Hi Everyone,

Welcome to my blog and thank-you for taking the time to visit! My name is Ben Leitch and I am a primary school teacher with twenty four years’ experience in the independent and state sectors. I am currently a PE teacher at Alamanda College in Point Cook, Victoria, Australia. I have a strong interest in the subjects of Physical Education, Mathematics and Reading. I started my blog thirteen years ago as a means of sharing the many teaching and learning activities I have implemented in my classroom. I know how useful it is to have a variety of teaching activities on hand and ready to go. I hope that’s where my blog can help you. Do you have anything you would like to share? Any comments or suggestions? I would love to hear from you! Thanks once again for visiting. Ben Leitch.

Hi Everyone,

Today I have an easy to use design tool to share with you. Tinkercad is an online collection of software tools and as a teacher, you can sign your class up for free.

Containing a range of 3D shapes, students can create 3D models. There are some similarities to Educational Minecraft and I believe there is a way that Tinkercad can be inserted into Minecraft.

Apparently, SpaceX (Elon Musk) used Tinkercad as a tool for their original rocket design process. If that isn’t an impressive fact, I don’t know what is!

Here’s the link to the Tinkercad site: https://www.tinkercad.com. Also here is a picture of a creation designed by one of my students:

I hope you and your students enjoy this site.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi Everyone,

I have a game based learning platform to share with you today. During remote learning, I have used Kahoot extensively as a tool to create multiple choice quizzes that all students can access.

As a teacher, it’s free to sign up and even easier to create and share a Kahoot. Your students can even sign in and create their own Kahoots, which would be great for exhibitions and projects.

Here’s the link to this wonderful site: https://kahoot.com/

Also, here is a You Tube clip about Kahoot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XzfWHdDS9Q

I hope you find Kahoot as exciting as I do!

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi Everyone,

In these busy times of online learning, the challenges facing educators are many and varied. Just how do we keep our students interested and engaged as they learn remotely?

Padlet is a content sharing site, which enables teachers to create an online notice board, where content can be shared and viewed. Although there is a paid subscription, you can create three free padlets. Once you have reached your limit, you can delete or archive existing padlets, in order to make space for new ones. This is what I have done! Students can also comment on each other’s work.

Here’s an example of a recent padlet I implemented as part of my English program:

I hope you enjoy looking at Padlet and find a use for this sharing site in your program.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi everyone,

A big welcome to the 2021 school year. Let’s hope the dreaded COVID-19 doesn’t make a return.

For my first post for the 2021 school year, I will be sharing some persuasive writing posters. With NAPLAN making a return this year, the writing component will either be a narrative or persuasive piece.

These two posters help explain the persuasive techniques of rebuttals and rhetorical questions. These techniques are vital for writing a persuasive and informative piece.

Rebuttals Poster

Rhetorical Questions Poster

When displayed, I hope these posters are informative and educational for your students.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi Everyone,

Here is an updated version of The Day I Was Born Project, which is transdisciplinary project for students from Grades 4 – Year 7.

I have previously posted this project quite a few years ago. However, this new and improved version contains updated links and improved information for each section.

As many students transition back to school post COVID-19, this project could be one of the most interesting pieces of work they complete this term.

Here it is:

Download

the-day-i-was-born-project-1Download

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi Everyone,

I have just discovered an amazing website, which I would like to share with you. Pobble 365 provides a brand new image every day, which provides your students with 365 thought provoking images to write about. If you scroll down below the images, there are ready-made activities on hand.

Here’s the link: https://www.pobble365.com/

As the site itself says, one picture, one teaching resource, every single day of the year.

Like you, I am very fussy with the quality of websites I use in my classroom. To me, this one looks like a winner.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi everyone,

This will be post number 200 on my humble little blog! My first post was on August 29th 2010, almost 10 years ago. It was a reflection piece about a Ben Harper song. Ten years ago, if you had told me that in 2020, a virus would be sweeping the world and I would be teaching from home, I would have not believed you!

The challenge facing educators today is how to teach remotely. The familiarity of face to face teaching has, for now, been replaced by the need to deliver an engaging and entertaining curriculum online.

A virtual escape room can be an enjoyable and educational addition to your daily program. While I am yet to try one, I have a feeling my students will absolutely love it! In a virtual escape room, students have to solve clues to open digital locks. The clues usually relate to the topic of the room, but sometimes they’re presented as math problems, word puzzles or other tests of general knowledge.

Next week, my Grade 5 students will be having a go at a Minecraft Escape Room, which incorporates math problems and videos. To find this, and many other escape rooms, click on the following link:

https://www.simplemost.com/free-digital-escape-rooms/

I hope your students enjoy this activity.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi everyone,

In Australian schools, Term 3 is traditionally when we teach fractions, decimals, percentages and ratios. Today’s activity continues the fraction’s theme and could easily be adapted to suit Grades 3-6.

The Fraction Quilt is an activity designed to teach the basics of fractions, decimals and percentages. It is a fun, artistic way of exploring a range of topics which can be less than than exciting to learn!

Here is the fractions quilt activity: Fractions Quilt

I hope you and your students enjoy this activity.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi everyone,

I have a mathematical warm up exercise to share with you. It would be suitable for Grades 4, 5 and 6. It could even be an entire lesson on its own, if so desired.

The premise is quite simple. Can you divide a whole pizza into eleven pieces, by using four straight lines? Here’s a major hint, which you can feel free to give or not: the pieces don’t have to be equal in size.

Here is the problem: Maths Warm Up – The Pizza

Here is the teacher favourite answer sheet: Answer – Maths Warm Up – The Pizza

I hope you and your students enjoy this warm up activity.

Kind regards,

Ben

Hi everyone,

In my previous post, I discussed the idea that the whole point of studying Maths at school is for students to become mathematical problem solvers.

Continuing along this with theme, I have another problem solving activity to share with you today. I am using this problem as an introduction to division. Titled Soft Drink Cans, students need to place 18 soft drink cans into a create, so that every row and column has an even number. This problem is generally suitable for Grades 4-6. I have also included a couple of challenge sections, which will extend your high flyers.

Here is the activity: Maths – Soft Drink Cans

Here is the trusty answer sheet: Answers – Maths – Soft Drink Cans

I hope your students enjoy this activity.

Kind regards,

Ben