share or you like the most.) I have tried helicopter. (Really? Where did you go?) I don’t remember. (Did you enjoy it?) No, it’s scary. (You prefer aeroplane?) Yes.

From this activity, I can see that many of those quiet children also raised their hands wanted to share. On the board where given some sample sentences to use but somehow the children still use their own way to present their thoughts. I think it’s a good practice that they start to use the words they know instead of referring to the board. Good try, kids!

I want to share my book

Date: 4^th April 2013

Day: Thursday

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Class: Pomegranate

Teacher: Teacher Yeong

Happy, Happy Transportation – Transportation Book Sharing

Today, Jun Qian brought a book of machinery vehicles. He wanted to share with his friends. The book is in Mandarin but Jun Qian said he will try his best to share the book with his friends in English.

Coincidently I have an English book on farm vehicles. So I told Jun Qian that we shall look for the similar vehicles from the English book if he doesn’t know the name of the vehicles.

As a result, we had gone through a few common farm vehicles such as tractor, cart, 4x4, hay baler, thresher, backhoe, trailer, forklift, landover and quad bike from the English book. At the same time, we also went through the usage of each vehicle by reading the description and the pictures. 

This is my truck (part III)

Date: 3^rd April 2013

Day: Wednesday

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Class: Pomegranate

Teacher: Teacher Yeong

Happy, Happy Transportation – This is my truck (Part III)

Yesterday there were 2 children who were absent from the class, Yu Xi and Yu Xin. So today’s presentation were theirs.

Yu Xi: This is my truck. My truck carries cars. Going to the city.

(Children: Why no KLCC?

Teacher: You can add it on if you wish to have KLCC building in your picture. )

Yu Xin: This is my truck. Got a tow truck inside. Spoilt already. Going to the workshop.

Most of the children would still love to add on details to their drawings. So I allocated another 10 minutes for them to complete their art work.

Then we did a worksheet about colouring. The children need to follow the given numbering of the colour to see what is hidden in the picture. The children learn about green, brown, red, blue and black. Most of the children understand and can work on their own while only a few of them needs guidance.

The children were happy to find out that it’s a picture of a tractor that is hidden in the picture. 

This is my truck (part II)

Date: 2^nd April 2013

Day: Tuesday

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Class: Pomegranate

Teacher: Teacher Yeong

Happy, Happy Transportation – This is my truck (Part II)

We continued with the activity yesterday as some of the children has not complete part of the picture and most of them wanted to add on the background for their truck. So I give an allowance about 15 minutes for them to do the drawing and then I got each of the children to present their truck to their friends.

Wei Lok: This is my truck. It is a container truck. It can tow and carries cars to the work shop.

Zhen Yuan: This is my truck. (Children: Why no head one?) Oh, I have it here. (he drew it by himself). Going on a highway. Got twin tower and tol.

Jun Qian: This is a container truck. It carries many cars. Spoilt car. My truck is going to the city. See, it tows a car at the back.

Yi Han: This is my truck. Moving to the city at night.

Wei Ni: This is my truck. Can carry cars. The truck is moving in the morning.

Kwan Ming: My truck is moving at night. Got light. Carry spoilt cars.

Jia Jia: This is my container truck. It carries cars. It moves at night.

Yi Jie : This is my truck. (Teacher: What does it carry?) It carries doors. (Teacher: Moving at night?). No, in the morning. (he pointed to the sun in the picture.

Derek: My truck carries sports cars. (Teacher: Where is your truck going?) To a race. Passing by the city.

Kern Ee: My truck got car inside. Here got water. (He pointed to the part under the truck. Teacher: What is that? Is it a river? So is that a bridge?) Yes, it’s a bridge. Here got hill. (He pointed to the back of the truck)

Bee Chien: My truck is going to a store. It is moving at night.

Phoeon: This is my truck. It carries cars.

Jiun Jie: This is a container truck. Carry chocolate. (Teacher: Where is your truck going? To the factory?.....he noted his head)

Children’s observation is pretty good. After a few had presented, those following at the back will somehow know what to add on. This is a very encouraging way for children to pick up useful information and vocabulary from their friends.

This is my truck!

Date: 1^st April 2013

Day: Monday

Time: 4:30 – 5:30pm

Class: Pomegranate

Teacher: Teacher Yeong

Happy, Happy Transportation – This is my truck

We recalled back about building the truck using all the blocks and toys. So I started off by asking the children how to start to draw the truck on the board.

Teacher: What is the shape of the body of the truck?

Children: Rectangular.

Teacher: Good. What is missing in the picture?

Children: Wheels.

Teacher: How many wheels?

Children: Four. Five…..six….

Teacher: What else is missing?

Children: The head.

Children: The engine.

Teacher: What shape would that be?

Children: Rectangular.

Teacher: Anything else you want to add?

Children: Yes, window.

Teacher: Anything else?

Children: Spare tire.

Children: The pipe for smoke. (At first I didn’t get the shape, Jun Qian, Bee Chien came out to draw it on the board.)

Finally the picture of the truck was done. Then I gave each children a piece of white paper and a piece of rectangular colour paper for the children to use it as the body of the truck. The children follow the outlook of the truck drew on the board to make it into their truck. They can either decorate it by colouring or using other colour paper. The children drew other background of the truck.

Time was always short for such interesting activity, the children only manage to complete their truck with decoration. Tomorrow, I shall get the children to talk about their truck.