11 September
Ryan, Franz and Tyler showed an interest in playing with Lego cars and train tracks. They frequently build their own types of trains with wooden blocks and Lego.
Teacher “What do you know about transportation?”
Ryan “I know airplanes, cars, buses, I have been on the airplane.”
Franz “I know them too, I have been to many places. I took the high speed train before.”
Teacher “What more do you want to know about transportation?”
Franz “I want to know more about the high speed trains. It goes so fast.
The students, along with the teacher, created a chart with the titles “I see, I think, I wonder”. The teacher recorded their prior knowledge and helped them dig deeper into the inquiry about ‘the high speed trains‘ through questioning.
The teacher showed the students a picture of a high speed train. Conversations continued around the questions:
- “What do you see in the picture?”
- ”What do you know about the high speed train?”
- ”How does the train work?”
- “What questions do you have about the high speed train?”
How do we travel by high speed train?
The students watched a Chinese cartoon movie (Qiao Hu) to help them understand the different steps that need to be taken in order to travel by train.
Buy the ticket – pay the right amount of money — find the seat — sit down and watch the scenery from the window — get off the train.
The students discussed what they noticed.
The teacher showed the students a real train ticket. 
They looked at the ticket to find out what information the ticket provides; the train number, destination, time (starting) of journey to the destination and the location of the seat.
Some of the students wanted to design their own train tickets. They included all the main information above. They reflected on what they had seen and learned about the tickets.
22 September
The students collected items that will drive their play. They helped the teacher set up the station by putting the train together, making the tickets, creating posters and looking for costumes.
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Ticket Counter
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You need to purchase a ticket from the ticket office.
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The numbers on the ticket match the numbers on the seat.
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If the train is full you need to wait for your turn.
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This is the waiting area.
The students worked together to play their game. They quickly realised that there were problems with the train trip. Too many people wanted to drive the train, there were too many passengers, some passengers had the same number on their tickets, some train drivers were not sharing the job and it was just too noisy.
Ms. Lucia had a discussion with the students. They had to come up with solutions to the problems. The students thought deeply about the issues. They came up with the following solutions.
- too many people wanted to drive the train – only two people driving the train, the driver and co-driver.
- too many passengers – there are 5 seats on the train. If you don’t have a ticket for the seat you have to wait in the waiting area. There can only be 3 people in the waiting area.
- some passengers had the same number on their tickets – you have to wait till the seat is vacant or you can share with the person travelling in that seat.
- some train drivers were not sharing the job – we will use a liquid timer so that we can have turns.
- too noisy – we will use our inside voices.
SLO’s
- listen to others
- co-operate and share in mixed groups
- learn to take turns
- participate in communal classroom activities
- develop age appropriate skills for different social occasions
- find solutions to problems
25 September
Why and how does the high speed train go so fast?
The students watched a video about high speed trains. The teacher explained the information shared in the video. The documentary explained why the design of the train was important and the impact it had on the speed the train could travel. They inspected a model train and noticed the design of the vehicle.
https://twitter.com/NISPreKK1/status/912289358836727808
The students were invited to draw pictures or create models of trains. A group of students went over to the design room to gather boxes and other interesting materials they could use to create their train.
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Drawing a design for the train engine.
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Here is the draft.
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The teacher expands the design.
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Students include windows.
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The train needs a door and a door handle.
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The students begin to role play.
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Students take a closer look at the model while traveling by train.
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Here is the design we made for the front of the train. It will help the train travel faster.
SLO’s
- listen and respond in small or large groups for increasing periods of time
- ask questions to gain information and respond to inquiries directed to themselves or the class
- share ideas and experiences through role play, art and discussion
26 September
The students began to decide what more they could include in their train. The glued on wheels and steering wheels.
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Gunhee “I am painting the train.”
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Cornelis “I am painting the train on the side and we made the grey next to black.”
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“This is the train and it is all painted.”
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“There are windows and doors. There is a wheel. The window is like the eyes. The door is like a nose.”
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Reggie “It is a seatbelt so we don’t fall out of the train. So that we don’t get bumped on our heads. And even your mind gets hurt on your head. You might roll over to the back door. And then when you bang on the door you will fall on the tracks.”
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Cornelis “They are the buttons so we can drive the train. The buttons make it move. When you press the button the electricity goes down to the wheels and makes the wheels go around. Here is the steering wheel. You can go to different speeds.”
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Franz “It says NO RUNNING on the train because back on the train you can’t play.”
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This is the front of the train. The drivers make the train move. And the wheels get back on.
https://twitter.com/NISPreKK1/status/912990122747895809
27 September
The students used recycled materials to create their own model trains. They discussed safety while using the tools and materials. They had to think of their design explain their thinking.
https://twitter.com/NISPreKK1/status/912985089155334144
未完－待续 To be continued…
Franz “We need a swimming pool because if the city don’t have a swimming pool, then they will not be able to swim.”
The students were wondering if they could have a cash register in the ‘house’. They wanted to use money to buy and sell goods. Previously, the students went on 
Students “Paint.” We need paint to make the paintings! The students began to shout out the colours they would like to have. Red, green, yellow, gold, purple, white, blue, grey, orange, black and brown.
