This video looks at several different teaching styles and classroom strategies in a lesson on medieval societies. As students have different learning styles, teaching styles can often vary.
After a quick overview of the lesson, the teacher asks students to identify the equipment needed in different sporting activities. Working in groups of two, students brainstorm and present answers on the sport that they have picked. Studies have suggested that some students feel more comfortable working in groups and often master material better than working individually. This is a clear example of the cooperative learning approach in action.
The teacher proceeds to review vocabulary that is covered in the medieval times lesson. This method of reviewing vocabulary that is integrated with the lesson can be very effective in helping students retain what was learned.
The lesson continues with students being shown pictures of a samurai and a knight (visual) and the different parts of each one’s armor. He then asked students to share these vocabulary words in their native language.
One great activity highlighted in this video shows students working in pairs to complete a sentence. They are instructed to write the following: I think that the medieval ________________ would win. I think they would win because _________________________________________. The students use vocabulary learned in the lesson to complete the sentences. This exercise demonstrates an effective writing scaffolding exercise using a cooperative learning approach.
