Submitted by: Diana Hundley
Collaborators: Kadie English-Student Teacher, Merle James- Art, Kathy Vick- Librarian, Jessica DelMonte-ITRT, Parent Volunteers
School: Echo Lake Elementary
Summary
The students will work collaboratively in 5 groups that they have chosen and will be in charge of one of Virginia’s 5 regions of Virginia. Directly prior to today’s culminating lesson, the students’ developed questions the would like to find out about each region as well as what they wanted to learn about the moon. The students each used a graphic organizer and chose from three web-sites to research information about all five regions in class. They also utilized the library in a lesson about searching the web. (Kids Link) They were able to add to their research with this information. The art teacher worked with the students to paint white t-shirts with the map of Virginia for us to wear as Jr. Virginia Trekkers. Today, I will video-conference with the students from the “moon” (to bring in our school-wide theme of “Echo Lake is Out of his World”) and to tell them they have got to visit the moon with me! I will let them know I am on my way back to pick them up so we can compare the physical characteristics of the regions of Virginia to that of the moon. However, we will need to each bring a few things with us about the regions.
TIPC Ratings
Students will use their research from yesterday and will need to collaborate with one another to create a page to add to our 5 Region Flipchart. Each region will have their own page and will need to choose from a collection of pictures that are relevant to their region’s physical characteristics. They will use the pen tool and then use the handwriting recognition to turn it into type-written information. All information taught should be included.
The students will collaborate and communicate together moves to their region’s raps. The moves should mirror somehow the words in the rap. A student will be chosen to use the flip camera and record the students raps.
Then as a group use the synetic’s map and collaborate with each other to come up with 4 nouns that reflect your region. On your map, label each box with a noun. Notice the middle box has the work MOON in it. In each box decide how the noun you chose can make a connection with the MOON. Be able to justify the connection you made. The second part of this assignment will require you to need to compare/contrast your region’s physical characteristics to that of the moon. We will set our goal for the future to PROVE our comparisons/contrasts with the Moon’s surface when “we arrive on the surface.”
Can you plan as a group, after given several items on the table, how would you design your rocket to represent your specific region. Be sure to have conversations with each other to be able to support why you chose the item. You will need to fill out your Rocket Justification sheet as you choose items to use. You may then begin constructing your rocket. This will be the vehicle to house all of your Virginia Region products.
