Reflection on Observation Lesson

What went well?

The children learnt the benefits of magnifying glasses to observe objects closely.

For their age they produced detailed drawings of their shells observing the different patterns, textures, sections, colours noticed and contours. Children referred back to the object frequently by looking through the magnifying glass to check their drawing against their object.

Children then progressed onto making models of their shells out of Plasticine they again focused on getting the correct shape and contours of their shell and began to draw in patterns using their pencils to carve in to create textures. 

Why did it go well?

Gave them lots of prompts throughout the activity to keep children motivated and using the magnifying glasses got them engaged in the activity more as excited by this new piece of equipment.

What did not go as planned or work well?

Lack of explanation as felt pushed for time when in fact if we had spent more time properly explaining and modelling to the children they would have a much clearer idea of the task ahead of them. More organisation needed beforehand i.e. more time needed to set up and prepare before children came in.

More scientific terminology was needed rather than a greater focus seeming to be placed on the creativity of the subject matter. Then due to us being art specialists it became more art based for us.

Are you clear about what you mean by the word ‘well’?

Meeting some of our learning objectives and achieving something within the lesson as progress in the children’s understanding as to what observation is deepened.

What would you change for next time?

Not rush the explanation as much and put a greater emphasis on filling the page via more clarity. Also have a greater subject knowledge so that we could have brought it round to a scientific way of thinking.

What two ways worked best in getting children to observe in more detail?

Use of the magnifying glasses and looking through them in different ways and getting children to describe what they were observing and using prompt questions when necessary to widen the thinking/discussion.

Can you think of two ways to alter the other methods to make them better?

Greater time period to complete the session in would have allowed for less pressure to be put on both us, hence the children also probably felt rushed and had very little time left to complete the second activity of making their own model from Plasticine which would have reinforced the first activity. The lack of plenary to assess the learning that occurred through questioning and discussion.