Submitted by: Ashley Gallienne
Collaborators: Sarah Collier, Lynne Ellis, Jan Locher, Stephanie Schmittou
School: Maybeury
Summary
This lesson is part of a writing unit on using descriptive language while writing. Students will collect items (both from home and those provided at school- candies, yarn, feathers, etc.) that they can use to describe themselves. Students will write similes to describe different personal attributes. They will use the actual materials to make a self-portrait. Students will take a picture of the finished self-portrait and I will import it into Pixie. Students will create a Pixie page. It will include a picture of the project and a picture taken with the laptop camera. Students will choose fonts and colors to type the similes and then use the recording option to record their own voice reading the similes they have written. The finished products will be posted on our classroom blog to showcase student work and to make work available for families to view at home.
TIPC Ratings
Entry: Given the developmental stage of first graders, these students are given explicit instructions for the use of Pixie. However, they are given freedom to choose their own materials for the self-portrait, and the similes are self-generated. Students access prior knowledge to complete the self-portrait. They are modeling their work after the book, My Dog is as Smelly as Dirty Socks.
Developing: Student communication is teacher-directed, however, students are encouraged to collaborate to write and edit their similes. The nature of the project lends itself to developing self-awareness. Students will work collaboratively to use the digital camera to take pictures of the final products. Students do have the opportunity to collaborate with each other when writing and editing their similes.
Developing: Students must think critically about themselves in order to complete the self-portrait. Their work is original, but it must meet specific teacher-requirements. The product they create has value for themselves, their classmates, and their families.
Approaching: The students are using multiple resources from home and school to create a self-portrait. The use of crafts and technology makes this an open-ended project without limitations. Students can be as creative as they wish in their self-portraits and similes.
Student Artifact
