Activities in What’s Up:
• Contest: Living with Einstein – page 15
• Contest: Art Speaks to Me – page 17
Activities at ideas.whatsup.sg
SOME GOVERNMENTS DO NOT WANT TO JOIN THE BIG WINTER OLYMPICS PARTY (page 1)
Explains why some western leaders have decided not to attend the Winter Olympics ceremonies next month. “‘Cool’ sports to check out at next month’s Winter Olympics” (page 22–23) introduces five sporting events to look out for.
Big News Crossword (online) – For English
Individual exercise. To strengthen vocabulary and demonstrate reading comprehension. An online crossword puzzle at digital.whatsup.sg with easy clues.
Free-for-all Debate – For English, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Whole class activity. To develop debating skills. A debate format where all students can participate. The motion (based on an extract from the story): “That athletes who befriend their competitors are less likely to beat them in contests than if they remain strangers”. 💠
Winter Sports: Alike & Different – For PE & English, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To become more familiar with winter sports. A Venn diagram for plugging in the similarities and differences between three winter sports: curling, the luge, alpine skiing. 💠⭐
CLIMATE CONTRASTS (page 6-7)
The contrasts are striking in “Mali: disappearing water” (page 6) and “Maldives: rising water” (page 7). Meanwhile, “Toxic waste threatens the world’s largest freshwater lake” (page 9) is about Siberia’s Lake Baikal, and “Repairing the oceans’ precious coral reefs” (page 11) describes scientists’ efforts to help coral. All with engaging side bars.
Uniquely Lake Baikal — For English & Science, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To apply research and presentation skills. Each group presents about an animal/plant that is unique to Lake Baikal. With guiding questions.
Chemicals in Soft Drinks — For Science & Art, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To apply research skills and visual language for health education. After gathering facts about unhealthy chemicals found in soft drinks, the pair constructs a mini poster to educate their peers about the issue. With guiding questions. 💠
Save the Reefs — For English & Art, Level 2 DOWNLOAD
Individual work. To use both organic and geometric shapes in art. A video lesson on shapes is followed by the student completing a drawing of a coral using organic and geometric shapes to convey a save-our-reefs message.
FOOD TRADITIONS: TAKING PRIDE IN OUR ANCESTORS’ FOOD (page 16-17)
About the need to combat shame associated with traditional foods that are looked down on. Followed by “Food & Creativity” stories: “Fake food is sometimes good food” (page 18) and “Playing with Peranakan food” (page 19).
Don’t Worry. Eat Happy. – For English & CCE, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Individual work. To better appreciate uncommon traditional foods. The student (1) completes sentences based on the story (2) identifies shaming vs affirming responses to certain foods (3) writes an entry about an uncommon dish in a book “Yummier Than We Think!”. 💠⭐
Promote a Traditional Food – For English & Art, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To express creativity in design. Three steps to thoughtfully create a poster advertising one of the re-designed foods. Followed by a gallery walk of all posters. 💠
A MUSICAL, MAGICAL TALE ABOUT FAMILY MEMBERS’ DIFFERENT GIFTS (page 20)
Lessons about family ties gleaned from Disney’s animated movie, Encanto. This month’s Tee & Boba (page 15) comic strip also offers usable dialogue for reflecting on relationships.
Harmony in Music. Harmony in a Family. — For Music & CCE, Level 3 DOWNLOAD
Whole class. To apply harmony in music as a metaphor for harmony in a family. First, the class plays a game to identify instruments in two video performances and reflects on harmony in music. Next, each student identifies qualities of “family members” (need not all be relatives) and shares with a friend how harmony in a family may be achieved. 💠
Fiction, Prediction, or Fact? — For CCE & English DOWNLOAD
To distinguish between facts, fiction, and predictions, and see how they can affect relationships. Using given definitions of the three, students (1) circle instances of each in the comic strip (2) watch a short cartoon and respond to questions about the misunderstanding and (3) write a story titled “A Misunderstanding” after sharing their own experiences. 💠
SPORTS STARS TO WATCH IN 2022 (page 21)
Introducing four sports stars expected to shine this year: Suzanne Schulting (speed skating), Alphonso Davies (football), Emma Raducanu (tennis), and Collin Morikawa (golf).
Vocab Builder — English, level 1 DOWNLOAD
Individual exercise. To strengthen vocabulary and syntax. Students (1) examine the use of eight given phrases from the story, and (2) use them to construct their own sentences.
Mime Time: Team Sports — PE & Drama, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Whole class. To experience using mime to communicate. Instructions for a relaxing game of charades where four groups enact team sports. 💠
⭐ 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.
💠 Activities suitable for Total Defence Day 2022.
