Activity 3.5: Using local resources to elicit knowledge

Bennita uses local packaging to find out what her Grade 5 students already know about the difference between objects and shapes.

Watch the video as she shows the resources she has accumulated.

In your Teacher Notebook make a note of what other items you could usefully collect to help with your classroom practice, and what topics you could use them for.

Activity 3.6: Eliciting prior knowledge

Decide on a lesson that you are going to teach in the next few days. Choose a technique from the three suggestions you have just read about to elicit your learners’ prior knowledge: brainstorming, using visuals and local resources. Use the ‘top tips’ below to help you.

In your Teacher Notebook, write:

• the technique you are going to use
• the grade you will use the activity with
• a few notes about the topic
• what you expect learners to learn through that activity
• what you need to do to prepare the activity in your lesson.

Write in your Teacher Notebook how you will elicit information from your learners and discuss your ideas with your partner. You can practise brainstorming with your colleagues or explain how you will use a visual or local resources in your lesson.