Category: Weekly Reflections

We started class this week with a visit from Kristine from UVIC’s Science Venture. It was great to hear about local opportunities that create chances for future educations, scientists, and engineers to expand their knowledge. Science is not my favourite subject, but it still may be a good opportunity to work on and explore this space. I did not know that they run programs year round, I thought it was only a summer program!

As for the rest of the class, we talked about AI and ChatGPT. AI is incorporated in many more softwares and resources than I thought. Google Maps, Spotify recommendations, Grammarly, Social Media Algorithms, and Alexa and Siri are just some of the sources that use AI to function. As for ChatGPT, it can be a very beneficial tool for brainstorming, summarizing, elaboration, formatting, and ideas. As we had time to play around with ChatGPT, I asked to: “Please create an introduction to basketball PE lesson plan for a 30 minute grade 4 class.” This is what I received:

Title: Introduction to Basketball Skills

Grade: 4th Grade

Duration: 30 minutes

Objectives:

• To introduce students to the basic skills and rules of basketball.
• To develop hand-eye coordination and basic dribbling skills.
• To promote teamwork, cooperation, and sportsmanship.

Materials:

• Basketball (one per student)
• Cones or markers
• Whistle
• Whiteboard and markers

Introduction (5 minutes):

• Welcome the students and gather them in a circle.
• Briefly explain the objectives of the lesson: learning fundamental basketball skills and understanding basic rules.
• Discuss the importance of teamwork, fair play, and sportsmanship in basketball.

Warm-up (5 minutes):

• Lead the students in a light warm-up routine, including jogging in place, arm circles, and jumping jacks, to prepare their bodies for physical activity.

Fundamental Skills Stations (15 minutes):
Divide the class into smaller groups and rotate them through different skill stations. Each station should focus on a specific fundamental skill:

1. Dribbling Station:

• Set up cones or markers in a line.
• Instruct students to practice dribbling the basketball around the cones using their fingertips.
• Emphasize the importance of control and coordination while dribbling.
• Rotate students after a few minutes to ensure everyone gets a chance to practice.

1. Passing Station:

• Pair students up and give each pair a basketball.
• Teach the chest pass and bounce pass techniques.
• Have students practice passing the ball back and forth to each other.
• Provide feedback on proper form and encourage teamwork.

1. Shooting Station:

• Set up a hoop at an appropriate height for the students.
• Teach the correct shooting technique, including how to hold the ball and follow through.
• Allow each student to take turns shooting the ball into the hoop.
• Provide positive reinforcement and tips for improvement.

Game (5 minutes):

• Gather all students back together and explain a simple basketball game, such as “Knockout” or a mini 3-on-3 game.
• Divide them into teams and let them apply the skills they’ve learned in a friendly competition.
• Encourage teamwork, passing, and good sportsmanship during the game.

Cool Down and Conclusion (5 minutes):

• Lead the students in a cool-down routine, including stretching exercises to relax their muscles.
• Gather the students and ask them about their favorite part of the lesson and what they’ve learned.
• Emphasize the importance of practice and perseverance in improving their basketball skills.
• Remind them to apply the values of teamwork, cooperation, and fair play not only in basketball but also in their daily lives.

Assessment:
Observe students’ participation and progress at each station. Provide individual feedback and encouragement to help them improve their skills. Focus on their ability to follow instructions, demonstrate proper techniques, and work well with their peers.

Note: Be flexible and adapt the lesson based on the students’ skill levels and progress. Provide additional guidance and support to students who may need extra help with the skills.

This is a very great basis for a PHE lesson! It is a little vague but it provides structure, a timeline, and skill options.

We finished class by talking about the negatives and logistics of ChatGPT including questionable accuracy, focuses primarily on western ideology, lacks humanity, primarily english, and accessibility differences of premium vs regular version. There are so many things we do not know about AI but it is a very interesting tool!

This week we had another lovely guest speaker! Kirsten Pierce is an Elementary/Middle school teacher who is passionate about environmental science and place-based education in STEAM.

We talked about how technology can help students learn about their local environment but also allows students to explore international environments. It may be impossible to actually visit the pyramids in Egypt but Google Earth and YouTube videos can make it feel pretty real! The class discussed technical tools such as Fitbits, Google Earth/Maps, photography, videography, as well as Moon phase apps and plant identification apps! Kirsten proceeded to talk about place-based learning and learning through a two-eyed lens, which is a way of thinking that I believe is very impactful and important. It forces students to potentially be pushed out of their comfort zone and negates any biases in the classroom.

Kirsten pointed out that Environmental Science is only offered in grade 11 and 12 in BC. This made me think about the consequences of this system. What habits could have been instilled if students learned more about environmental science? Our discussion in class also touched on how this subject is also taught from the negative perspective. If environmental science taught more frequently, it would not be such a touchy, scary subject. Maybe students would be more picky about where and when they eat meet? Maybe their dream car would be an electric car? Maybe they wouldn’t litter?

We were lucky enough to explore the beautiful Finnerty Gardens on the UVIC campus. We walked as a class and then split into small groups! My group spent a lot of time using the “Seek” app to identify different plants. We talked about how nature can be a very relaxing place and mindfulness could be taken outside. Other people talked about looking at the environment during different seasons.

Here is my group on ur walk! This is also a screenshot of the app we were using! The species pops up after every scan!