annkimsays

[annkimsays]

Immersive Learning Experience - The Middle Ages Festival Cielo Elementary School, 2022 & 2023

One of my favorite subjects to teach as a 4th-grade teacher at Cielo Elementary School was the Middle Ages! The students had a blast learning from Amplify's CKLA program, and as an extension to the curriculum, the 4th-grade Teachers organized a Middle Ages Festival.

The students could choose a character from the Middle Ages unit—whether a serf, Lord, Lady, Knight, King, or Queen—and they got very creative with their costumes and loved the themed activities.

They created their own tapestries inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, built a catapult out of popsicle sticks and spoons throwing candy dots, participated in fun jousting activities using pool noodles as horses and balloon swords, and built their own castles and forts with cardboard boxes.

It was a fantastic way to bring history to life and a nice reward for the students to look forward to!

Background:

Your team and your community (parents) are your greatest assets, and regular meetings are essential to clearly communicate goals, roles, and logistics effectively. Supportive parents who volunteer and help contribute make a tremendous impact in the classroom and school.

When we started to plan for the Middle Ages Festival, we brainstormed different activities for the festival. With four 4th-grade teachers, we decided that each teacher would host one activity for all the 4th-grade classes for a set amount of time (each class would visit every classroom for the different activities), typically around 40 minutes per activity (this can vary depending on your schedule).

Next, we posted a Sign-Up Genius and sent a mass email to parents, allowing them to choose which items they wanted to donate.

It’s important to calculate the number of materials needed for all the students who will visit your classroom (so the entire 4th grade), not just your homeroom class.

We specified a due date for the materials but also welcomed early contributions. This approach greatly contributed to the success of our events.

Additionally, we assigned specific roles to parent volunteers to ensure their time was used effectively and efficiently. There’s nothing more daunting than standing in front of 28-30 impatient and excited 4th graders.

On the day of the festival, students rotated through the different classrooms with their homeroom class, guided by a parent volunteer, to participate in various activities.

Here is what each teacher dressed up as and the activities they hosted:

Me (Queen): One year, I hosted a catapult-building activity using spoons and candy dots (here's a link) and the 2nd year my room was designated for tapestry creation (we used cloth fabric napkins and sharpies to design!).

Mrs. Otis (Jester): Dressed as a Jester and hosted a Middle Ages dance and cider-drinking ceremony.

Ms. Steward (Nun): Dressed as a nun, her room was turned into a convent where students meditated and journaled.

Ms. Kimball (Knight): Dressed as a Knight, she hosted a jousting tournament where students used pool noodles as horses and balloon swords for jousting.

We each prepared appropriate PowerPoint presentations, displayed on the board, to provide clear instructions and references for the students.

I hope you have the opportunity to host a festival at your school or in your community! It's a lot of fun and creates lasting memories!

[annkimsays]

Engineering for Kids

Play a new role!

As I've mentioned, I've taught in various settings since my time in South Korea, and one of the most enjoyable experiences was working for Engineering for Kids in Phoenix, Arizona. This program gives children a head start in computer programming, engineering, and building. I promise, this isn't a promotion for them, although I am biased because I've seen some amazing creations from the kids. The best part of the Engineering for Kids program was its interactive and engaging learning experience.

As a classroom teacher, I had standards to meet and test scores to ensure, but a camp like Engineering for Kids provided students with the guidance they needed to learn through building, trying, retrying, and doing it again. In addition to STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math); it also incorporated fun themes like superheroes and their superpowers, encouraging critical thinking and creativity. Kids love to role-play and dress up, so whenever there's an opportunity for that, I highly suggest taking advantage of it.

[annkimsays]

Trash is not trash if you can reimagine it.

"The Boxtrolls" - Baek Bong Elementary School, South Korea, 2015

It was 2015, and I had just landed my first teaching job as an English teacher in Yongin, South Korea, at the smallest elementary school in the rural area of Yongin. The school was so tiny that it only had 40 students from 1st to 6th grade. My 6th-grade class consisted of just four girls, who were amazing, by the way. Can you believe it? In 2015, a school so small.

I wanted to teach the 1st-grade students not just English but also Western culture and arts, so I played the movie, The Boxtrolls, for them. We had previously used cardboard boxes for an activity teaching the students how to give directions in English, labeling the boxes as buildings such as restaurants and libraries. I thought it would be a great idea for the students to create their own Boxtrolls using these boxes instead of just throwing them away. I put an image of the Boxtrolls on the smartboard for the students to see, and as you can see, they did a fabulous job!

As a teacher, I quickly learned that any object can be transformed into something new with a bit of imagination. Use what you have; "trash" is not trash if you can reimagine it.

[annkimsays]

Welcome to My Blog!

Welcome!

Hi everyone! My name is Ann, and I created this blog to share creative classroom engagement activities I've organized and implemented with my teammates and students in the past, resulting in a fun and immersive learning experience.

Why is the blog called "Ann Kim Says"? Well, it's simple—Ann Kim is my name, and since this blog is about sharing my thoughts, the title is quite straightforward. :)

Hope this blog will provide helpful tips and ideas for you in the classroom, or at home!

Background:

My teaching career began in Seoul, South Korea, in 2015 after leaving the hustle and bustle of New York City. However, my career journey started in 2005 in Ad Sales at the Oxygen Network, eventually leading to a role at Nickelodeon. I thought I had made it, working for Nickelodeon seemed like a dream. But soon realized I wasn't succeeding in my role. I didn't understand why at the time, but now I recognize that the lack of a proper training program was a significant factor.

Seeking a new direction and a break, I returned to school and studied Global Affairs at NYU. This experience opened my eyes to a world beyond New York City and highlighted the critical role education plays in development and prosperity. Inspired by this, I decided to move to South Korea in 2015 to teach English. I landed a job in Yongin, South Korea as an English Teacher for a very small elementary school. Transitioning from a bustling city like NYC to rural Yongin was quite an adjustment, but I made it! :D

In 2017, I left Korea and I lived in Australia for 3 months, then traveled to New Zealand, eventually making my way to Arizona.

Fast forward to 2024, and I have been teaching for nine years in various settings, most recently as a 4th Grade Teacher at Cielo Elementary School in Chandler, Arizona.

Although I am no longer teaching for a school, I continue to educate in different ways as a Professional Learning Specialist for Amplify Education. I'll be sharing past ideas we've implemented in the classroom and new ones I discover along the way.

Stay tuned for creative, engaging activities and insights into fostering an immersive learning environment!