[Video] Afterschool Lessons: Learning Centers and Project Work

Here is a look at lessons at CGK Afterschool.

These Grade 1 children had just graduated from CGK Preschool. Since Afterschool opened, they had been looking forward to attending. That day, too, they enjoyed spending time and learning with Bobby.

Learning Centers
First, let us introduce our Learning Centers lesson.

Learning Centers provide several activity stations where children can enjoy learning while exercising independence. One station might offer reading and writing, while another lets children create freely.

One particularly popular activity was building a marble run. Incorporating elements of programming-style thinking, the challenge was to build a course using only construction paper.

How could they make the marble travel from top to bottom? At what angle should it roll to pass through the tube in the middle?

The children clearly enjoyed working through the challenge by trial and error.

“I think we can do this way!”
“How about this?”

As they tried new approaches after repeated setbacks, shared ideas and discussed them, communication developed naturally. When their completed course successfully carried a marble, Bobby sounded just as delighted as the children! We finished with a group photo and looked forward to the next Learning Centers session.

Project Work
The subject that day was Science, and the theme was disasters. Over eight weeks, the children would learn about disasters and consider evacuation methods to protect themselves and others.

On the first day, we researched disasters around the world.

We began with the United States, where Bobby is from. The children were particularly interested in hurricanes, wildfires and other differences from Japan.

Then it was the children’s turn. Working in pairs, they chose a country and researched its disasters. One pair chose Australia and the other Zimbabwe. Children’s ideas are always interesting!

The children carried out their own research on tablets. Research itself is an important skill: entering a search, examining pages one by one and looking for answers. Some initially did not know where to tap, type or look, but after guidance from their teacher, they quickly became comfortable using the tablets.

Originally, they were going to write up their findings on paper and present them. During their research, however, they found many interesting photographs. They decided to save those images and present their findings as a slideshow instead.

The children introduced the disasters they had researched in their chosen countries. Although vocabulary such as floods, wildfires, thunderstorms and earthquakes was challenging, they explained it in their own words impressively. They seemed to enjoy presenting and using English as a practical tool.

We hope this is an environment where children develop their ability to express themselves and think through English, rather than simply a place to study the language.

The children continued to enjoy singing and playing games with Bobby right up to the end of the day.