I'll admit it. Sometimes I'm just a big child.
Case in point: I have used Playdoh in the Geography classroom.
And it actually worked quite well.
The Rundown:
Year group: 7
Number of students: 26
Unit: The Asia-Pacific (after a Maps/Mapping unit that had been taught by another member of staff)
Rationale/Aim:
- Test student understanding of contours and their ability to interpret maps
What happened?
- Outlined lesson, reasons for lesson and expected behaviour (we are using Playdoh, after all - this could end messily).
- Had students (in pairs) create models of S.E.Asian countries using Playdoh and atlases (obviously, we're not expecting scaled perfection, but models should resemble the assigned countries). Each pair of students modelled one country.
- A quick mini-lesson on contours was deemed necessary as some students expressed confusion and a lack of understanding regarding contour lines.
- Students produced some rather fine examples of country models (and displayed an improved understanding of contours). It was interesting to see how they worked together, in particular, how those with a stronger grasp of contours guided those who were weaker.
I would've also liked to have students consider the links between land use/human activity and relief using the models - but sadly, I ran out of time and keeping the models until the next lesson wasn't a feasible plan at the time.
Remember:
- Playdoh can be messy - build the models on scrap paper or newspapers.
- Don't let them mix and match colours - you will be left with piles of multicoloured Playdoh.
- Keep things fast and snappy, and keep checking on them (there are always students who decide to make their own sculptures).
Other ideas:
- I would quite like to use this in a 'Rivers' revision lesson or as part of a matrix 'Rivers' assignment, having students model the course of a river (and attendant landforms). It could be carried out as a competition, or in the case of the matrix, as a presentation to the teacher.
Thoughts?
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