Materials: Observational Scavenger Hunt booklet
One of the keys to becoming attuned to our learners' needs is honing our observational skills and these skills require more than just our eyes. Like any skill, we get better at fine-tuning our capacity for observation through practice. This activity is designed to help you practice these skills getting to know a place - these same skills you apply in your classrooms to get to know a person. Take 20 minutes to fill out this observation booklet as you wander through a particular physical space inside and outside. (When RCPS teachers first tried this activity we did it at the Scrabble School.) Read anything on the walls or shelves, look at the physical features of the building and grounds, look in the corners, let your imagination and curiosity guide you. When you think you’ve seen, or heard, or felt everything - push past your own edge and see if there’s more you can notice!
Reflection sheet includes:
What are you seeing? What is it making you wonder?
What are you hearing? What is that making you wonder?
What are you reading? What is that making you wonder?
What are you feeling? What is that making you wonder?
What are you drawn to? What is that making you wonder?
What are you avoiding? What is that making you wonder?
Where do you need more information? What would you have to do to get that information?
Post Reflection:
What did you notice about your observational skills over the duration of that time?
What did you notice that surprised you?
What more do you want to know after that exploration?