I was thinking about how I could incorporate some hands-on activities for the boys in Room 13. As the teacher, I discovered the Quoits game and it just so happened that Qu was the digraph for the week. From there the learning opportunities snowballed.
When I turned around the other way it was easier for me to throw the ring and get closer to the sticks.
It is really balancing. You have to really focus and look at where you want to throw the ring.
It helps me to focus on one thing. Normally, you focus on the stick you want to throw the ring onto.
It helps me focus my brain on the middle stick. I am very likely to get a ring on the middle stick because I am good at throwing.
During Mathematics, the Quoits game provided multiple opportunities to practice a range of mathematical skills. These included measuring, probability and practicing adding in tens and hundreds. For example, the first player to reach five hundred points is the winner, so students had to keep track of their numbers and add in 100’s. For measurement, students used meter rulers to measure the distances of the various rings and worked together to ensure there were no gaps or overlapping when measuring. Those who were not confident using the three-meter rulers, were supported by their peers and there were lots of great conversations. Lastly, we started to explore the basics of probability. We discussed if the ring was unlikely or likely to hit the pegs, and why or why not.
It is helping me learn the numbers. I will be proud of myself.
Playing quoits is giving me more ideas to work with numbers. I can count on in 10’s and I am learning more numbers.
There is a 30 points and a 20 points. That makes 50 points. So you only need another 50 points to make 100.
I am learning how to play quoits and learning how to add numbers to 100.
The last curriculum area that Quoits helped us learn about was Science
Students thought about the “force” they would need to use to throw the ring and hit the target. Discussions were made about why or why not they were successful. Some students even linked this to some previous learning we had done previously.
For such a simple game, Quoits has been a really great learning tool that Room 13 have integrated across the curriculum. Best of all, it was lots of fun.
Education has no beginning and no end. It ebbs and flows and is ever-changing. As an educator, it is my responsibility to instill a love of learning and an ability to adapt to an ever-changing world.
My teaching journey started at 40 when I retrained as a teacher after a career in journalism and many years as a stay-at-home mother. When we guide our students to be lifelong learners, we send them towards their next journey well-prepared for whatever life brings.
I have a long history of being part of the education world. My experiences include being a parent, grandparent, and teacher. I have had training in both Early Childhood and Primary School.
I have been working at Wairakei Primary School since 2014 and I am teaching in the junior school. I have a strong belief that all children are capable learners and I am passionate about developing learning programmes that are creative, challenging, authentic and fun with my team. I nurture the children’s curiosity while encouraging them to become self- motivated and independent learners who understand what they are learning and why they are learning it.
I enjoy working in the supportive learning community of Wairakei Primary School where children, families and teachers learn and grow together.
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