To think 'show & tell' in year 4 is dire.

[civicxx]

My DD hasn't done 'show & tell' since year 1. DD is in year 4 now (new school) and has been asked to do show & tell on Friday, what on Earth is she meant to take in?!

When she was little she'd take in favourite teddy etc, favourite baby doll (that you could feed, cried etc) she's dumbfounded at what to take as am I. She said her class mates have brought teddies in but she doesn't want to do that as she felt it was babyish and the questions people asked were boring & I don't blame her!

Help!

I love show and tell. I teach upper primary. My class love it too but we rarely have time... once every few weeks I ask them to bring something in the next day. Gymnastics medals, photos from a weekend away, shells found at a beach, a collection of keyrings. .. it's such a good way to get to know your class and actually talk to them on their level instead of constantly pushing them. Noting to worry about, though. I expect the kids who brought teddies chose those because they're a special object to them.

Actually I think its a great idea. Particularly if it encourages children who might not normally get the chance to speak up. It doesnt have to be show-offy - my dc took in part of a bees hive that we had found. The next time they spoke about their main interest. I always encouraged them to be kind to other children so even if the subject was a bit naff they tried to ask a question or show interest.

I think if it was something we had time to make something for like a project or a presentation that would be really good. I'm
not dismissing how show & tell is carried out in some schools but I really do get the feeling from what DD has said others have done that this more of a 5 minute thing. You take something in, explain a little bit & then the class as you 2/3 questions and that's all which seems very like year one show and tell too me. She would love to do a presentation the kid can talk for England! But it 100% isn't portrayed as this kind of thing, no note/letter etc, just DD saying I need to take a teddy or something in on Friday!

From the National Curriculum-
The national curriculum for English reflects the importance of spoken language in pupils’ development across the whole curriculum – cognitively, socially and linguistically. Spoken language underpins the development of reading and writing. The quality and variety of language that pupils hear and speak are vital for developing their vocabulary and grammar and their understanding for reading and writing. Teachers should therefore ensure the continual development of pupils’ confidence and competence in spoken language and listening skills.

Show and tell is a good and "safe" way of developing confidence in speaking and listening, key curriculum skills

DS1 is in 2nd grade and loves show and tell.
The rule is that they can't bring in toys but other than that anything goes.
In 1st grade he brought in his telescope, his microscope, a photo album of pictures of him when he was a baby, his collection of crystals and gemstones (my collection...), the activity book he got from the Natural History Museum the last time we were in the U.K., that sort of thing.

I don't think it has to be anything spectacularly mind-blowing...

@BarbarianMum love that he took the pipe in haha!

You take something in, explain a little bit & then the class as you 2/3 questions and that's all which seems very like year one show and tell too me.

It sounds like such a wasted opportunity.

Is it really that hard for an 8/9 year old to come up with something that they would like to tell or show their class? I know that even my year six would happily do this once a term. My year four would love it too!

OP, you're missing the point.

The idea is to get the DCs comfortable standing up and speaking in public, handling questions from the 'floor' etc - this is an incredibly valuable skill.

It has to be said though, a yr 4 child with no hobbies, extra-curricular activities or even interests is really worrying. Do you think she is being sidelined a bit with your work commitments?

DD took in one of my old school books from when I was the same age as her this week. We’ve also taken in notes and coins from different countries, souvenirs from holidays, and also she took in one of those science kit things once and she demonstrated how to make a lava lamp with it.

Magic tricks.

@Incognito8522

Unsure where it says she has no interests or hobbies but thanks for the input.

My son had to take an object in to talk about as part of his assessment day for a very academic school (year five entry), so this was in year 4.

I agree that a presentation like show and tell would be amazing, there are many many things she would love to talk about it! She loves the solar system, the rainforest & its animals & dancing & horses, camping & canoeing!

... you MN's have made me see show & tell in a fantastic light of what it COULD be. I never undermined the presentation side, However the post was written with the sense that school wanted a teddy & a rock, one sentence & 3 questions from the class.

Thanks for replies, were going with the certificate as will prompt questions about what she did there, which was tons!

If she can't think of anything to take in, then its reasonable to assume she has no hobbies or interests, as these would be a natural source of inspiration...

I think that's fab. Mine would love it. DS in Yr5 would probably take a tennis racket in and chat about that - the different strokes, his fav player. Etc. Certainly no need for parental involvement, which is my normal issue with homework, so I'd love this.

My DD did this regularly in Reception and year 1 but it doesn’t seem to have made an appearance yet in year 2. From memory she took an owl feather, a rosette from a horse show ( bushiest tale ) her ballet shoes, a mussel shell from mussels she’d foraged, a letter from the queen. If she has to do it again I know she has a perfectly preserved butterfly she found on holiday - that kind of thing. The main issue is reminding her of the circumstances surrounding the item so she can answer the questions. I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all.... I’m sure that even at 8 or 9 there are children who would benefit from sharing their achievements or speaking in front of the class.

@Incognito8522

Absolutely not that she couldn't think of something to take in. Everybody has taken crap things like teddies & rocks that I have said about 7 times, therefore daughter presumed taking in something equally crap, like a teddy etc. I came on here for a better idea & it seems that other schools do more of a planned presentation that what my daughter is being asked to do. Therefore we now have a better idea of what to take in.

Daughter has lots of interests & enjoys lots of activity's, just because she doesn't do them as part of a club every single week at the same time doesn't mean she doesn't have interests. She didn't think to take something like this is as EVERYBODY HAS TAKEN A TEDDY THIS WEEK.

Show and tell up to Yr 5 in dds school. As they get older it moves on from a teddy to maybe, a pair of tap shoes with a history if tap dancing and a few examples of some moves! A guitar or a even a horses head collar, a special piece of jewelry and Talk about the family member who gave it to the child, a book that the child finds special or especially favourite. What's your dd into? My nephew since about Yr 4 since has taken in a pair of football shin pads and talked about what position he plays fave players etc , a scout badge and described what he had to do, history of scouting etc, he has recently done a harmonica that was his late grandfathers and talked about how his grandad would play it, how it was part of his culture etc. It has potential to be really interesting

Outdoor activity certificate is a great idea perfect! Her classmates will think that's really cool that's she's done that kind of stuff!

I think it's quite nice for children to take something in to talk about. They share one of their interests and develop some speaking skills.

My sons only in year 2 but in reception they were allowed to take in anything except toys once a week. I think showing something once a term is pretty manageable at any age.

Take souvenirs , photos, certificates/trophies, something home made , interesting objects. Quite surprised how shocked some people are really.

Or if you have a link to another culture that's always a good one

I used to look after a gorgeous boy who had special needs and didnt speak although he understood every word you said to him and had a cracking sense of humour.

They did show and tell pretty much every week at school and his 1:1 used to explain what the thing he had bought was to the class. When the dump valve solonoid was replaced on my car we were so tempted to send him in with the old one just to imagine the look on his 1:1’s face (I wasn’t quite that mean)

Just remembered we did this at brownies and guides when I was growing up also! I think it really helps with another aspect which is the class getting to know each other. There might be kids who don't speak to each other or dismiss each other as someone they might not want to be friends with or have something in common with and by bringing a bit of their outside life into the classroom it shows a side of them they might not have seen before and can be good for bonding etc

@incognito8522

Realised i put dumbfounded in OP. She meant as an equal thing to a teddy.

@Jeanclaudejackety Im hoping teacher will tell children that this is more the sort of thing that they will need to be doing, maybe sending a note out as i am 100% sure that DD is telling me the truth in the sense that its .. 'This is my teddy, he is called Jim, my Nan got me him'

Sticking with the certificate and if school decide to ever give us notice on ANYTHING i will make sure she has a kick ass presentation!

Thanks Ladies, over and out from me!