Show and Tell

[Elfin]

This a vent plus a plea for ideas. At ds school he has do a show and tell type talk every fortnight. It can be about anything although now he is in Grade 3 it is getting more technical.

For instance if you talk about rainbows you have to describe the light spectrum and how light is refracted and this is why we see the different colours etc.

Well I am so over flipping show and tell and our ideas have dried up so would appreciate suggestions of what we could do.

Some of the kids have done experiments, recipes, jokes, favourite books etc. I guess we are searching for unique ideas. I am getting to stage where I loathe show and tell:mad:

It is a drama every second week:thumbsdown:

[mumski]

Maybe you could design and make a boat together and talk about sinking and floating and which materials you chose and didn't choose.

[Elfin]

Thanks mumski for replying that is a good idea but they actually did something similiar in Grade 2 science last year.

He ended up talking about christmas, showed the stocking his aunts made, the family tradition ,what he received etc. We are really scratching around for something new. We might do a recipe next time. I just don't know how we will get through the year at this rate.

[nemosmum]

Ok as a preschool teacher I loath the whole show and tell idea!

I really dont think (in general) that children get much out of it:no:

I cant believe that in yr 3 kids (and parents and teachers lol) are still being tortured with this!!!

I hope my kids dont have to go through this when they head to school :no:

I think instead of searching for ideas hun you should start a petition banning show and tell:laughing:

[Elfin]

LOL NM I like your thinking, I should lead a parent uprising against show and tell, I think I could count quite a few parents in, I am sure I am not the only one who loathes it:laughing:

I don't mind show and tell as it is probably good to learn to speak in front of a group but I hate the fact it is every fortnight and is so open ended.

Last year they only did show and tell about 3 times each term but it was structured. They were rostered to talk about a particular topic like favourite book, favourite cd, give today's weather report, jokes, favourite toy etc. It was much easier this way and less competitive.

[jasminesmum]

My ds is in grade 4 and now this year they have to do presentation every term.

It has to be a news report, an experiment or recipe or a book review.

I hate them too.:banghead:

Last term he made a volcano out of flour and other stuff and took it along and demonstrated how it exploded.
It was pretty easy to do, just a big pain!

[nemosmum]

see what you've described is more a research project that the kids then present to the class, which imo is great

BUT scheduled show and tell is to some children like torture and to know you have to do it every two wks can imo put unwanted stress on children.

[Elfin]

I wouldn't mind a research project every term could live with that. But this every fortnight thing is a lot of pressure, plus he has to do homework, a reader, practice violin and go to a swimming lesson every wednesday. It drives me mad!

But this teacher won't change, Ishe is very strict and set in her ways and she loves to arrange the childrens desks in rows:rolleyes: She is a very good teacher though but just demands very high standards IYKWIM.

Went into the city this morning and bought this small anti gravity experiment thing, it didn't cost much so there is another idea, I just need another 20 ideas:banghead:

[nemosmum]

hahahahaa......things i can look forward too when my kidlets get bigger, home schooling is looking more and more apealing :laughing: JJ:laughing:

Why not try something that you can follow through out the whole year, so instead of doing something new each time, you just do an update of what ever it is your following the progress of???

Maybe you could start um i dont know grow a tree? veggie patch? build a pond and watch the progress of the tadpoles frogs etc?
sorry not much help am i lol

[Elfin]

Not a bad idea though NM, something that progresses through the year. Knowing my luck we would start something and then she might make them do themes:laughing:

I sometimes think homeschooling is mighty appealing until they all start fighting and screaming at each other and then I thank my lucky stars for school:smiliedance:

[jasminesmum]

see what you've described is more a research project that the kids then present to the class, which imo is great

BUT scheduled show and tell is to some children like torture and to know you have to do it every two wks can imo put unwanted stress on children.

Yes I agree it is a bit easier. My ds had to do the show and tell every week last year too and it was a lot harder to find something different to do.

My child is one that doesn't like to do any homework so anything he has to do at home is torture for both of us.
He also has readers and homework sheets as well as 30 spelling words to do every night.

Homeschooling does sound appealing for my dd:yes:


All the best with future show and tells.

[biscotti]

What about a cooking thing - like a mini demonstration with a recipe chart he's made and maybe photos of the ingredients or process taken with a digital camera, and then the finale - "and here's one I prepared earlier" for all the kids to try a taste of.

I'm a teacher too and I loathe show and tell - it has no purpose imo.

[biscotti]

Why not try something that you can follow through out the whole year, so instead of doing something new each time, you just do an update of what ever it is your following the progress of???


My DD did something like this - she made a potato person and every few weeks she took it back to school to show it's progress (or deterioration!!) and compare it to photos of the original and previous weeks, and one day she took the book "The Potato People" (or something, a Pamela Allen book!!) and read that to the class.

[2boysmama]

There are some suggestions online like:
http://www.unit5.org/schumajm/show_and_tell_ideas.htm
Good Luck with it.

My only suggestion is to have your child talk about thing they know or have an interest in, and using their own words that they are comfortable with.

[Elfin]

Thank you for the link 2boysmama, I will check it out:)

Well for next talk he has his anti gravity experiment, a recipe for the next, our water snails, an old trophy that belonged to my great grandfather then that is it the show and tell idea well will be completely dry, so all ideas welcomed:yes: