Summary
Integrating reading, writing and math through party planning is a fun-filled way for fifth graders to apply what they have learned while learning new skills. A real-life task of planning your next birhtday party was set out for a group of fifth graders to solve. Nothing more than a task sheet was given to the students. Weekly newspaper fliers along with a recipical of safe websites was also accessible. Prior to starting this task, the students were familar but not experts using laptop software. Groups were chosen by students and they included sole proprietorships, partnerships, or corporations(max. 4). Mixed ability groups reflected daily on their ability to work successfully together with a peer assessment rubric. Students were presented with authentic problems/obstacles during their planning process. Students also completed an individual assessment reflection placed on our classroom blog in a private page. Presentations were shared with the peers in their reading group and the graders in other reading classes. Presentations will also be shared with outside audiences via our classroom blog.
TIPC Ratings
Mixed abililty, self-selected groups select the tools they will use to convey information gained through evaluated research. A variety of research tools are utilized, including web based databases, search engines, and online blogs acccomplish a real world task. The students used tools to powerfully display and interact with information.
Students self-selected teams collaborated on a real world original problem and reflected on their success. Digital tools, Blogs, and Google Docs, were used to communicate and collaborate with peers regardless of time zone or physical distances.
Students used research and information gained through collaboration to create an authentic product to solve a real world problem. The teacher facilitated the task while the students were actively engaged in meaningful questioning and critical thinking. They handled unanticipated challenges with confidence and persistence.
Students utilized critical thinking, research methods, and various publishing tools. The students develped their own new ideas for finding resources and added a digial resource, an “Evite”, to the task which supports innovative thinking. They reflected beyond the original parameters of the task.
Student Artifact
