As a kid I never gave thought to what teachers did over summer break. I was free. I could sleep late, stay up late, and read what and when I wanted.
I am finishing my twenty-third summer break as a teacher. That first summer, 1999, really wasn’t a break at all. It was spent applying for jobs, and interviews, and finally landing a teaching job in the middle of July.
I remember that interview well, it was more a conversation than an interview. I remember walking out of the principal’s office and seeing the eleven o’clock interviewee waiting and thinking that I had nailed the interview. Actually, we both did. Both of us were hired that year and will still teach at the same school, today.
Now twenty-three year later, I know teachers are busy but I can still do those things I did as a kid. But school is coming and it’s like a lion.
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
The end of summer is like the lion, it sleeps and then roars. School begins next week, and I’ve spent summer doing those things I said I’d do when school was out, and I had more time. I’ve also spent time thinking and re-thinking how I am going to approach this year. I took a class, and I taught a class and though it all, I am ready to get back to school next Monday.
Last week, I taught a class. It was a one-day teacher’s camp, and it was optional for all of us – teachers and learners, though only teachers came. The class I taught was titled, Lions and Wildebeest – using Puzzles to Engage 21st Century Learners.
The class was based on a lesson that I taught last spring. It was a Monday lesson before spring break. My science classes had finished a major unit the previous Friday and taken the test. We had five days before spring break with three days of state-mandated testing set for Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Experience taught me not much beyond testing would be done that week and I needed a lesson to encourage my students to be curious and full of wonder and be ready for the fourth quarter which would begin the Monday after break.
So, I introduced Lions and Wildebeest. It’s a riddle. The riddle challenges students to think and collaborate. Exactly what was needed for our students. The premise is simple,
Three lions and three wildebeest are trapped on one side of a river as a wild brushfire rages toward them. They need to get across the river before the fire reaches them. The animals find a raft on the riverbank that will allow them to get across the river safely. They can’t swim across the river because the river is filled with crocodiles. The raft can hold up to two animals at a time and it needs at least one animal to paddle across. The problem is that if the lions EVER outnumber the wildebeest – three lions and two wildebeest or two lions and one wildebeest – the lions will do what lions do and eat the wildebeest.
The challenge is this, what is the minimum number of trips needed to get the animals safely across the river?
I gave my students a sheet of paper with three lions, three wildebeest, a raft, and a river and I asked them to cut them out and use them to model moving animals from one side of the river to the other. My kids were all in.
And last week the ten teachers who signed up for the fifty-minute seminar were all in, too.
The challenge kept my students engaged. Within minutes of starting, I had students calling me over to their table group to announce they had solved the puzzle. As they began to explain, they realized that they hadn’t and had to start over. There was struggle, there was failure, there was success, there was teamwork, and there was talking. The groups which were successful focused on listening and asking questions and posing what-ifs. The groups which were unsuccessful struggled with communication and collaboration. Eventually, almost every group was able to solve the puzzle and explain how they did it.
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
The same happened with three teacher groups last week. The only difference was the ten teachers didn’t know each other and had to work together on a moment’s notice. They experienced the same challenges that my sixth graders experienced. And like my students they were able to work together to create a solution.
Students emailed me their solutions during the three days of testing and when we returned from spring break the puzzle was a perfect starter for a new quarter, especially considering we had over 15% of our students stranded by flight cancellations.
Learning happens when students have a challenge and can be creative, communicate, and collaborate. It’s the three C’s of 21st Century Learning.
And while my students were learning, I was too. After twenty-three years of teaching, I have discovered my students teach me as much as I teach them, and sometimes I learn more. Learning never ends and that is the key to life.
My challenge to you is to give the riddle a try. Make your own lions and wildebeest and give it a whirl – here are the rules:
- The raft needs at least one animal to paddle it across the river, and it can hold at most two animals.
- If the lions EVER outnumber the wildebeest on either side of the river (including the animals on the boat if it is on that side), the lions will eat the wildebeest.
- The animals cannot just swim across – there are crocodiles in the river, there are no tricks, the animals must use the raft as described in rule #1.
I will post a solution next Tuesday. Stay tuned.
As my summer break winds to a close, my annual audition with retirement comes to an end. I have accomplished quite a bit. I am rested, relaxed, and restored for a new school year. I have new ‘ah-has,’ or things I have learned, that I am taking with me into the new school year. The coming school year is going to be amazing, but I am going to take it day by day. Making each day count, one day at a time. Learning something new, accepting failure, thinking outside the box, and applying what I have learned moving forward.
How many trips will it take? Come back next Tuesday to see the solution.
The Lion Sleeps Tonight – originally performed by The Tokens
Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away
Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem awayIn the jungle, the mighty jungle
The lion sleeps tonight
In the jungle the quiet jungle
The lion sleeps tonightWee heeheehee weeoh aweem away
Wee heeheehee weeoh aweem awayNear the village, the peaceful village
The lion sleeps tonight
Near the village, the quiet village
The lion sleeps tonight
Wee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away
Rrr, la la la weeoh aweem awayHush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling,
The lion sleeps tonight
Hush, my darling, don’t fear, my darling,
The lion sleeps tonightWah oh oh, wah oh oh, wah oh Wimoweh
Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away
Weeheeheehee dee heeheeheehee weeoh aweem away
Songwriters: Luigi Creatore / Hugo Peretti / George David Weiss “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” lyrics © Abilene Music, T M B G Music, Luigi Creatore Music, Hugo Peretti Music, Abilene Music Inc, Hjp Music
We gave in in the end and watched the TED video. We NEARLY got there!
That is funny…I use technology sparingly and ask my students to stow their Chromebooks and phones when class begins. I am certain a few searched the solution. That is where I found the inspiration to begin with. But I think telling the story helps my kiddos. I hope you enjoyed the challenge. The adults shared that the biggest challenge was record keeping and not getting it right away. Persistence pays. Keep making your days count! Peace.
I kind of remember something that might have been similar being given to us when I was in school. Maybe. I more remember that our choir sang the song about the lion singing tonight….and which kid got the high falsetto part. Wonder if he’s still singing these days.
I am sure that he is, those exposed to a life of music keep at it. I love engaging kiddos with puzzles and challenges because doing so reinforces the 3 C’s of 21st Century learning – creativity, critical thinking, and creativity. There could be a fourth C for content, but you can’t learn the content and be ready for the would without the first three. Keep looking up and looking around and making your days count. Peace.
I am sure your busy-ness levels are rising now, Clay. My sister and sister-in-law have been teachers for well over a decade; they begin to feel the crunch by mid to late August. I recall the butterflies in the stomach feeling of late summer as a little kid. I had fun in school but also felt trepidation about new classmates, new grades, etc. Interesting days.
I was back at school yesterday for our annual 6th grade greeting day. there was a lot of energy in the building as the kids and their parents walked around and visited classroom and struggled to get into their lockers. It was a great day and it reminded my how much I truly enjoy what I do. it is going to e a great year and it begins by making each day count. Thank you for stopping in. Peace.
Great dawn recording, that’s so different from any recorded in England. And that puzzling challenge? We’re on it! We’ll get back to you in about three weeks 😉
You were back faster than three weeks. Love the enthusiasm. The reveal is next Tuesday, but I think you found it. There are two solutions. Have a great day!