Heavens above, you know what I hate?
Meaningless school projects.
Youngest had to do one on one of the provinces of Spain.
That's OK, but the topics she had to cover...BORING.
What are the major economic elements of this province? What is the climate? What is the topography? Include a copy of the flag, and shield along with a map.
*yawn*
Do you think she is learning anything here?
It is just a lesson in how to copy/paste and crib off Wiki.
There were some bits that were more interesting, festas, food and curiosities, but really. It could have been SO much more interesting, and maybe she would have been able to do more of it herself. How many primary kids do you know that can look up economic statistics, interpret them and come up with a phrase or two to describe them. You can guess who did that part.
What would you like to know about the Comunidad de Madrid?
I do now know that there is one of the oldest restaurants in the world there, or so they claim. That the Museum of the Americas has some shrunken heads in it, and that Franco was buried there. We didn't discuss that much, Franco is a bit like Voldemort, he who shall not be named....though the kids have some pretty irreverent songs they trot out.
I have a bunch of ideas of things I would do, but here's what I am wanting to know.
If you were to design a project on a state/province/geographic region for primary students to research, what would you like them to try and find out??? What would turn your crank????
Where would you steer them???
7 comments:
I would steer them to the cultural aspects of a region – the history, how and why of it all. Much more interesting to learn, understand and to know.
One can always look up economic & geographical stats – which can be pretty darn boring.
The Internet has opened up the world. Use it to your advantage. With your supervision, try to have your child locate someone from that country online and have them answer a few questions regarding the culture and lifestyle there -- a first-hand account, in other words.
I think I'd steer them toward process over the content. Content is available to anyone. Guiding them through the process of how to access information and judge it would be more useful. After they've found content they think is meaningful and credible, I might have them create some kind of virtual tour through that region complete with characters and story that depict the regions most important attributes.
I'd start with asking them what they already know about the place and then what they want to know. Then we'd go from there.
ham and cheese study of the province. With samples in small vacuum-sealed plastic bags. :D
I marvel at how people can make the most fascinating of places and subjects, boring.
Myself, I hated it when my kids had to do word searches. We'd trade. I'd do the word search, and they would have to do the dishes or play their instruments or take the dog for a walk.
All I can say is that what I know about the Spanish educational system, is that it is "traditional", stuck in a distant past. I value traditions in general, but teaching never stands still, just like the world around it does not. The teacher seems to be hopelessly out-of-date, stagnated and possibly lazy. Not compatible with modern society. Updated version needed! ;-)
Yeah - boring.
I think it would be cool to find someone who grew up in that province and interview them about some of the little-known facts and quirky stuff, memories etc . . . the kind of stuff you won't find on google.
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