Every Year Without Fail

At least once a year I completely lose my voice, well it's that time.  I remember losing it while I was at teachers college and my associate commenting that I was using my voice too much as a management tool.  At the time I didn't think that was the case and now I'm sure.  We use our voice a LOT when teaching, constantly explaining, questioning, repeating what we've already told the students, it is little wonder that eventually the voice goes on holiday.

It was unfortunate that this year the quiet time coincided with a much anticipated trip out and about with the class.  Thank goodness Kate was coming along too or else the parent helpers would have found themselves much more involved than they anticipated!  As part of our inquiry into Kiwiana we took a road trip round Invercargill, completing a scavenger hunt I had put together using the poems of Lynley Dear as clues.  We convened at the Southland Museum before taking in their exhibition of photographs celebrating 150 Years of Southland.  The students had to examine these to infer what life was like then and match up photographs of the 'now' with the 'then'.  Afterwards we took in the exhibition of Nigel Brown's work, a collection of pieces reflecting his travels through Europe the Pacific and Antarctica.  The students looked very closely at a large piece on Antarctica and were able to find and discuss many interesting features.

Cabbage Trees

Civic Theatre

First Church

Otepuni Stream

Anderson Park

Feldwick Gates, Queens Park

Trooper Memorial

Stellar Umbrella

The Bascilica

What I was unprepared for was some of the incidental learning that would happen today.  I planned for investigation and discovery on sites and events in Invercargill's history but not so much the geography and map skills.  Had a real giggle with the parent in my car listening to the students try to give us directions to the next place of interest, "oh, that's near the lolly shop, you know by EB Games".  They weren't so clear on the street names, I hope they are now!  I often wonder what they tell their families about after these experiences, what were the highlights for them that stuck with them all the way home?

So last week I covered for Kate while she was sick and tomorrow is her turn.