Let me feel your face Experimental Elementary School, TAIPEI, TAIWAN

Science

CONTENT

Science

Understand the structure and functions of different parts of the body - An Eye

Character

Developing empathy, being responsible, building citizenship

Global Goal

Skill

Research skills, Questioning, Reasoning

Age Group

11-12 years / Grade 6

Learning Standards

McRel Learning Standard: Grade 6

Prerequisite

None

LEARNING GOAL & PURPOSE

This is an inspiring story of young superheroes from Experimental Elementary School, Taipei, Taiwan. They were bothered about their blind friend Jack. He recognized his friends only through the voice. He wanted to know his friends by feeling their faces. Our superheroes set up a campaign and invited his classmates to come and let Jack feel their faces. This not only allowed Jack to ‘see’ his friends but also built stronger relationships with them. At times, in our day to day life, we miss out on these small details and hardships of people who are disabled. Sensitizing children at a very young age is a step forward to build empathy.

Lesson Plan

Hook: Show this video to your students and initiate the conversation with your students about ‘What would happen if we lose one of our sensory organs - Eyes?’ Suggestion: You can give an experience of Blindfold to all the students to understand and empathize with what a blind child feels / Jack in the story feels. You can play a quick game of ‘Identify your friend’. Ask one child to volunteer and blindfold his / her eyes. Ask few students of the class to read out a paragraph from the textbook and ask the volunteer child to identify his / her friends by their voices.

  • Ask the students to share how they felt when blindfolded.
  • A teacher can start a programme of inquiry by asking students to list down questions they would like to explore regarding the sight and how eyes function.
  • Ask students to do research regarding - How an eye works? What are the parts of an eye? And what is the function of each part?
  • Let children work in different groups or ask them to come back and share their research in the class
  • Pose a What If question for students to ponder upon – What if one part of an eye doesn’t work properly?
  • Ask students to do a quick deep dive in understanding more about myopia, hypermetropia and the difference between both eye conditions
  • Students can find out what precautions can be taken to avoid these two

Suggestions: Once students are ready with their information and understanding, ask them how would they like to spread the awareness in and around in their community. The teacher can take her students to visit a Blind School and get your students to buddy with blind students. Speak to them and understand their concerns. The teacher can show the following video to inspire her students.

Lighten up the dreams of a Blind kid:

https://youtu.be/Wdf559I__-g?list=PLOS7LSVwOyfIEWnXU1_YMDprk6fL2GqRi