Grade 4 Adventure Challenge Link to Unit of Inquiry 'Who We Are'

Although I am not fully integrating into the grade 4 unit of inquiry on ' Who We Are', I am helping to lend support to this UoI by addressing some of the concepts/main ideas that the students are learning in the classroom. When we examine the central idea of this unit, 'We look to others for a model of how to live', the very first thing that comes to my mind is how powerful video and modeling can play in helping to teach one another the way something should be done. Both adults and children learn by viewing others in action.

The grade 4 class played a fantastic game today called the 'Human Square'. To open up class, we had a whole group discussion about their unit of inquiry and I had the students summarize what the central idea of this unit is. We talked about the importance of modeling the proper way to do something and how others can learn from our actions. At this point, I told the class that they would be modeling how to play the 'Human Square' game for the other grade 4 classes that were going to play the game later this week. We talked about the responsibility that they had to ensure that they modeled the game properly, were extremely safe while playing the game, and showed how excellent teamwork and communication can help to solve problems and challenges that they face. 

The video below helps to explain how the 'Human Square' game is played and includes examples of student assessment which was done at the end of the class. Essentially, the game is about creating a human square on the gym floor while blindfolded. It requires tremendous communication and cooperation in order to accomplish this task. It is extremely challenging, but I am happy to say that the first grade 4 class, Ms. Renee's students, were superstars and able to complete this challenge. Well done kids!!

Their video will be shown to the other grade 4 classes this week as a means to model not only how to play the game, but how to do so in an efficient and safe manner. 

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