This document discusses how intermediate phase learners in grades 4-6 can use the web to spark learning about the world. It provides examples of virtual field trips, educational videos and simulations, interactive storytelling tools, and games that can be used to engage these students and help them apply knowledge in new contexts. Specific websites are recommended that allow students to explore places like museums, zoos and outer space without leaving the classroom.

1. Sparking learning:
learning about the world
through the web
Dr Nicola Pallitt
31 March 2014

2. Learning in the Intermediate Phase
(Grade 4-6)
Some characteristics of intermediate phase learners:
• No longer learning to read, but reading to learn
• Emphasis on thinking skills, applying knowledge
• Specialised subjects
• Consider others’ points of view
• Collaborate to complete group tasks
• Are challenged to tackle independent tasks
• Start to taking control of their own learning
• Are curious about the world around them
So they start to:
• Engage in active participation and critical enquiry in the learning process
• Seek more order, while still manifesting spontaneity and creativity
• Apply acquired methods in new contexts
• Access, record and manipulate information
• Investigate, compare and assess critically

3. Virtual tours & field trips
• Experiential learning opportunities
• Travel without leaving the classroom
• History: Use Google Street View to see
monuments
• Explore countries, museums, exhibitions, zoos,
aquariums, space
http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/01/20
-wonderful-online-museums-and-sites.html
• 3D environments

4. Explore the Milky Way via NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope
athttp://www.worldwidetelescope.org/Interact/

5. Google World Wonders –let your students walk around the streets of Paris
http://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/entity/%2Fm%2F0wzm71n?projectId=w
orld-wonders

6. The Secret Annex lets students travel back in time to Anne Frank’s hiding place. Students can
explore Anne’s house in a super cool 3D interactive
environment. http://www.annefrank.org/en/Subsites/Home/Enter-the-3D-
house/#/house/21/ Suggestions for how to integrate in the
classroom http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=3947

7. http://archive.nelsonmandela.org/home

8. Educational Videos & Simulations
• Khan Academy mapped to the SA curriculum
(Grade 6-12)
http://opencontent.uct.ac.za/Science/Khan-
Academy-Mapped-to-South-African-Curriculum
• Lots of useful educational resources on SKA
http://www.ska.ac.za/learn/index.php
• Jave simulation that allows students to visualize
energy transformation and describe how energy
flows in various systems. Through examples from
everyday life, it also bolsters understanding of
conservation of
energy. http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/en
ergy-forms-and-changes

10. Numeric is using Khan Academy to create exciting
and high impact learning environments around
South Africa. http://www.numeric.org/

12. Create mind-maps

14. Read, write and share stories
https://storybird.com/

15. http://www.inklestudios.com/inklewriter/

17. Create comics for language learning
http://www.bitstripsforschools.com/

18. Play games to learn
• Even about serious topics like
climate change, sustainability and
Eskom’s power crisis
• Read more: http://classroom-
aid.com/2012/03/28/games-for-
changes-climate-challenge/
• Eskom Energy Planner: From Cape
Town, South African developer Formula
D Interactive comes a game that allows
the player to take custody of a virtual
city’s power plan and to seek a balance
between the most efficient
technologies currently available and the
most environmentally friendly ones.
http://www.gamesforchange.org/festiv
al2013/games/eskom-energy-planner/

19. Make games to foster
creativity & design thinking
• Board game
http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/making-
board-games-in-the-classroom/48983
• Digital game
https://gamestarmechanic.com/

21. Gamify your classroom with Classcraft
http://www.classcraft.com/en/