ACTIVITIES in What’s Up:
• What motivates you? – page 2
• Contest: If I were Bell – page 19
• Zero waste – page 23
ACTIVITIES at ideas.whatsup.sg
ANCIENT CITY IS EGYPT’S BIGGEST DISCOVERY SINCE KING TUT’S TOMB (page 1)
Archaeologists have discovered the buried remains of a city that is more than 3,000 years old.
Crossword (online) – For English, level 1
Individual exercise. To grow vocabulary and engage more deeply in the story. Puzzle of 26 words with easy clues. Online from 27 April at https://digital.whatsup.sg/ ✪
Make a Time Capsule – For CCE & Social Studies, level 1 – DOWNLOAD
Individual work. To enjoy the experience of capturing today’s world in a personally meaningful way. Steps for making a time capsule to be opened in 2031.
UNHAPPY PRINCESSES (page 18-19)
Why Meghan Markle and Princess Latifa are sad princesses despite their wealth. Side bar: “Princess Latifa: longing for freedom” (page 18). On a happier note is “Southeast Asian touches in Disney’s Raya” (page 16–17).
Money Can’t Buy Happiness – For English & Art, level 1 – DOWNLOAD
Individual. To become more aware of sources of happiness. After answering prompts on happiness, the student writes and illustrates an essay about one source of happiness.
Characters with Character – For Art and CCE, level 2 – DOWNLOAD
Individual work. To affirm a friend through creative expression. The student fills in a table about an inspiring friend, uses an online tool to create a computer-generated character resembling the friend, and adapts it to make a card for the friend.
WHY THE RUSH TO MARS? (page 10)
Along with “Can people colonise Mars?” (page 11), these two stories give captivating updates on scientists seeking to better understand Mars. Sidebar “Different atmospheres”.
Making Mars Home – For English, level 2 – DOWNLOAD
Individual. To practise summary writing. A worksheet to enable summary writing of one section of the story by first differentiating key points from elaboration and examples. ✪
Moon Mission – For English, level 2 – DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To apply critical thinking skills. Given a list of occupations, students decide which of them would be useful to have with them on an expedition to the moon.
Mars in Jars – For Science & Art, level 3 – DOWNLOAD
Individual work. To better understand ecosystems. After viewing three brief videos, students (1) list why Mars is suitable/unsuitable for humans, (2) express whether they would like to visit Mars, and (3) create a self-sustaining ecosystem in a jar to represent Mars. ✪
VACCINE EQUITY IS A DIFFICULT PROBLEM (page 7)
As demand for COVID-19 vaccines outstrips supply, the world must answer the tough question of who should get the vaccines first. A balanced and child-friendly explanation of the crisis.
Fun with Fractions – For Math, level 1 – DOWNLOAD
Individual. To practise calculating and comparing fractions. Students solve five sums with fractions based on the story. ✪
UNDERWATER MYSTERIES: EXPLORING SHIPWRECKS (page 12-13)
Our centrefold is a photo essay of amazing underwater images. On the next page, read about a famous wreck closer to home — “The Belitung wreck” (page 14).
The Mysterious Shipwreck– For English & Art, level 2 – DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To appreciate photography as an art form, and to respond with creative writing. Each group selects one of centerspread photos, writes a very short story titled “The Mysterious Shipwreck”, and shares it with the class. Fiction writing guidelines provided.
FOOD LABELS: WHAT YOU SEE MAY NOT BE WHAT YOU GET (page 21)
Find out why some food companies mislabel their products and the harm this does.
When What You See is Not What You Get – For English & CCE, level 3 – DOWNLOAD
Individual work. To grow in consumer literacy. The student (i) completes sentences using given sentence connectors, (ii) recalls a time when a purchase disappointed, and (iii) files a complaint about it using the given feedback form. Has writing tips. ✪
PRETTY VIEW, BUT WHAT ARE YOU STEPPING ON? (page 20)
A group of volunteers restore grass at a park at the Czech Republic. More about incredible volunteer efforts in “Secret library in war-torn Syria” (page 9).
Our Special Little Space at School – For English & CCE, level 3 – DOWNLOAD
Whole class. To experience designing for greener common spaces. Part A: Each group identifies a small space at school, and presents a proposal for making it greener and more beautiful. Part B: The class explores the possibility of carrying out one group’s project.
Plant Care Plan for Our Classroom – For Science & English, level 3 – DOWNLOAD
Group work. To learn about caring for indoor plants. After gathering information about indoor plants, each group suggests one for the classroom. The group creates a Care Plan roster for the plant. Three online resources are listed as a starting point.
✪ Answers to these activities will be emailed to teachers on the IDEAS mailing list. To join the mailing list, please email your name, designation, and school to ideas@whatsup.sg.
