Year 4 Explore ‘Little Lion’

At the end of last year Sarah Blundell and I were awarded a learning and teaching innovation grant to complete a project focused on using quality literature and virtual reality to improve students' writing.

This week Year 4 participated in a day of immersion as the culmination of their exploration of the book ‘Little Lion’.  Throughout Term 2 Year 4 had the opportunity to connect with the true story of Saroo Brierley.  The students travelled to India via virtual reality, walking the streets and riding crowded trains.  They were able to experience what life would have been like for a young boy lost and alone.  Students worked through a number of writing experiences using a variety of digital technologies to develop their ability to connect to a world they have not physically experienced themselves.  Through this experience students connected emotionally with Saroo’s story.  

On Thursday, Year 4 wrote about his life through their own eyes and what they had experienced through virtual reality.  The day involved listening to Saroo’s 60 Minutes interview, eating butter chicken, using Co spaces and merge cubes, virtually visiting Hobart and flying over India one more time.  Every student was engaged in the writing process with many students expressing their delight in being able to write.

“I can never write more than half a page.  I never have any ideas.  Today I have written two pages. I have so much to write.” Rocco 

“It was such a great day.  I felt so much emotion and could use this in my writing.” Blake

“Doing Virtual Reality really helped my writing, it helped me picture what I was going to write about.”  Xavier