Here in Kulim, PPD Kulim Bandar Baharu had given us some information about the learning that we as teachers could assist from anywhere without actually be in front of the students. Besides having an online quiz, pupils can also learn from projects, or simple task given by teachers under parents monitoring and supervision.
Below are a few tasks that I could think of without using any platform for quiz, mostly suitable for Year 1 English. (as I'm teaching year 1) The tasks cover until topic At School. Simple tasks that involved all parents. I did suggest how to conduct for more advance level of pupils.
Why do I switch my style into more activities rather than doing online quiz? Parents told me about their connection problem. They stay in a rural area, where line was so slow. perhaps, by giving such activities, can benefit them all. But I still provide them the online quizzes for the other pupils who dont have issues at all.
NUMBER ONE
SPEAKING TASK
Teachers need to prepare an audio in the form of questions so that pupils can reply and respond to the questions. Use simple questions that they are familiar with.
For Year 1, questions such as What's your name? How old are you? Goodbye, Thank you are easy for them. To add more interesting to the audio, record you speaking in an app that can convert the audio into funny sound. I use Voice changer with effects. You can search in Google Apps Store and install. It's a friendly user app.
If you teach higher level of students, you may use more advance questions such as, How's your day? Did you help your parents? Do you think this pandemic can be mitigated during 14 April 2020?. What's your acitvities during restricted Movement Control Order?Those are the advance questions that require them to think.
Then, send the audio to Whatsapps Group/individual or Telegram. All you need is a platform to send. Hopefully you have that group.
Below is an example.
example of dialogue. pause for pupils to answer.
NUMBER TWO
WRITING TASK
This template is suitable for Muslim pupils. Teacher will forward this to Whatsapps or Telegram group. Pupils copy the template in their exercise book ( not necessarily draw the leaf background. Depends on your pupils level) and tick right if they do. Basically, the civic lesson is integrated in this task. (love for family)
NUMBER THREE
WRITING TASK
Undeniably, this RMO had changed our routine tremendously. Kids have to stop playing in the playground and stop coming to school. This template is a way to express their feeling. Exactly like number two, pupils copy in their writing book. Excellent pupils may give extra efforts such as colouring, decorating the template whereas weaker students may only copy the circle. Accept the way they are.
You may change the criterias based on your pupils level. I edited using Canva. Search for the app in the playstore and install in your phone. Edit freely, from various template there.
NUMBER FOUR
Another task for pupils is a Project Based Learning. They are creating a circle map for the colours. Pupils can do this for two days.
First day: Write nine colours in a piece of small papers. One colour for one paper. Mix up all the colour words. Parents will ask their pupils the colour, pupils picks up and show.
Second day: Parents show the colour words, Pupils search the things in their house. To make this activity more interesting, add timer. For example, count from one to ten. Next, pupils arrange the colour as if in a circle map. Then, pupils share their works by sending the picture.
NUMBER FIVE
SPEAKING, READING AND WRITING TASK
Another speaking and reading task too.
Every year one pupils know exactly what is a pencil. If you did not teach at school topic yet, it's not a problem to do this task. But, pupils need guidance from parents to teach them reading the text. You first as the teacher, upload your voice in the group, so that parents can repeat after you. (for intermediate and low english user) How you handle the activity is up to your class situation. As a suggestion, you can add this as writing task too. Pupils write in their writing book.
NUMBER SIX
WRITING TASK
Another task for year 1. In this task, pupils should know the names of all the things in their pencil case.
For the other levels, you can ask them to count their coins, to count their red clothes or to list their books and categorized them to two languages, Malay and English and the list goes on. There are many exciting activities can be done. Remember the key, the activities must be based on your students' level. You know them very well.
NUMBER SEVEN
Tongue twister is a good exercise too. It's going to make you laugh when you fail. hehehehe.. Pupils always enjoy this activity. Due to limitation in the class, and the syllabus, we are not really doing this in the class. why not this time around, let parents handle this activity with their kids? shall we? More tongue twisters are available in the google search engine. Make sure it suits your students' level.
NUMBER EIGHT
Writing Task
Break the Code or Crack the code activity.
You can create something like this by using emojis and icons in the whatsapps. In addition, Pupils can write back to you by using this code. Fun right?
Actually, I make this activity so that I can test pupils capability in writing both capital and small letters. In this activity, teacher can ask the pupils to write in two types. First, all in capital letters. Second, write in correct letters, meaning that, first letter should be in capital, names, for first letter must be in capital too. A simple activity but worth it.
NUMBER NINE
LANGUAGE ART
This time we give pupils a choice between doing colouring or singing. We have to alert about differentiation strategies in the classroom. Which one will be the most popular activitiy? I think it would be colouring. hehehehe..
Teacher can use colouring online website. You can search in Google search. I suggest
this https://www.online-coloring.com/coloring-page/strange-monster-334.html
Pupils can colour with their own interest. Later, ask them to screenshot or download the colouring sheets and send back to you. More advance pupils can describe about the monster that they coloured in a video or audio.
For singing activities, Year 1 can sing any song that they know, in English. They can record only audio or video.
In case you have more proficient students such as Level 2, you can replace colouring with reciting poem.
NUMBER TEN
LISTENING AND SPEAKING TASK
The picture explains well, I guess? For this activity, pupils are having fun with their parents. So, no need to send anything to teacher. For advance level, you can add more advance guessing questions such as Is it your favourite shirt? Are you taking it from the kitchen? Is it a tool that we use at the garden?
10 activities for distance learning. Do you have any other fun activities? Share with us, by commenting below.
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