Summary
Our class first met to identify what students already knew about animals and to outline what they would like to discover about them. Students also defined the purpose of their research- to prepare the kindergarten students for their upcoming trip to Maymont and to determine if the animals at the Richmond Metro Zoo (an upcoming field trip) were provided with all their basic needs. The first grade students then selected partners to work with to research their chosen animals using digital and print resources. After the research was completed, students compared the information gathered by the different groups to make overall inferences about animals and their basic needs. Students collaborated to create visual representations that would best summarize their analysis. Next, our class Skyped with a zookeeper at the Baltimore Zoo to ensure their research was accurate and to extend their understanding of animals. The students also communicated through Google Docs with a veterinarian and an animal professor for further clarification. After taking some time to reflect, students adjusted their visuals and shared their learning with the kindergarten classes through in school presentations. Friends and family also enjoyed learning about animals when visiting our classroom blog. Finally, our class completed the animals project by summarizing what they had learned about animals. The class developed an animal basic needs checklist to use on our field trip to the zoo, where each of the animal habitats will be evaluated to see if the animals are given all they need to live.
TIPC Ratings
Students are exposed to a variety of digital and print resources. They used Pebblego.com on the computer, scanned QR codes on the ipad (which linked them to webcams and zoo websites), read magazines, and read nonfiction books to research animals. Students were allowed to select the resources they believed would be beneficial and then recorded their findings in a research guide. Students were further required to verify and validate their information from multiple sources as well as cite them in an age appropriate manner. Students also Skyped and communicated through Google Docs to gather information from animal experts. Students planned to use their learning to help their Kindergarten friends prepare for their upcoming field trip to Maymont. In addition, the students wanted to identify animal basic needs to ensure all the animals at the Richmond Metro Zoo are given appropriate habitats.
Students formed their own groups and then synthesized to ensure group success. Each group collaborated to create their own visual that best illustrated what they learned about animals. They communicated not only within their small groups, but also with animal experts through Skyping and Google Docs. Students documented their project with ipads, and photos and videos were shared with family and friends on the classroom blog. The students loved receiving feedback from people outside the classroom and enjoyed adding their own comments to other students’ posts and videos on the blog.
This project was completely student driven. Students set the purpose of the project, identified what they wanted to learn, formed their own questions, and selected the appropriate resources both to research and to create visuals. Students reflected on their projects and were given the opportunity to modify them as needed. Students were invested in the project because they wanted to teach their kindergarten friends about animals and because they wanted to make sure the animals they would see on their upcoming field trip had everything they need to live.
Students were truly creative as they collaborated to create their visuals. Some students built items out of recyclable materials. Other groups chose to incorporate technology using Pixie on the computer or Storykit on the ipad. Each group was able to show their learning in a unique way. Students shared their visuals with the zookeeper from the Baltimore zoo, with the kindergarteners, and with their family and friends using our classroom blog. These visuals enabled the students to educate many different audiences about animals. Not only are the kindergarten students more prepared for their trip for Maymont, but my class is now ready to evaluate the habitats they view at the Richmond Metro Zoo.
Student Artifact
