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Ollie Bray

Monday 23 January 2006

P1 & P2 - There was a lot of information that I wanted to get covered during my rainforest lessons today. In particular I was keen to re-cap the work on climate graphs, complete an exercise on solar energy variations with latitude and watch a video on how the rainforest is exploited (plus complete a video worksheet).

I purposefully explained to both classes the work that was required. They tackled each task with relative ease, some faster than others and I started the video with 20 minutes to the end of the lesson (it is a 20 minute programme). For students that hadn’t finished the written work I asked them to complete this while the video was playing in the background and to think of the video as more of a radio programme. The multi-tasking seemed to go well with all students being able to ‘juggle’ between the two activities. By the end of the video everyone had finished the tasks and we spent the last few minutes re-capping and going over the video worksheet. Also see my post on quotes.

P3 – Advanced Higher. The class spent most of the lesson working on their Geographical Issues while I marked a draft of a study that has been handed in. On of the things with the Advanced Higher Study that I remain uncomfortable with is how much I correct it? I sometimes find it difficult to get a balance between the students own work and my opinion.

Lunchtime – My S3 project group was suspended today due to a fire alarm.

P4 – 3 Cell Atmospheric Circulation. I think my class seem to have got the hang of this?

P5 – Malaria (part 2). We covered Physical and Human causes and possible solution to the global malaria problem. During the lesson I was visited by Fiona McDougal (Head Girl, Knox Academy) she was part of the delegation doing the tour of all East Lothian Secondary Schools ( see Don’s post). I was pleased to hear that Fiona has agreed to keep a weblog.

P6 – Started preparation for my Primary lesson tomorrow. I have been asked to run a session on Time Zones for all the P5, P6 and P7’s at Innerwick Primary. See Angus MacRury‘s post on snail mail for more information.

15.45h – PT briefing, topics discussed included the fire drill, S2 predicated levels and S5/S6 students causing concern.

Headed home soon after the briefing to carry on with lesson preparation.

On the drive home I had an idea that a good way to teach children about time zones would be to telephone / pretend to telephone someone in Australia / New Zealand. I had it in my head that my good friend Pete Morris (RMPS Broughton High School) did not work on a Tuesday morning (now that he is part time). Pete is from New Zealand and still has a strong accent which would be useful in my simulation and save me a lot of cash on my mobile phone.

Unfortunately I found out Pete has Thursday mornings off. But then, again, as luck would have it. Jim Gordon (another pal of mine) was up in Edinburgh doing one of his Outdoor Education MSc Masters Modules. He mentioned in conversation that this weeks module was being lead by Alison Lugg. I have met Alison before during my various trips to the Edinburgh University Outdoor Education Department to carry out Young Explorers Trust Overseas Expedition Screening interviews. But I do not know her well. Anyway, Jim agreed to ask (tell?) Alison if it would be ok to ring her during the morning and for Alison to pretend she was at home in Australia!

There is nothing like a good plan. Particularly a complicated good plan!

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