Summary
This lesson provided students with an opportunity to research about one of the exploring nations (Spain, Portugal, France, and England) during the Age of Discovery and find out what their motivations, obstacles, and accomplishments were for that country’s explorations. Students self-selected the country they would like to research and then together with others in that group created a product to share the information they found out—they were not restricted in how they could present their information. After presenting our projects in class, my classes selected 4 projects to be posted to my blog (http://blogs.henrico.k12.va.us/cbroyall/). The blog was then shared with a 3rd grade class at Thomas Jefferson Elementary in Louisa, County Virginia. Those students watched the presentations and used them as a starting point for researching a particular explorer from that country. Those students then created posters with a group to represent the explorer and their accomplishments. After the 3rd grade projects were complete, the 6th graders and 3rd graders used Skype to video conference with each other to see the 3rd grade presentations. Afterwards, pictures of the 3rd grade projects were uploaded to the blog and posts were made between the classes to further discuss exploration.
TIPC Ratings
Students researched information about their country without specific research instructions from the teacher using both online and book resources.
Students collaborated with other students in class to create a product, then communicated via SKYPE and a blog with another class at another school outside of the county to help guide those students’ research.
Students chose the appropriate tool to communicate their research to another class. They then reflected on their project as well as other students projects through discussion and the use of a blog.
Students had freedom to create a product using any media to present their research. Their products then inspired the creativity of other students.
Student Artifact
AgeOfExploration from HCPS Instructional Technology on Vimeo.
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