Planet Earth: Teaching Tool

Now my second year at the school, I try to keep my teachings and curriculum diversified.  Of course, there's similar themes at similar times of the year, but how I present them to the students, I like to change up.  With this particular topic I'm about to bring up - this method I haven't changed because it's one of the easiest, most enjoyed teaching tool to use.  It's called Planet Earth.  That BBC series?  Yeah, that one.

Naturally, January is about "Winter" at the preschool.  Weekly themes included weather, winter animals and climates you can find them in, and of course, winter activities/holidays.  This past week the older groups were exploring winter animals; those living in Northern Canada (Monday), Arctic/North Pole (Wednesday), and Antarctica/South Pole (Friday).  Not only do they know the differences between north and south poles, but they can tell you what a Tundra is, what animals can be found there and yes, Caribou may look like Santa's reindeer - but they're just cousins.

When it comes to topics like these, I love bringing in library books that give REAL pictures, REAL facts, and a REAL perspective on the world around them.  After spending lots of time reading thick books filled with winter images of the coldest places on Earth, as a finishing touch, I brought in the DVD series 'Planet Earth'.  Best.  Teaching.  Tool.  Ever. 

Not only is this series amazing to watch to begin with, but it's a great opportunity for kids to see what the habitats of wild animals are, outside of a zoo or aquarium.  It's simple in terms of images they show, the sequences are easy to follow at a 4 year old's capacity, and the reward in the end is the endless amount of conversation and open-ended questions it initiates within themselves. 

In the series, there is segment on "Ice Worlds".  It shows both Poles and also shines light on what global warming is doing.  Sure, it shows the odd pair of birds including penguins courting or a wolf going in for the kill on a vulnerable bably muskox calf, but the exposure on the situation is so minimal.  And really, the kids get what's about to happen in those lifecycle situations.  And they realize not everything has to be cartoon in order to be good.  Suddenly, their attention span because longer over a "real" movie over any Disney or Dreamworks. At the end of the day, the kids have put what they've learned in the classroom to a real life experience and the brains start to expand a little extra.  They ask those questions they never thought about before because they suddenly become curious on what they're now observing! 

"What will happen to the polar bears if there's no more ice?", "I think Emperor penguins are stronger than Chinstrap penguins.", "I wish there were more Beluga whales..", "So, Humpbacks go to warmer ocean waters when it's Winter in the Antarctica?".  These were from four year olds. 


And you the teacher, become their best resources for answers.