Learning Outside of the Classroom

It's language arts with Year One in SK Sulaiman and with ninety minutes to fill and a class full of eager pupils Komathi Ananthan has her hands full! The topic is 'Sounds Around Us' and Komathi has come up with a relevant language arts project that will enable her pupils to hear those sounds more effectively!  Well, kind of.

With large classes of pupils language arts projects can be tricky.  Available resources, time restrictions and relevance to what is being taught are factors that all have to be considered...and sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most effective.

In this case Komathi had drawn large sets of ears of different designs on A4 paper.  These were to be decorated by the pupils and stuck to manila card head bands.  The instructions were simple and pupils completed the task in around the same time.  So what to do with a class full of restless Year One pupils wearing giant ears?  What can be done that is relevant to the topic 'Sounds Around Us'?


Time to put those ears on, get out of the classroom and listen to the sounds that surround us!

This is a great idea and an effective way of dealing with a ninety minute lesson. A change of environment refocused and refreshed the pupils and their curiosity was sparked as the command to line up was given.

Taking language learning beyond the classroom is a great way to demonstrate to pupils that what they are learning is relevant to the world around them.  For larger classes where space is a problem there are many more activities that can be done outside. Changing location also breaks up the usual classroom routine making a lesson different, more memorable and interesting.  

Pupils were asked to close their eyes and listen carefully to the sounds around them.  They could pick up on the sounds of the birds and the insects in the surrounding garden areas.  They could hear their friends and teachers in the school buildings.   They talked of the car horns and of other sounds coming from the town beyond the school gates.  

This simple activity demonstrated aspects of the topic in focus wonderfully and effectively.  Moving away from the pages of the book and the constraints of the classroom brought subject matter to life...it made it relevant and real.

Teachers should not be afraid to take their pupils outside of the classroom  As long as activities are relevant, planned and interesting moving outside can be of real benefit for all those involved. Whether it be a treasure hunt, language games on the field or a different setting to tell a story- give it a try!