Contest in What’s Up
• My Favourite Character – page 19
Activities at ideas.whatsup.sg
PALESTINIANS ARE DESPERATE FOR PEACE AND AN END TO THEIR SUFFERING (page 1 & 28)
As the war continues, bringing peace to the region is an urgent challenge for 2024. To give context, “Never forget” looks back at history through two articles, “Remembering Jews who were driven out of their homes” (page 8) and “Remembering Palestinians who were driven out of their homes” (page 9). In time for Total Defence Day. 💠
Remembering Newcomers – For TDD & English, Level 3 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To experience reaching out to newcomers at school and home. Groups use the given worksheet to plan and carry out simple gestures to welcome five newcomer students, school personnel, family members, and others. 💠
Empathy Shoes: What Might Offer Inner Peace? – For TDD & English, Level 2 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To develop empathy and practice oracy. Each group selects one of ten characters provided and imagines what would give them peace of mind. 💠
WALLS FOR WAR: WORLD’S OLDEST FORTRESS DISCOVERED IN SIBERIA (page 12-13)
About the recent discovery of the world’s oldest known fortress. “Forts in Southeast Asia” (page 13) looks at some others closer to home (Fort Rotterdam in Indonesia, A Famosa in Malaysia and, of course, Singapore’s Fort Siloso). In case your students are wondering, “Conquering a fortress” explains how to. 💠
Our Classroom Fortress – For TDD & English, Level 3 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To express classroom ideals through a metaphor. Each group likens a safe, just, and caring classroom culture to a fortress. Template provided. ⭐
Fortress Crossword (online) – For English, Level 1
Individual exercise. To engage more deeply in the story. Puzzle of 20+ words. At https://digital.whatsup.sg/. 💠⭐
GIVING MAKES US HAPPIER (page 20)
The head of a world generosity movement, Asha Curran, talks about Giving Tuesday, ways in which giving is possible even without money, and how giving makes us happier. Tee & Boba tell us that happiness can also come from something as commonplace as a rainy day. 💠
I’m a Giver Too – For English & CCE, Level 3 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To reflect on ways to be generous. Three tasks culminating in a mind map of ways students can perform acts of generosity in their daily lives. ⭐💠
Looking for Antonyms – For English, Level 1 DOWNLOAD
Individual exercise. To learn more about antonyms. Students locate in the article the antonyms of a given list of words. Section subheadings are provided as clues. ⭐
List Poem: What I Like About Rain – For Art & Literature, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Individual exercise. To experience creative expression through an illustrated list poem. Step-by-step instructions, with three brief videos, for composing and illustrating a list poem on what the student likes about rain.
THE CREATIVE GENIUS BEHIND AN ANIMATION MASTERPIECE (page 22-23)
Along with “Japan’s most expensive film ever”, takes a closer look at the making of The Boy and the Heron and its celebrated creator, Hayao Miyazaki.Meanwhile, unlike voice over in animation, lip-syncing in live performances has sparked a music controversy. “Taiwanese band denies lip-syncing” (page 25) and “Lip-syncing for fun” tell us more.
Flipbook Animation – For Art & English, Level 2 DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To experience creating a flipbook. Students complete a table to plan their story, sketch their storyboard, and follow video instructions to create their own flipbook. Followed by a flipbook showtime in class.
NO MORE SMARTPHONES FOR SOME SCHOOLKIDS (page 11)
A closer look at why some schools in Ireland and elsewhere are trying to limit children’s use of these gadgets. With sidebar “Overuse of smartphones”. 💠
Handy Conjugations – For English, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Individual. To practice using conjunctions to eloquently express views. Students select four conjunctions from a given list to use while crafting a letter to What’s Up. An example of an unrelated paragraph is provided.
Mobile Phones: Let’s Take a Poll – For Maths & CCE, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To apply mathematics (percentages and graphic representation) for examining a social issue. Every student polls five schoolmates using the given questionnaire of eight items. Groups then follow detailed steps to present results in pie and bar charts, followed by reflection.
Digital Detox Diary – For Science, English & CCE, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To examine the health risks of mobile phone overuse. After watching a video, students (i) identify health risks associated with six phone habits and (ii) use the attractive template to capture data and record their reflections about phone use. 💠
AN ANCIENT MARINE HUNTER RESURFACES (page 16-17)
The recent discovery of a well-preserved fossil of a pliosaur skull tells us a lot about this gigantic prehistoric marine creature. Sidebars “Jurassic Coast: a unique heritage” and “Steve Etches: fossil hunter” are about where it was found and by whom. On a lighter note, “The creatures we share our planet with” (page 14–15) is a delightful photo essay featuring selected entries to the 2023 Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.
Vocab Builder – For English, Level 1 DOWNLOAD
Individual exercise. To strengthen vocabulary and syntax. Students (i) examine the use of given phrases in the story, and (ii) use the phrases to construct their own.
KING’S OLD CURTAINS GET A NEW LIFE AS FASHION WEAR (page 24)
Britain’s King Charles promoted upcycling by having old royal curtains converted into kimonos that were sold to raise funds for charity.
Long Live the King’s Curtains – For English and Science, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To explore the concept of upcycling. After watching two short videos, guiding questions pave the way for developing an infographic of an upcycled object’s life story. Culminates in a mini poster exhibition of the class’s upcycling ideas. 💠
NEW WAYS TO ENJOY OLD SPORTS (page 26)
From Formula 1 racing to football and cricket, sports are changing the way they organise matches to excite fans. As exciting, “Riding the waves together” (page 27) are wakesurfer friends, Markus Lahmer and Florian Dungl. Dungl, a tetraplegic, competes with a customised board called “the cage”. An inspiring read.
Fusion Games – For Physical Education, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To enjoy creative game development. Each group picks a sport from the three main types (i.e. invasion, net-barrier, target) and modifies it to come up with a new version.
⭐ 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 (15 February)
