Photo courtesy Webster Niblock School

By Chantal Wagner

learning styles unite

Webster Niblock students learn fractions through dance and song

Dec 21, 2020 | 4:29 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The grade six students at Webster Niblock School were learning about fractions in math class before the Christmas break. While also putting their dance moves to the test.

Practicum student Katie Albers was encouraged to think outside the box in Daniel Wilson’s class.

“When kids are given the right conditions in the classroom you really can see them flourish, and I think that’s one of the things Katie did is she gave the right conditions in the class and she created those seeds of possibility and created an amazing product,” Wilson said.

After looking for ideas online, Albers taught the class fractions through dance and song.

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As a class, they created their own dance moves to go with the movement of multiples and fractions.

Albers says the students were very engaged, they enjoyed the activity, and showed them that math is fun.

The lesson also focused on the different learning styles for students.

“When I came to the class at first I noticed that the class is very social and active. And they really wanted to be together and do something functional and fun. So I thought I’m going to look and find how I can teach math in a way where students can participate in movement, but also integrate their outcomes for learning,” Albers told Chat News.

The mental health concept has also been a big push for practicum students, Albers said.

“Getting kids moving, getting that stimulation going of activity really helps with that,” she added.

Grade six student Ava Santoni says she likes math and all subjects, and she had lots of fun doing this activity with her class. “I learned about factors and multiples, and I learned that multiples go up and factors go down, you have to break them down.”

Albers is a third-year student in the education program at Medicine Hat College through Mount Royal University.

She will begin her fourth-year practicum in January of 2022 for four months.