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Hi, this is my LD lesson plan: “Let The Olympic Games begin”!

https://v.gd/f7TX5b
It's a cross-curricular lesson CLIL based that includes many subjects: ESL, History, Art, Physical Education. Children will learn about the origins of the Olympics in ancient Greece, they will compare the ancient games with the modern ones and they will participate in kid-friendly versions of Olympic events.
It's a work in progress, I hope that this can be improved in the future...For now, I'm experiencing with my 5th grade pupils!

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The teacher is a motivator, a helper, a coach. He organizes the setting and the activities but the main actors are the students, so he should support and encourage all the children. The teacher is also a moderator because he assists students in resolving any problems or disputes in a competitive situation.

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Competition can be both positive and negative, it depends on how the teachers organize the learning setting, offer game activities and provide criteria to form balanced groups and “team”. Competition can be very motivating but it can also demotivate some students: the teacher needs to ensure that all the children join and remind them that the important thing is not to win, but to take part, learning together and having fun!

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Yes, I make digital games using online apps (LearningApps, Wordwall) or epub3 interactive tools in iBooks author (Bookry, Bookwidget) using childrens’ drawings or questions.  I sometimes use the website “Code.org” for coding activities. I’m learning Scratch.

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The five steps shown in the video are very useful: they give us a method, a “protocol” of  turning our ideas of games into teaching action.

The examples are so inspiring! I didn’t think Design Thinking was good for young learners, but “the ultimate animal” is great in primary school: children work in team, they take an active part and…have fun! I will try in my classroom.

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I’m an ESL teacher and games are part of my teaching routine. I usually plan and prepare activities like as word games, boardgames, etc; other times I use digital games got from the internet/apps.

However, my pupils’  favorite activity is game creating! They are very happy when they can make cards, paper dice or simple cardboard games.  It’s not a real gamification, because I need to improve a score/feedback system and time management. It takes a lot of time and efforts but it’s the best way to stimulate the creativity and to promote the engagement and cooperation.

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With young learners (5-6 years old) I use badges, awards or stickers (smiley or stars) that children can collect to win little prizes. In 5th grade classes (10-11 years old) kids prefer self assessment rubrics based on shared criteria; however, they are very happy when I prepare a diploma or a certificate for them. I think that games give us (both teachers and pupils) an important feedback to improve the effectiveness of learning activities.

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Discover my school!
It's a work in progress.
https://scratch.mit.edu/projects/309852736/

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3.3 Creating and learning in virtual worlds

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3.3 Creating and learning in virtual worlds

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I never used Minecraft but watching the video and surfing Minecraft web page, I think it can be used to develop creativity and problem solving skills. I will try!

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3.2 Maker movement moving into classrooms

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3.2 Maker movement moving into classrooms

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In my school there is an area called “Fabbrica degli Strumenti” or “Tool Factory”, where pupils, teachers and parents together can contribute to the creation of classroom managements tools, learning games, etc. There’s a carpentry room but also a modern 3D printer.
https://youtu.be/rebkfOIJrk8

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I encourage creativity planning multidisciplinary lessons that can cross over the curriculum: children themselves discover and suggest new connections across subjects and topics (and CLIL is the best way, IMO, to do that for ESL teachers). I also try to create an inclusive and friendly learning environment in my classrooms.

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Sometimes I give craft jobs as homework, to prepare a game for the next lesson. These crafts can be cards to draw and colour about a topic, paper dice with template to cut, word wheels…children make them at home according my instructions. This kind of homework takes more time in planning but less in classroom; students are very excited because they play with their hand-made tools.

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Teachers can use different games according to the topic. I’m ESL teacher in Primary school and I use, for example:
-Scrabble: to enrich vocabulary and spelling;
-Wordsearch, Bingo, Handkerchief game: to revice vocabulary about specific topics/word categories

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I never used the games described here. The only one real-life adventure game I have organized is the scavenger hunt, to celebrate first/last day of school or other events. I’m really interested in Escape Room and I’d like to try with my pupils. By the way, Flippity is fantastic!

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2.2 Serious games: what is it all about?

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2.2 Serious games: what is it all about?

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I used Mingoville during a school project with afternoon sessions focused on English language topics with a native-speaker expert. We started some “Missions” to enrich vocabulary about animals, family, clothes, etc. However, I often used just some games in each level without complete all the missions. Most loved activities in Mingoville were “catch the fish” for spelling, “sing along”, wordsearch, “color this”, memory… my students were really excited. We used only one free account, so we played like a class-team, there wasn’t a real competition among students or groups.

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My pupils are from 5 to 11 years old. Young learners love games very much; as an ESL teacher I think games are perfect to improve language skills in a joyful learning environment, which boosts motivation and engagement, including children with special needs. Students can play in pair, in team, they can help each other to reach a result.

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In each classroom in my school there is a board where children collect smiley stamps to receive a little prize or a badge. In the 1st form I give a wood star to the best “table” (group of children working or playing at the same desk) at the end of the activity.

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If they're present, digital devices are often obsolete, so a teacher has to became also a IT tech:  a big waste of time!

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1.4 Creativity and games                         Lara, Italy

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1.4 Creativity and games                         Lara, Italy

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Games are great to boost creativity because they takes, as starting point, the natural process of enquiry and they develop problem-solving skills with spontaneous activities in a funny way. As a Primary teacher, I think it is very important to set up gradual tasks and group works/games in situation-related problems, to stimulate creativity and innovative solutions. In a game, children are not afraid to make mistakes because they feel like a part of a team and they help each other.

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Module 1.3 How do games impact teaching & learning dynamics?  Lara, Italy   

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Module 1.3 How do games impact teaching & learning dynamics?  Lara, Italy   

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My role depends on the activities,which can be very different, but also on the school grade. I teach ESL in 8 classes and my pupils are from 5 to 11 years old, so I need to change my way of teaching also according to my students age. However, I usually walk around or sit near a group of children to stimulate active participation. I stand in front of the class when I present action songs or new games or activities. I try to act as a facilitator.

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Module 1.2 Gamification                        Lara, Italy

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Module 1.2 Gamification                        Lara, Italy

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If there were digital or BYOD classrooms in my school, I would use most frequently digital Apps such as Kahoot or Plickers, because they give instant feedback and they’re powerful tools to engage all the students. However, I often use games to arouse curiosity and encourage participation, but I think I should set up a monitoring chart or a visual aid to make progress and learning goals visible…something like this:

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 Module 1.1 How do we learn with games?        Lara, Italy

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 Module 1.1 How do we learn with games?        Lara, Italy

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When I was a child, I spent a lot of time playing “Scarabeo” (Scrabble), Taboo, word puzzles and other vocabulary building games. It helped me to build up and increase my vocabulary. Now I’m crazy for Ruzzle ;)

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Module 1- Breaking into games.                       Lara, Italy

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Module 1- Breaking into games.                       Lara, Italy

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Hello everyone!
I'm Lara, from the South of Italy. I teach ESL and Italian in primary school. Happy to join the group :)