from Kenema ..... by Lisa

The roads in Kenema are horrible!  Never seen anything like it,  Our library is in a separate building on the grounds of the elementary.  Our workshops are about a mile away on the grounds of the church and preschool. Our supplies have to be stored each night in a locked area of the parsonage next door.

Today we ferried small groups of our teachers over to see the completed library and learn from Sharon how they can use a library.

I thought a math session for the Class III, IV teachers.  We talked about the use of the number line, number boxes, dice, and forms of bingo to augment and enhance math.

A double session of science with the V, VI teachers followed.  We talked about such topics as the solar system and mosquitoes as disease carriers.We completed an adapted version of the science unit Mystery Powders.  We tested 5 powders (sugar, salt, baking soda, cornstarch and plaster of paris with water, vinegar, iodine, and heat. Participants enjoyed finding out the identity of their myster powder.  A highlight of the session was creting a scale model of the solar system using some rocks and a tape measure.  In our model Earth was 1 foot from the sun while Pluto was 39 feet away! They loved the elegance of taking the huge distances in space and making them understandable to their students.

I had a very satisfying day, sharing teaching "nuggets with such interested teachers.  So rewarding!  Lisa

Lisa teaching math games.