Pending finally telling my students that I will be moving to Christchurch, I decided to do a writing unit during the week focusing on different parts of New Zealand.
On Monday we started with a blank map of NZ.
I confidently put the map up on the board and asked
"What is this a map of?"
Hands shot up left, right and center.
I chose the boy most eager to answer and he said...
AUSTRALIA!
Being a through and through kiwi, I was not happy.
After establishing it was in fact New Zealand, I asked students where in New Zealand we lived... At least they knew we were in Panmure, but only a handful knew we were in Auckland.
One last attempt to test their geography... does anyone know where Auckland is?
We drew dots on the map of where we thought it was... most dots ended up on Stewart Island.
So after assessing our prior knowledge, I knew I had chose the right mini unit for the week (which will extend into next week!).
We live in a beautiful country, and being their teacher (about to leave), I had nearly missed the boat on teaching them about it!
North Island, South Island, Our city, Our capital, CHRISTCHURCH and Stewart Island are just the beginning.
How many other things have I just assumed?
So it's time to broaden their minds, and together journey through our country.
'Oh, the places you'll go' ... when you know what's out there!
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