Activities in What’s Up
• Contest: My Role – page 23
• Explore language playfully – page 19
Activities at ideas.whatsup.sg
AI development must slow down and follow rules, experts agree (page 1 & 28)
A child-friendly brief on the need for AI regulation. Perhaps a counter reaction to AI dominance, people are deliberately “Choosing “human-made” creations over AI products” (page 9) as in the case of the Chinese animated movie Niu Lai. Technology is playing a major role on another front with big plans for “Building a new island for Singapore’s future needs” (page 12). Helping us to capture shifting familiar scenes are visual artists Dave Lim and Adar Ng whose Out in Plain Night project shares “Night sights” (page 20-21) of old street lights giving way to the new.
AI vs Human creativity: A Closer Look – For English, level 2. DOWNLOAD
Individual exercise. To better appreciate the worth of human creativity. Individually, the student answers comprehension questions based on the What’s Up story about human-versus-AI creations. Then in groups, they discuss the pros and cons of students using AI in schoolwork and present their views to the class. ⭐
Before It Disappears – For Social Studies & Art, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Individual activity. To capture the present in a visual time capsule. Steps for making a personal time capsule of postcards about 20 ordinary things. Templates provided for the postcards, a letter to the future self, the capsule’s label. To be safely stored until 2030.
Principal saves 900 lives (page 8)
Salutes Rajendra Dawadi and his staff for their crisis responsiveness. Its prologue, “Children in “Nepal struggling for a normal life after disaster” (page 8) is a glimpse of survivors coping. At the other end of South Asia, a different kind of crisis has resulted in brave teachers running “Secret secondary schools for girls in Afghanistan” (page 6). To help our readers better understand the context is “Afghanistan’s long history of war makes life hard” (page 7).
Writing Encouraging Notes – For English & CCE, level 1 DOWNLOAD
Individual. To write a note to encourage someone. The student (1) rearranges 10 sentences chronologically based on the What’s Up story about the school principal saving lives (2) writes an encouraging note to a Nepali student and a friend/relative. ⭐
Two Schools, Two Experiences – For English & Social Studies, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To practise perspective taking and grow empathy. Based on the secret-schools article, students use the given graphic organiser to compare and contrast their own school life here to those of girls attending secret secondary schools in Afghanistan.
Singer’s comeback against all odds (page 24)
About Celine Dion who teaches all of us, young and old, a lesson about grit. And so does children’s writer Dr Seuss whose early experiences led him to become “A writer who wanted a fairer world” (page 22–23). Another story about survivors, “Good news: These endangered animals are slowly making a comeback” (page 10–11) is about the kākāpō bird and five other endangered species that are now faring well.
Mime Time: Creatures Big & Small — Science & Drama, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Whole class. To enjoy miming as a mode of non-verbal communication, and to feel more connected to fellow living things. Each team first lists animals mentioned or shown in this What’s Up issue. The class then plays a relaxing game of charades. ⭐
Found Poetry – About Céline Dion – For English & Art, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Individual exercise. To explore composing a found poem inspired by Céline Dior’s comeback. Steps for creating a found poem. Includes watching two videos about Dion and another about found poetry.
These sea creatures are a bigger danger than sharks (page 16)
Why venomous jellyfish are making the news. More in invertebrates, “Spineless creatures with big jobs” (page 17) tells us about the top three winners of the “Invertebrate of the Year” contest organised by The Guardian.
Watch Out for Box Jellyfish! – For English & Science, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To learn about venomous jellyfish. Students (1) list reasons given in the article for jellyfish proliferation (2) learn first-aid steps from a local web resource (3) create a sign warning beachgoers of venomous jellyfish in local waters. ⭐
Spineless Creatures Crossword (online) – For English & Science, level 1
Individual exercise. To become more familiar with the featured invertrbrates. Puzzle of 20 words with easy clues. At https://digital.whatsup.sg ⭐
The discount trap: when people buy too much stuff (page 13)
With several tempting mega sales in quick succession, a timely explanation about discounts. Also teaching financial literacy is a closer look at the food sector where “More restaurant chains from China are opening outlets in Singapore” (page 18). In contrast, “FIFA boss is taught a lesson: the World Cup is not for sale” (page 25) triggers insights about hidden worth.
Free-for-all Debate: Foreign Eateries – English & CCE, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Whole class activity. To develop verbal debating skills. A debate format where all students can participate. The motion: The benefits outweigh the drawbacks of foreign restaurant outlets here.
Beyond the Price Tag – For English, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Individual activity. To explore the concept of something’s hidden worth. An extension of the FIFA-boss story. The students (1) list objects around them stating actual dollar values and sentimental worth (2) select one and complete an Object X-ray template to show all that makes it valuable. The class conducts a gallery walk to share all the Object X-rays.
Amazing race (page 26–27)
All about the ongoing Golden Globe Race with 16 solo sailors braving the open seas with only traditional boats, navigation tools, and their own skills. In stark contrast is “Tee & Boba” (page 28) who rely on mutual help and teamwork. To that end, “Explore language playfully” (Page 19) pulls together from previous articles in this series to show us how to communicate effectively. Our centerspread presents children expressing through both art and words what they believe is “At the heart of living well” (page 14–15).
Our Training Plan for a Competition – For English, level 3 DOWNLOAD
Groupwork. To create a training plan for a competition. In groups, students create a training plan for (1) Louis Kerdelhué for the Golden Globe race (2) for a local team for any contest of their choice. ⭐
Friendship First-Aid Kit – For English & CCE, level 2 DOWNLOAD
Pairwork. To thoughtfully construct a toolkit for helping peers. The group (1) recalls ways in which members have been helped and supported by peers (2) constructs a Friendship First-Aid Kit using the given template.
⭐ 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.
