Contextual statement
The theme I have chosen for this website is Chameleon Colours. Simply put, the theme is Chameleons...however, as always when teaching children it's always a good idea to hype up what you're teaching to get the students a little bit more enthused. Plus, as Chameleons change colour and are colourful, this theme enables you to also focus on colours too if you choose (woo hoo, how lucky)!!!
So a bit about Chameleons... Chameleons are reptiles and there are around 158 species generally found in Africa, Madagascar, Southern Europe and Asia (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013). Chameleons are generally known for their ability to change colour, however they cannot change to any or every colour (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013). The Zoological Society of San Diego (2013) explain that although a Chameleon partially changes colour for camouflage, they also change their colour varying on their mood, the amount of light, temperature or humidity and as a form of communication. Chameleons have amazing features, such as their eyes which can swivel nearly 180 degrees and work independently of each other (Smithsonian National Zoological Park, 2012). They are able to climb trees with their long tails wrapped around branches and their five toes holding on (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013). The Smithsonian National Zoological Park (2012) explain that Chameleons long sticky tongue helps them catch their prey and can be more than 1.5 times it's body length. How interesting!
Chameleon Colours is an educationally rich theme because you could tie many of the features of Chameleons into cross curricular activities. Focusing on the shape of the Chameleons eyes, or the length of the Chameleons tail in the mathematics curriculum for example. With many great Chameleon picture books for children it is a very easy theme to encompass into your English curriculum as there is so much wonder and excitement formed from this topic. You may want your students to expand their knowledge of Chameleons and write factual pieces, or you may want them to embellish on some details and write a fictional piece where the Chameleon CAN change to every and any colour or pattern. The possibilities are endless...
Some of the lesson plans I will be providing you with includes a teaching method known as the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS). This teaching method is centered upon "open-ended yet highly-structured discussions of visual art, significantly increasing students' critical thinking, language and literacy skills along the way" (Visual Thinking Strategies, 2013). It allows and encourages students to present and discuss their own ideas and to build from and respect the views of their peers (Visual Thinking Strategies, 2013). The Visual Thinking Strategies (2013) asks teachers to use three open-ended questions that help facilitate discussion:
So a bit about Chameleons... Chameleons are reptiles and there are around 158 species generally found in Africa, Madagascar, Southern Europe and Asia (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013). Chameleons are generally known for their ability to change colour, however they cannot change to any or every colour (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013). The Zoological Society of San Diego (2013) explain that although a Chameleon partially changes colour for camouflage, they also change their colour varying on their mood, the amount of light, temperature or humidity and as a form of communication. Chameleons have amazing features, such as their eyes which can swivel nearly 180 degrees and work independently of each other (Smithsonian National Zoological Park, 2012). They are able to climb trees with their long tails wrapped around branches and their five toes holding on (Zoological Society of San Diego, 2013). The Smithsonian National Zoological Park (2012) explain that Chameleons long sticky tongue helps them catch their prey and can be more than 1.5 times it's body length. How interesting!
Chameleon Colours is an educationally rich theme because you could tie many of the features of Chameleons into cross curricular activities. Focusing on the shape of the Chameleons eyes, or the length of the Chameleons tail in the mathematics curriculum for example. With many great Chameleon picture books for children it is a very easy theme to encompass into your English curriculum as there is so much wonder and excitement formed from this topic. You may want your students to expand their knowledge of Chameleons and write factual pieces, or you may want them to embellish on some details and write a fictional piece where the Chameleon CAN change to every and any colour or pattern. The possibilities are endless...
Some of the lesson plans I will be providing you with includes a teaching method known as the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS). This teaching method is centered upon "open-ended yet highly-structured discussions of visual art, significantly increasing students' critical thinking, language and literacy skills along the way" (Visual Thinking Strategies, 2013). It allows and encourages students to present and discuss their own ideas and to build from and respect the views of their peers (Visual Thinking Strategies, 2013). The Visual Thinking Strategies (2013) asks teachers to use three open-ended questions that help facilitate discussion:
- " What's going on in this picture?
- What do you see that makes you say that?
- What more can we find? "
This website was created by Tanya Valencic. Last updated 2013.