"By helping students learn how to learn from online information, we provide them with an important path forward to literacy, learning, and their future" (Leu et al., 2015).
Earth, Moon & Sun Projects
Rationale
One thing I tried to incorporate this year more than ever before were extension projects. It can be hard due to time restraints, but I think incorporating extension activities from time to time allows students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have just learned in a creative format, resulting in an engaging experience for all. For this reason I decided to pencil in the following project at the end of our unit on the Earth, Moon & Sun.
Project
I allowed my students to pick any topic related to the solar system that they would like to explore further for this particular extension project. The unit that had just been taught dealt heavily with the rotation and revolution of the Earth, the role of shadows, and moon phases. Apart from those topics, I allowed my students the freedom to choose two topics they would like to explore further that we did not get to within our unit of study. The topics ranged from meteors to black holes to landforms found on Jupiter. We worked a great deal on how to take notes in an organized manner without plagiarizing the content found on the various websites. Over several sessions the students took notes on both of their topics using safe search engines. Once they had gathered enough information and research, the students then used the notes of one of their chosen topics to create an informative acrostic poem. The other group of notes were then used to create a brief Animoto video, teaching about their second topic of choice.
Outcome
The finished products turned out great. I was so proud of the informative acrostic poems that were composed as well as the entertaining Animoto videos. The students really enjoyed being allowed to choose the topics they would be researching. Incorporating student choice led to great engagement and motivation by all of my students throughout the unit. Once again I introduced two new digital tools to my students that we had never used before, Pixlr and Animoto. Both were easy to use and fun for the students to utilize as they created their finished products.
One thing I tried to incorporate this year more than ever before were extension projects. It can be hard due to time restraints, but I think incorporating extension activities from time to time allows students the opportunity to apply the knowledge they have just learned in a creative format, resulting in an engaging experience for all. For this reason I decided to pencil in the following project at the end of our unit on the Earth, Moon & Sun.
Project
I allowed my students to pick any topic related to the solar system that they would like to explore further for this particular extension project. The unit that had just been taught dealt heavily with the rotation and revolution of the Earth, the role of shadows, and moon phases. Apart from those topics, I allowed my students the freedom to choose two topics they would like to explore further that we did not get to within our unit of study. The topics ranged from meteors to black holes to landforms found on Jupiter. We worked a great deal on how to take notes in an organized manner without plagiarizing the content found on the various websites. Over several sessions the students took notes on both of their topics using safe search engines. Once they had gathered enough information and research, the students then used the notes of one of their chosen topics to create an informative acrostic poem. The other group of notes were then used to create a brief Animoto video, teaching about their second topic of choice.
Outcome
The finished products turned out great. I was so proud of the informative acrostic poems that were composed as well as the entertaining Animoto videos. The students really enjoyed being allowed to choose the topics they would be researching. Incorporating student choice led to great engagement and motivation by all of my students throughout the unit. Once again I introduced two new digital tools to my students that we had never used before, Pixlr and Animoto. Both were easy to use and fun for the students to utilize as they created their finished products.
Student Research Using Safe Search Sites & Pixlr & Animoto Planning Sheets
Student Pixlr Acrostic Poem Examples
Student Animoto Video Examples
Video on Pluto
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Video on the Sun
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Video on Pluto
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Standards Addressed:
3.E.1.1 Recognize that the earth is part of a system called the solar system that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons and the earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system.
3.E.1.2 Recognize that changes in the length and direction of an object’s shadow indicate the apparent changing position of the Sun during the day although the patterns of the stars in the sky, to include the Sun, stay the same.
3.TT.1.1 Use a variety of technology tools to gather data and information (e.g., Web-based resources, e-books, online communication tools, etc.).
3.TT.1.3 Use technology tools to present data and information (multimedia, audio and visual recording, online collaboration tools, etc.).
3.SE.1.2 Understand ethical behavior (copyright, not plagiarizing, netiquette) when using resources.
3.SE.1.3 Understand internet safety precautions (personal information, passwords, etc.).
3.E.1.1 Recognize that the earth is part of a system called the solar system that includes the sun (a star), planets, and many moons and the earth is the third planet from the sun in our solar system.
3.E.1.2 Recognize that changes in the length and direction of an object’s shadow indicate the apparent changing position of the Sun during the day although the patterns of the stars in the sky, to include the Sun, stay the same.
3.TT.1.1 Use a variety of technology tools to gather data and information (e.g., Web-based resources, e-books, online communication tools, etc.).
3.TT.1.3 Use technology tools to present data and information (multimedia, audio and visual recording, online collaboration tools, etc.).
3.SE.1.2 Understand ethical behavior (copyright, not plagiarizing, netiquette) when using resources.
3.SE.1.3 Understand internet safety precautions (personal information, passwords, etc.).
Leu, D. J. et al. (2015). Seeing the Forest, Not the Trees: Essential Technologies for Literacy in the Primary-Grade and Upper Elementary-Grade Classroom.