Was your lesson more exciting because you used a new starter activity?

Though I was using the starters and plenaries, but it is only after joining the CICT that realized their actual worth.

After a tiring Thursday when we all look forward to rushing home, a few of us look forward to staying back because of the immense excitement, enthusiasm and positive energy  generated during our CICT Training. I never thought training would be so much fun, but thanks to our Professional Development Head Mr.Rohan Roberts, learning has taken a paradigm shift.

The ice breakers, starters and plenaries used during our training charges every single soul attending them. It was then that I realized how much important these tools are in making a lesson more effective and interesting.

I had planned to take up 'Get In the Character' as a starter activity to get the students involved in the lesson, however the plan underwent a slight modification when I saw a student dressed as king and Ms.Nirmal in a dress for the Humanities Fashion Parade. Luckily we could get a soldier as well.

 A little briefing to the characters and a wonderful modified starter was ready with characters coming straight from Elizabethan Era.

Who can doubt the acting skills of Ms.Nirmal...... The king and the soldier acted well too. Later the students were asked to analyse the dialogues and the scene, discuss in their groups and express their views. Higher order critical thinking questions were used to help them generate more ideas.

 The starter was a success.