The funniest act of the day for the little kids – Can you fly?

Today’s thematic lesson went slightly “wild and enjoyable” when the child were exposed to the usage of language in form of question and answers in their conversation.

Alicia: Can a bee fly?                       Children: Yes, it can fly.

Alicia: Can an ant fly?                      Children: No, it can’t fly.

This went on till the name of insects was individually replaced. Then I quoted name of human, for example Teacher Zhang; to challenge the children to converse. The real fun began when the question was posed: “Can Uncle Pang fly?” 

              

The children, as cheeky as they are replied by saying that “Yes, he can fly”. All teachers in the classroom smiled quietly. I then challenged the children to ask Uncle Pang if he can fly during their lunch.

We then invited uncle Pang to our class to confirm if he could fly. While waiting, the children were excited. 

Dang Dang: Why uncle Pang” is not here yet?  We felt much tensed in us.Alicia: Why you need to be tensed up? Uncle Pang will not eat you guys up. I thought you all like Uncle Pang a lot! Hahaha….Children: We are afraid we will forget how to ask.Finally, Uncle Pang turns up in the class. All children excitedly asked Uncle Pang at once…. “Can you fly?”Uncle Pang: Shhhh…. I can’t hear, 3, 2, 1. Let’s be seated first. Ok, what is your question (pointing at Kelly)Kelly: Can you fly?Uncle Pang: Of course, I can fly. Fly very high, up in the sky.Children: Why?Uncle Pang: Because I am a magician. Hehehehe…. Please look carefullyUncle Pang then prepared to show the children how he ca fly.Dang Dang: If you want to fly, you need wings. Please show us your wings.Uncle Pang: Look! (He then he rub his hand and request the children to look at his arms and the next moment, his arms were flapping like a wing and flying, while standing on a single leg. – PRETEND FLY)

Kelly: You need to fly with both legs up, not a single leg.

Uncle Pang laughed then jump, jump, jump up in the air. The children all laughed.

Lin Xin: Uncle Pang, do you know that if you need to fly, you need to fly very long time and not just jump up in the air. The legs cannot be on the floor.

Uncle Pang took a while to think. He finally took a chair and sits on it and flies, using his hands as wings and with both legs up!

Children: Uncle Pang, bum bum cannot be on the chair.

Uncle Pang: Ok. (He then stands on the chair and fly).

Children: The leg cannot be on the chair.

Uncle Pang had finally run out of ideas on how to fly. The children, teachers and Uncle Pang all laughed.

Kelly: Teacher Lee, you need to write this in our communication book ok?

From this, we can see that the children participated positively in the conversation (mixture of Mandarin and English). Besides the engagement, they tried to apply what they had learned in real life conversation. Learning English is not easy especially in countries where English is not the main language.

I would conclude that the short pretend play and conversation had not only served to reinforce children’s learning, but it also helped the children to acquire critical thinking skill. This is one of the essences in Montessori education which I find still lacking in many acclaimed Montessori schools.  So, why not flourish the child with joy in learning today for a better tomorrow?