Teaching Strategies, Tactics, and Methods

Selective breeding is when humans choose which animals or plants breed together. There are many reasons for this, ranging from useful to attractive.

Since the beginning of agriculture, farmers have been aware that breeding certain individuals will bring about desirable offspring. This is why we have crops that provide high food yields and different breeds of animals like dogs.

However, Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments carried out between 1856 and 1863, provided the foundation for our understanding of the scientific laws of inheritance. Mendel selectively bred pea plants to understand how different traits were passed onto offspring. These studies inform modern-day theories in selective breeding and genetics.

How does selective breeding differ from natural selection?

At a similar time to Mendel’s pea experiments, Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace presented their theory of evolution. Darwin discussed the process of selective breeding and how it has produced a change in species over time in his book On the Origin of Species, published in 1859.

• Darwin bred pigeons and selected mating pairs to generate certain traits in their offspring.
• Understanding selective breeding helped Darwin to formulate the theory of natural selection.
• Selection occurs in nature because the organisms better adapted to the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

What is the process of selective breeding?

1. Choose the plants or animals from your existing stock that have the desired feature.
2. Breed these with each other.
3. Choose the best of the offspring and breed these together.
4. Continue this process over several generations; eventually, all the offspring have the features you are looking for.

What are some examples of selective breeding in plants?

People have selected certain traits from the original brassica plant to create different foods we can eat. From kohlrabi to cauliflower, broccoli to kale, these tasty vegetables are all the outcome of selective breeding in plants.

Corn is a vital crop in many parts of the world. Selection of corn has been taking place for over 10.000 years! Yield has been increased by selecting more kernels. There are also varieties of corn that can survive in harsh climates, which is important in our changing world.

What are the benefits of selective breeding in plants?

Selective breeding can create new varieties of good crops. They may be bred for the following characteristics:

• Higher resistance to pests and disease – for instance, selective breeding can limit the number of crops that perish due to blight.
• Higher yield.
• Shorter time before harvest. More harvests mean more produce in a shorter amount of time.
• To allow plants to grow on lands not previously suitable for farming. For example, land can be unsuitable due to poor soil fertility.
• Selective breeding can increase the protein in crops which can help improve food production worldwide.

What are some problems with selective breeding?

The problem with selective breeding is a lack of variation. Selective breeding reduces the number of alleles (genetic differences) in a population. This leaves a population vulnerable to sudden changes in the environment and disease.

What are some problems with selective breeding in plants?

Crop Case Study: the banana

• Today’s bananas are a cultivar (type) called the Cavendish. Until the 1950s, however, the main variety of bananas grown was the Gros Michel, ‘Big Mike’ banana.
• Gros Michel bananas had thick peel and dense bunches, which made the banana easy to export and less prone to bruising.
• A fungal disease wiped out vast plantations of Gros Michel bananas in Central America in the 1950s, causing the swap to the Cavendish.
• In monoculture farming (fields planted with one type of crop), if one plant gets infected, the rest will likely also become infected.

Cavendish bananas are also susceptible to fungus, and the same could happen again. The spread of a fungus to other continents could have a globally devastating effect on the supply of this important crop.

The impact of climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, impacting pollinators, and shifting harvest times – or no harvest at all.

What is an example of selective breeding in animals?

Dogs

Based on the evidence, scientists agree that dogs were the first animal to be domesticated by humans. However, domesticated dogs have lived beside humans for at least 14,200 years – perhaps even longer!

Dogs have been selectively bred for their traits for centuries. This may include a dog being larger, smaller, stronger, or having a different fur color, depending on their environment and what they do with the people who care for them. This can benefit humans and dogs – for instance, if the dog has thick fur and lives in a cold place.

A pedigree dog is a puppy bred from parents of the same breed. Their parents will have been the same breed, and so on, back through the dogs’ genetic history. This lineage can be proven by registration with ‘The Pedigree Club,’ which records pedigree dogs in the country.

Selective breeding can lead to inbreeding. This is where animals have been mated with close relatives. This results in little variation in a population. As a result, the animals are more likely to have health problems caused by their genes or be more susceptible to certain diseases.

Breeds like French bulldogs and pugs, bred for squashed faces, suffer from breathing difficulties, eye ulcers, skin disorders, and other illnesses. Some problems are less obvious: bigger dogs like Labradors now have health problems because they have been bred to be larger, taller, and stronger. As a result, they may have joint issues and are more susceptible to cancer.

Centi–

Centi- if a metric prefix meaning one-hundredth (of). An example is a centimeter, which is one-hundredth of a meter. The centi- prefix is a New Latin prefix that means ‘hundred.’

This is also true of the cent, a currency used in many countries worldwide but most famously in America. The American Cent is one-hundredth of a dollar.

What is a Metric Prefix?

A metric prefix is a prefix that is used to show multiples of a unit of measurement. Examples of these include:

• Kilo-, which is used to indicate one thousand of something; for example, a kilogram is one thousand grams
• Deca-, which is used to indicate ten of something, for example, a decade which is ten years
• Milli-, which is used to indicate one-thousandth of something; for example, a meter contains one thousand millimeters
• Micro-, which is used to indicate one-millionth of something; for example, a gram contains one million micrograms

What is the difference between Cent and Centi-?

The prefix centi- is also sometimes used about something involving one hundred, such as a centipede whose name translates to ‘hundred foot’ or ‘hundred-footed.’ The number of legs on a centipede varies from less than 40 to over 170.

One example of the ‘cent’ prefix to indicate one hundred of something is a century, a time of one hundred years.

Another well-known use of the ‘cent’ prefix is for Roman Centurions, who were officers in the Roman Army in Ancient Times who commanded a group of one hundred legion

 

A toucan is a type of bird with 40 different species ranging in size – the smallest being seven inches and the largest two feet long. Their scientific name is Ramphastos toco. They live on an omnivore diet which means they eat plants and animal meat. They are also close relatives of the woodpecker; they belong to the same order, Piciformes. Woodpeckers make up 400 species of Piciformes, with toucans being much smaller.

Did you know?

• A toucan can live for up to 20 years.
• The toco toucan is the largest and best – they weigh two pounds and can grow up to 25 inches long.
• Their bill (beak) accounts for half of their length.
• Their colorful bill makes them one of the world’s most popular birds.
• A toucan can use its bill to regulate blood flow, allowing them to distribute heat from the body to keep them cooler.
• Toucans and woodpeckers share several characteristics and are considered to be closely related.
• Toucans aren’t that good at flying and spend most of their time hopping along in the trees.

Well-known species of toucan

• Toco Toucan;
• Keel-billed Toucan;
• Channel-billed Toucan;
• Aracari;
• Green-billed Toucan;
• White-throated Toucan;
• Ramphastos;
• Guinanan Toucanet;
• Yellow-eared Toucanet;
• Spot-billed Toucanet;
• Selenidera;
• Golden-collared Toucanet.

Toucan bill

Male and female toucans have colorful and long bills (beak). The account can also play a part in courtship and in self-defense too. It’s made from keratin – the same protein that makes up and helps with the growth of our hair and nails.

The size of a toucan’s bill is to frighten predators away, but it provides little use when they are fighting. They also use the account to help with eating by using it to help them reach for fruit on branches. In addition to fruit, a toucan also likes to eat insects, eggs, and nestlings of young birds.

Toucan fact file

Scientific name:	Ramphastos toco
Type:	Bird
Diet:	Omnivore
Group name:	Flock
Lifespan:	Up to 20 years
Weight:	20 ounces
Size:	Body = 25 inches bill = 7.5 inches
Class:	Aves (bird)
Family:	Ramphastidae
Order:	Piciformes

What do toucans eat?

In the wild, toucans eat animals and plants, including berries, fruits, lizards, insects, and even small birds. In captivity, they usually eat similar foods to match their needs but wouldn’t need to forage. Foods in captivity can include crickets and other insects, fruit, and vegetables.

Did you know that toucans don’t chew their food and cannot cut it into pieces as parrots do? This is because they also don’t have a crop, a dilated pouch of the esophagus that helps store their food. So when zookeepers feed toucans, they usually give food in small bite-size chunks, making it easy to swallow.

Toucan habitat

Although there are different types of toucans, they all like to live in similar habitats. A toucan’s habitat is located in a rainforest, particularly a tropical one. However, they love warm climates with plenty of rainfall too. Therefore, they choose to live in Central and South America, where their preferred habitat is a nest made in a hollowed-out tree cavity. When nesting, a toucan turns its head back to get comfortable; it settles its bill down behind its back and tucks it under its wing.

A few toucans also chose to live only in mountainous areas. Within the mountains, toucans inhabit a canopy high up in the tallest trees. Here, toucans find all the food they need within the treetops, making it the perfect habitat.

Toucans spend most of their morning visiting fruit trees in their habitat for food. They then make longer journeys away from home to other fruit trees to forage further.

Behavior

Toco toucans tend to hop more than they do fly. They feed individually or sometimes in the canopy (a group of toucans). In the rainforest, they use their bright-colored bill as a good way to camouflage in dappled light. Toco toucans, in particular, like to nest in tree cavities – where they lay their eggs and can lay up to four at once.

To communicate with one another, toucans make a lot of noises – including grunting, snoring, and croaking like frogs. They also are very social and can travel in flocks of up to 22 individuals. It’s also known that toucans are monogamous during the mating season, and while they raise their young, the male and female remain together from gestation to birth.

Did you know that young toucan don’t have a long bill at birth; it grows over time and doesn’t reach full size until several months?

Conservation

Luckily, these birds are listed as ‘least concern as they’re not at risk of becoming endangered as they populate a large range across South America. However, there have been records of them declining as they’re hunted for food and illegal pet trade.

Humans are one of the biggest threats as there’s an increasing trend of toucans being captured to be kept as pets, which is illegal as these birds are not suitable to be domesticated.

Another big factor in their numbers decreasing is habitat loss. As rainforests are being chopped down and turned more residential, e.g., into roads, farms, and buildings, toucans are losing their homes. One toucan that has suffered hugely is the yellow-browed toucanet; it has a small habitat range in Peru. However, Coca growers have taken over their habitat. This makes this toucan one of the first to be listed as endangered.

The Toucan is also sadly hunted in Central parts of America and the Amazon too. Many hunters have been known to try and mimic toucan calls to entice them to the hunter. Most toucans are hunted to be sold in the illegal pet trade business, while others can be trophy hunted; these hunters usually stuff the toucans and keep them on display.

It’s roughly estimated that there are around 10,000 mature toucans around the globe, although it’s believed this is decreasing.

What can you do to help protect toucans and their habitat?

Toucans aren’t considered threatened, but there are some ways you can help to keep protect their conservation. For example, you could help by avoiding products made from rainforest wood to help protect toucan’s habitat.

Life at the zoo for toucans

Many toucans live in zoos worldwide, and their diet and habitat differ when they live in captivity. Toucans in captivity are fed pellets specially made for their bills, fruit, vegetables, and crickets. They are also provided fruits like bananas as a reward when training them.

Reproduction of the Toucan

All species of toucans nest within cavities in the tree trunks. Different species, however, lay differently; for example, some species lay one single egg while others can lay up to five. The eggs called chicks, take around 15 to 20 days to hatch; they then begin to fly when they’re six to eight weeks old.

The chicks hatch with their eyes closed and bare skin and depend on their mother to survive. When the chicks reach three weeks of age, their eyes open, and they begin to form feathers. They remain in the nest with their mother for six to eight weeks and start to grow into their bill. However, while the chicks stay in the nest, the mother must watch on predators such as eagles, hawks, owls, and jaguars as they often invade their nests. To protect themselves, toucans use their loud voice and bill to keep predators away. They usually hit their account against a branch creating a loud noise to try and scare them away.

Did you know that toucans use their bill as part of their courtship ritual?

Toucan Lifespan

It’s believed that toucans can live up to 20 years in the wild; however, in zoos, their life span decreases to around 18 years on average.

Toucan Facts

• Toucans adopted their name because of the noise they make; they can resemble a frog croaking, chirping, barking, and donkey-like noises.
• Female toucans have higher vocal ranges than males.
• A toucan can use their bill as part of its mating ritual, tossing fruit to one another from its bill.
• Toucans can only fly for small distances as their wingspan is small and is around the same length as their bodies.
• They are social birds that like to travel in groups of 22 birds to search for food.
• Toucans have the largest bill of any bird in the world.
• Toucans take shelter in hollowed-out trees created by their cousins – woodpeckers.
• A chick is incubated for 20 days. When they’re born, they don’t have their usual long bill. Instead, they grow into it over time.
• The average lifespan is around 20 years.
• A whole array of colors is possible for a toucan’s bill – not just the conventional orange; they can also be brown, red, or green!
• Humans, snakes, and jaguars are the biggest predators of toucans.
• A constellation was named after the toucan; it’s called the tucana!
• The Toco toucan is the largest and most well-known species.
• One of the oldest toucans is said to have lived for 26 years.
• The smallest toucan species is called the aracari.
• The toucan’s bill releases heat.
• Although a toucan’s bill looks large and big, it’s very light.
• A toucan is believed to be a sign of intelligence.
• Some people keep toucans as pets.
• Toucans mate once a year.
• A toucan’s tongue is said to resemble leather.

Static electricity is an unbalanced charge that is not moving. It’s the build-up of an electrical account on the surface of an object.

It represents the excess charge in a transfer of electrons, often when two objects are rubbed together.

A static shock occurs when this build-up of static electricity discharges.

It is called static electricity because the charge is fixed, which means it doesn’t move and stays in one area without flowing or moving.

Atoms are a key part of this process. Atoms are made up of neutrons, protons, and electrons. The electrons spin around the outside of the atom. When the surfaces of two objects come into contact with each other, the electrons move from one object two another, which creates a static charge. As a result, one thing will have a positive direction, and one will have a negative control.

The object that gains electrons becomes charged negatively, while the thing that loses electrons becomes charged positively. This is because electrons have a negative charge.

Examples of static electricity

There are examples of the presence of static electricity everywhere around us. For example, ever wondered why we use fabric softeners for clothes in the washing machine? That’s because the clothes rub against each other during the cycle and create static electricity.

Another common example is lightning, where positive and negative charges in a cloud create an electric current and discharge electricity to the ground.

You can create static electricity by rubbing two balloons together – this creates a large charge, which is why balloons charged with static electricity can stick to walls and make your hair stand on end!

Just like magnets, items with different charges (such as one with a positive direction and one with a negative charge) will attract each other, and those with similar accounts will push away from each other.

When your hair becomes charged with static electricity, each piece will have the same charge, which means they will all try to push away from each other. This is what gives it that signature straight-up look.

How is static electricity used?

Surprisingly, static electricity is used in many ways in our everyday lives! For example, did you know it’s used in photocopiers and printers? They use static electricity to attract ink to the paper.

Static electricity is also used to remove dust, dirt, and pollution. First, the static charge is applied to the dust, which can be removed by pulling it with a negative control.

Fun facts about static electricity for children

• Static electricity builds up faster than normal on a dry, non-humid day
• It can measure thousands of volts, but it has a small current and only lasts a short amount of time
• The stimulation of nerves causes the feeling of a static electric shock as the neutralizing current flows through your body
• When clouds clash together, they create static electricity, which forms lightning
• Even though static electricity is mostly harmless, it can be difficult to research because a large charge can damage equipment
• Like all types of electricity, static electricity travels at light speed

What is mass?

Mass is the measure of how much matter is in an object. It generally refers to the weight of an object, though mass and weight are not the same. Weight refers to gravity’s force on a person, planet, or entity. Mass instead refers to the amount of matter (protons, neutrons, and electrons) an object is made up of. The weight will be added if you weigh an object on two planets because gravity differs between worlds. The mass would be the same because the amount of matter that something is made of wouldn’t change, or at least not in the same way weight would. Mass can vary due to ‘mass loss,’ caused by the atmospheric escape of gases.

Planetary mass is the term we use when measuring the mass of a planet or planet-like astronomical object. We have a specific way of measuring the mass of planets in our solar system. This is the IAU or the astronomical system of units. First, we calculate the mass of the planets in the solar system relative to the Sun. When comparing the planets in our solar system, it’s typical for the other worlds to be compared to either Earth or Jupiter. This is because earth works well for comparison as a standard terrestrial planet. In contrast, it’s easier to compare gas giants (and also exoplanets and brown dwarfs) to Jupiter instead, as Jupiter is a gas giant planet.

Did you know? Mass is usually measured in kilograms.

The mass of the Earth

The mass of the Earth is approximately 5.9722 x 10²⁴ kg. Earth mass is used as a standard measurement in astronomy and is represented by the symbols in the image below:

The mass of the Earth is mostly made up of iron and oxygen. These represent about 32% of the Earth’s mass each. Magnesium and silicon make up another 15% each, then calcium, aluminum, and nickel account for about 1.5% each.

Measuring the mass of the Earth precisely is very difficult. It is equivalent to measuring the gravitational constant; the fundamental physical constant is known with the least accuracy.

A fundamental physical constant is a quantity believed to be universal and has a constant value in time. For example, two of the most recognizable physical constants are the speed of light (c) and the gravitational constant (G).

The mass of the Earth was first measured with any degree of accuracy in the Schiehallion experiment. This experiment took place in the 1770s and was within about 20% of the modern ‘correct’ value.

The mass of planets in the solar system (10²⁴kg)

• The mass of Earth is 5.9722
• The mass of Mercury is 0.330
• The mass of Venus is 4.87
• The mass of Mars is 0.642
• The mass of Jupiter is 1898
• The mass of Saturn is 568
• The mass of Uranus is 86.8
• The mass of Neptune is 102

A Bunsen burner is a common piece of laboratory equipment that produces a single open flame using gas.

It is used in schools during scientific experiments to heat substances and chemicals.

It is named after German chemist Robert Bunsen.

How do Bunsen burners work?

Bunsen burners are fuelled by gases such as methane and propane.

The gas is provided through rubber tubing attached to togas taps in a classroom.

Temperature

Bunsen burners provide different levels of heat.

The temperature can be manipulated using the hole at the base of the burner.

The burner produces a safety flame if the air hole is fully shut.

This is yellow and is more visible to ensure safety when it is not used.

When the air hole is open, it produces a blue flame.

The air hole can be partially opened to produce a cooler flame and opened fully to create a hotter flame that heats things quickly.

Features of a Bunsen Burner

• The collar is used to obstruct or open their hole and influence the temperature
• The tubing attaches to the gas tap to provide fuel for the burner
• Their hole controls the temperature
• The base is what the tubing, chimney, and components are fixed to
• The chimney is the metal tube that the flame comes out of
• Theflameprovides heat and can be either yellow or blue

Bunsen Burner Safety

When using a Bunsen burner, remember to:

1. Put on protective goggles
2. Tie hair back
3. Ensure ties are tucked in
4. Place the burner on a heat-proof mat
5. Ensure you hold only the collar and tubing when opening or closing the air hole

Subtraction is simply the process of taking one quantity and removing part of it to work out what is left. It is the opposite of addition because we are reducing the value of the number rather than increasing it by adding more numbers.

You can subtract more than one number away from each other, but this usually involves using parenthesis and understanding number facts like number order.

It’s a great idea to introduce subtraction with some examples. There are lots of different ways we can think about teaching subtraction. Talking about a few other methods is a good way to build confidence when children learn about removal.

Showing Subtraction in Maths

Subtraction is usually written with a minus sign between the two subtraction terms. This is because the language of these terms comes from the Latin language. For example, the word removal is an English word, but it comes from the Latin verb subtrahend, where ‘sub’ means ‘from under’ and ‘there’ means to pull. This means the word subtract means to ‘draw from below’ or ‘to take away.’

Terms for Subtraction in Maths

There are lots of terms for subtraction in maths. We must note them to know when subtraction calculations are being discussed or referred to. In addition, they are good cues for children to watch out for in word problems so that they know which operations they need to use.

One of the most common words for subtraction is ‘taking away.’ As you remove the value of one number from another, you take them away from each other. So if we start with six chocolate bars and four remaining, we’ve taken away 2.

Sometimes we focus on subtraction as ‘finding the difference.’ This is because we take one number away from the other and are left with the difference. This focuses more on the answer itself than the equation. The answer is the difference between our original two or more numbers. For example, when we took away two chocolate bars, the difference between 6 and 4 was 2.

Other terms for subtraction in maths are minus, decrease and deduct. These are great terms for children to use when building a number sentence.

More Complicated Terms for Subtraction

Sometimes, however, terms for subtraction in maths mean the numbers you are working with themselves rather than the removal process or the result. These terms for subtraction are called the minuend and subtrahend. The minuend is the first number, the number which you take the other away from. The subtrahend is the subtracted number, the one you take away. Then, of course, we are left with the difference.

Teaching Subtraction as an Inverse of Addition

When children are first introduced to numbers and counting, we always ten to start by counting upwards: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Naturally, we usually learn about addition (increasing values) before subtraction.

Having a good grasp of addition can help children when they learn about subtraction, as they can think of inverting operations like this:

2 + 3 = 5

5 – 2 = 3

You can easily demonstrate this principle using objects. Show children how to physically add or remove some from a set, using addition and subtraction vocabulary as you go.

Teaching Subtraction Using a Number Line

Number lines can provide a clear visual representation to help you demonstrate subtraction to children. In addition, number lines are easy to understand and are something children will meet in school from Year 1.

Encourage children to find their starting point on the number line and then count down to find their answer. They can also learn subtraction facts with numbers up to 20, such as 20 – 3 = 17.

This is a great starting point for simple sums before children move on to dealing with larger numbers.

Teaching Subtraction Vocabulary

Talking about subtraction differently is a great way to help children grasp its concept. Here are many examples of how to phrase a subtraction problem for children.

• What is the difference between 7 and 3?
• Take away two from 8.
• What is 9 minus 2?
• Decrease 11 by 5.
• If I take three from 8, how many are left over?
• How much is less four than 10?
• Subtract eight from 12.

Why not ask children to list as many ways to describe subtraction as possible? It is a good idea to test their knowledge with simple questions like this to develop their maths confidence.

A Venn diagram is a visual organizer of overlapping circles that explores the relationship between different things.

They are commonly used to organize objects, numbers, and shapes.

Each circle is given a rule or title related to the information.

Each piece of information is then sorted into the most relevant circle.

Information that meets the rule of both circles is placed in the overlap between them.

Venn Diagram Example

The following Venn diagram explores the relationship between different shapes.

In this example, blue shapes must be put in the first circle, and shapes with curved sides must be placed in the second.

Let’s take a look at our shapes.

These shapes must be sorted into the relevant sections of the Venn diagram.

Shapes that are not blue and do not have curved sides cannot be sorted onto the diagram, so the red square and the green hexagon are excluded.

Now that we have excluded the shapes that do not fit either rule, the rest can be sorted into the Venn diagram.

Shapes that fit both rules must be placed in the middle.

This is a good example of how Venn diagrams can organize shapes, but they can be used to explore the relationships between various things.

They can even be used to find similarities and differences in the animal kingdom.

Who Invented Venn Diagrams?

Venn diagrams are named after their creator, John Venn, an English mathematician specializing in probability and statistics. Venn first revealed his invention in a paper published in 1880.

In the article, Venn calls his diagram “Eulerian Circles” about an earlier visual diagram invented by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler.

John Venn is also known for his pioneering work in computer science.

In Geometry, we regularly deal with shapes. Sometimes special tools are needed to both measure and transform these shapes. Here is a list of names and pictures of the Geometry instruments, or Geometry tools as they are also known, and how they are used. This will cover the following:

• A protractor
• A ruler
• A compass
• A divider
• A set Square

Protractor

The protractor is a semicircular disk used to measure the angles of shapes. It is graduated from zero to 180 degrees and, therefore, can measure the angle of any two intersecting lines or vertices within this range.

However, we can also get circular protractors, which allow us to measure the degrees in a reflex angle (between 180 degrees and 360 degrees). However, semicircular protractors are often more commonly used because, through deduction and calculation, we can establish a reflex angle by detracting the acute angle from 360 degrees.

Things to remember when using a protractor:

• Line up the start of the angle with the first line on the protractor.
• If we are measuring the angle from the left side, use the outer readings on the protractor. If we are reading from the right, use the inner lessons.

Ruler

The ruler, also known as a straightedge or a line gauge, is one of the most important and obvious Geometry instruments. It allows us to draw a straight line and measure numerous objects. Sometimes rulers contain both metric and customary units for ease of measurement.

The little marks between the larger centimeter marks are called hash marks. You can see how they get their name in this picture, representing millimeters.

Things to remember when using a ruler:

• For an accurate reading, always measure from the zero hash mark.
• Read the measurement directly above the ruler to avoid getting a perplex error, an inaccuracy caused by reading a size from an angle.

Compass

The compass is a Geometry instrument that is incredibly useful for constructing shapes. For example, it can be used to draw circles and trace arcs. The distance between the pointer and the pencil is adjustable and can be changed to line up with measurements on a ruler, allowing us to create circles with specific dimensions.

It can also intersect line segments or find the midpoint of different shapes.

Divider

This Geometry instrument is much like a compass without a pencil. Instead, two-pointers are adjustable, allowing us to compare distances easily.

Set Square

A set square is a piece of equipment used to draw lines and shapes. It’s a great way to see whether a body has a right angle, as a set square always has a corner with 90 degrees.

They can also be used with rulers to create parallel lines with particular distances between them.

Who created Geometry instruments?

The creation of Geometry instruments is down to the efforts of a large collection of mathematicians, philosophers, and engineers over thousands of years.

The Greek mathematician, Euclid, is considered the founding father of Geometry and is often credited with solidifying the Geometry fundamentals (or postulates) that are still used today. However, his work was influenced by Egyptian mathematicians, who created tools that allowed them to construct huge skyscrapers such as the pyramids.

Then mathematicians such as William Bedwell created the ruler in the 17th century. Later, Joseph Huddart, an American naval captain, made the protractor at the start of the 19th century to navigate the sea.

Kindness is an abstract concept that describes doing good deeds through having a friendly, considerate, and generous nature. In its most condensed form, it is a way of showing love to the people around you.

Spreading kindness has become such an important part of life that we have an official day for it. Random Acts of Kindness Day began in New Zealand in 2004 and has rapidly spread throughout the world with its universal message of positivity. It falls on February 17 annually in the U.S. and encourages kids and adults alike to be compassionate and spread kindness wherever possible.

Kindness Synonyms

Because it is such an abstract concept, many other words can be used to describe kindness that your kids might be familiar with already. Try teaching them to your class or using them to create a display board or kindness wall in your classroom:

Empathy	Benevolence	Goodwill	Consideration
Generosity	Altruism	Charity	Sympathy
Philanthropy	Tact	Goodness	Hospitality

What is Kindness for Kids?

Teaching kindness to kids can be difficult both to teach and to understand, especially if your kids are on the younger side. Egocentrism is normal for young children, who have yet to learn that the world does not revolve around them. Empathy develops over time, usually starting at around two years old when toddlers begin to understand that other people have different thoughts and feelings from theirs. At this age, they may try to soothe their sibling’s pain or comfort a friend when upset. However, they don’t have the cognitive skills to fully unpack and understand empathy until they reach age 8-9. The heart is a work in progress that must be reinforced at home and in the classroom for kindness to become natural.

How to Teach Kindness

It is not as easy to teach empathy as you would a mathematical concept or literacy lesson. Unfortunately, there are no step-by-step guides on teaching kindness. The most effective way of teaching service for kids is to emulate and reinforce it repeatedly until the heart becomes the norm and they can choose compassion for themselves without being led or prompted.

Here is some advice for encouraging empathy in the classroom:

Walk the Walk, and Talk the Talk

Between the age of 12 months and 18 months, children start a process called “social referencing,” where they look to their parent or caregiver’s tone, expressions, body language, and actions for clues on how to react in a social situation. Young children learn social skills by watching, processing, and emulating the actions of those around them. If a child does not have a kind role model, it may not be easy to teach them kindness in other ways.

Children need to witness kind and charitable behavior from the adults in their lives that they love and respect. Make sure you and your colleagues interact positively around your class and do not engage in jibes or gossip. Share with others, encourage sharing, and reward kind behavior when you see it; you will soon see your kids doing the same. It is also beneficial to normalize talking about both positive and negative emotions, giving your kids the verbal tools to express how they are feeling too:

“I feel happy because my students are working so hard!”

“I feel sad because I am missing someone I care about.”

“I feel worried because I have a meeting after school.”

“I feel excited because I’m going to the zoo at the weekend!”

Kind Choices, Unkind Choices

There is no such thing as a “Good Kid” and a “Naughty Kid.” Their choices are not intrinsically linked to their personalities, and any child can make a Kind or Unkind Choice, regardless of their character.

The language we use is the most powerful tool in teaching children right from wrong. If a child in your care does something you consider unkind, it is important to acknowledge that an unfriendly action does not make for a cold child. Some kids may still be refining their empathetic sides, not knowing their decision would have unkind consequences, or let their emotions get the better and lash out with behavior that shouldn’t be encouraged.

Teachers and caregivers are responsible for not using language that may be taken to heart. For example, do not label the child as a “Naughty Kid” – they may absorb that and use it to define “naughty” as part of their personality. You do not want them to accept the “naughty kid” label and not even try to be good. Instead, rephrase it to separate the action from the character. The child made an Unkind Choice. They are capable of making Kind Choices too. As an educator, it is up to you to acknowledge and reward the Kind Choices they make to show them the correct route to go down.