Here is the first part of the assignment (we will also need to make a map):
Part A: The first step in this assignment is for your group to decide what type of assignment you would do with your class (that directly relates to your Project-based Learning topic) to demonstrate cultural understanding and global awareness. Together, your team will write up a detailed description of this assignment. Examples might be having students in your class and in a class from a different place compare and contrast differences and similarities between their regions as they relate to the content of their projects (i.e. different/similar vegetables, birds, weather, etc.) Assume that will use ePals to help you identify and connect with another group of students. Be sure to add the following in this description (this will take some creativity and imagination):
- Who are the students your students will communicate with (specific location, grade level)?
- When would your students contact these other students (at what point in their project work)?
- What kinds of questions would they ask each other and what kinds of information would they share?
- What will they do with the information they get from the other students?
The founders could work. The students could maybe compare/contrast how their cities were founded and find out if the founders had anything in common?
ReplyDeleteAND what drove them to the areas they founded?
DeleteI think that is a good idea to pursue!
ReplyDeleteHello ladies!
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to let you know I started editing the Google document that Taylor set up. I did not get specific with what I added because I think we should set up a meeting time in which we can all converse about what we want this assignment to look like. Just wanted to check in with you!
I added 2 questions to the doc which I thought maybe be helpful. If you guys don't go ahead and edit or delete as you see fit. I think we should choose a country that is most likely to have English speakers, like Ireland or Scotland, etc., so as fifth graders, they would have to also worry about onlinec translators and such. Unless we want them to figure out how to use them? I think also they may to start communicating we Ithaca their pen pals after they've done their research. As in they know what person, event, era, they are portraying, and have researched their city and area's history so they have the info ready to exchange with the pen pals.
ReplyDeleteI think once we have all of our ideas narrowed down on the document, we need to revise it to be a detailed description rather than how it looks now - so like multiple paragraphs. I am adding to it right now
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with both of you. My point in getting started on the editing of the document, brainstorming and just getting the ball rolling. Once we finalize our ideas we should organize the document so it is more cohesive and flows better. I think that staying with an English speaking class is a good idea - I think either a different country, or even just another city/state in the US.
ReplyDeleteWe could do a city in the U.P.?
DeleteThe U.P. could be cool! They do say that many states are soo different that they're like different countries, I've also heard that about the U.P. as well. U.P. VS L.P., I like it!
ReplyDeleteWe could do Newberry, Michigan?
DeleteShould we have the students discuss the person they will be portraying for their live museum? Or is this just about the city that they are from and its history?
ReplyDeleteMaybe discuss all 3? Compare contrast the city founders, the city and the city's history/time period they're portraying? Maybe the founding of the city should be THE historic event. Otherwise we may get too caught up in the other stories occuring in the historic person's life. If that made any sense all.
ReplyDeleteI think that the students could share pieces about their historical figure, as well as the information about their city. I think focusing on a single historic event is good, but I think it would also be beneficial if students got to compare/contrast what role the person they are portraying had in the founding/development of their city or their legacy.
ReplyDeleteIf everyone is available Saturday, maybe we can meet up on the blog at an agreed upon time after 4? My daughter will be at a slumber party so the group should have my undivided attention for the evening. Also, should the projects the students can choose from to present the info collected from the pen pals, all be compare and contrast? The Venndiagram would show that nicely, but maybe all of the other options,should also compare/contrast the information from both projects?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking that the Venn Diagram could be like a graphic organizer just to organize their thoughts during / after the interview with the other student. Then, they could use the Venn Diagram to make the project in which they would have to compare and contrast their information with the PenPal's information. Does that make sense? What do you think?
DeleteOkay, yes that makes sense. I think if we have them use a Venn diagram for organization, they should incorporate that information into their project. Otherwise they would really only need to collect information from the other class and present it as opposed to putting how they compare and contrast in the diagram. So I guess it would dexpend on what info we are looking for them to present.
ReplyDeleteOnce we decide what our map should be, I'll do the Google map this weekend.
ReplyDeleteI will help you do this in whatever way I can, if needed!
DeleteThanks! It's much appreciated.
DeleteThank you! I can help also!
DeleteSorry I have been working all day! Are we meeting on the blog tomorrow sometime after 4:00? Just let me know!
ReplyDeleteAlso, are we doing Newberry, MI? I think Marquette, MI would also be a good option as well if we haven't decided on a place for sure. I say this because Newberry's population is significantly smaller than Kalamazoo's (<1500) compared to Marquette's population (~21,000). I wasn't sure if you all felt population was a component that needed to be considered.
I think the Venn Diagram idea is a good one, and what Taylor has added to the Google Doc are great additions.
I also added a couple more questions students could explore on the GoogleDoc.
That works for me to meet after 4! It doesn't matter which city to do to me - I only suggested Newberry because I knew there was an Elementary school there. But we can do Marquette. I agree with Amanda that it would be cool for students to explore the population size. Doesn't Marquette have a University within its city limits as well like Kalamazoo?
DeleteI don't know much about either of those cities, and a difference in population hadn't occurred to me. I'm open to either option, but maybe a difference in population could also be an option for students to explore? If we can meet on here Saturday after 4pm, i think we could get all of this pinned down.
ReplyDeleteI think the Google document sounds great! I can't think of anything else to add to it.
ReplyDeleteCould we aim for meeting on here around 5:00? I have something going at 3:30 that should be done shortly after 5:00!
ReplyDeleteThat works for me!
ReplyDeleteI am available for the rest of the day so whenever works for me!
ReplyDeleteI'm here.
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteHave we reached a decision on whether the other city will be Newberry or Marquette?
ReplyDeleteI think we should do Marquette. It could provide a better comparison / contrast to Kalamazoo than Newberry could
DeleteSorry I got done later than expected! But I think Marquette is a good option
ReplyDeleteWhat else do we need to do to finalize our Google Doc?
ReplyDeleteI put a line through the one question because I think it is redundant of the question above it. I think 10 questions is plenty - any more than that could be too much information for collection.
DeleteWe need to finalize if we like the questions we have and if there is anything else we need to add for the last section of it for what the students do with the collected information. Then, we need to type it up so that it is more of a paper in format
DeleteI am unable to view the document right now because I am doing this on my phone. But ok, I think 10 is a good amount.
DeleteHere are the questions I am talking about:
DeleteWhat time period in your historical figure's life are you portraying? Why did you choose this particular time period?
What significant role did your historical figure play in your city’s history? <--- Get rid of this one
That's fine!
Deleteok that works for me. So do we want to have a map of Michigan, or do we want maps of the individual cities to compare?
ReplyDeleteI can see benefits to either one. What do you think?
DeleteI think either one would be beneficial. I am kind of leaning towards the two cities because we could see how areas compare
DeleteBethany - I was thinking the same thing. While it would be interesting for students to see the distance between the cities (even though it is a part of the same state), it could be more beneficial to compare / contrast the maps of each city instead.
DeleteI'm wondering if there is a way to create a large map with all three? If I can I think that may be a good thing to do, to show their locations in Michigan and then the two can be compared and contrasted. I'm thinking a bird's eye view of the cities, thoughts?
ReplyDeleteIf there is a way to do that, sure!
DeleteThat's a really good idea! If it's possible I say we should do that!
Deleteokay, I will work on that tonight and get a rough draft on here for you to look over and provide feedback.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds great! Thanks Amanda!
DeleteThank you!
DeleteNo Problem! What else do we need to pin down for this assignment?
ReplyDeleteI think we just need to finalize the information that is on the Google Document
DeleteI agree. Once I am home I will be able to review/edit the document
DeleteLet me know when you are home and I can help you with that.
DeleteSo sorry for the delay! I am finally home and have the Google Doc open!
DeleteOkay! Let's start working on it!
Deleteok. I'm going to start work on the map. Let me know if there's anything else I can do.
ReplyDeleteShortly I am going to attempt to post and embed the map rough draft onto this site, to see if everyone can access it alright and if everything is easy to understand and maneuver, and receive feedback. Please let me know as soon as you find a moment to test it so I can attempt to figure out how to fix it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI am available to help out once you get the map embedded and posted :)
DeleteExcellent! Thanks! Figuring out how to get it public and embed now...here goes nothing!
Deletesrc="https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/embed?mid=1mgCfB_7ZxQ3c4ah1xs1ImiomOC0" width="640" height="480">
ReplyDeleteIt's not working for me...
DeleteI am having difficulty opening it for some reason. First, google said it did not exist because src= was in front of the https://, so I deleted that and tried again and then it brought me to my WMU login...
DeleteAmanda, if you get a chance, would you be able to look over the Google Document to make any edits?
ReplyDeleteI created a post and embedded it there. I was having trouble because the blog and website didn't seem to want to play nice. Can you see the post? Does it work from there? I think I entitled it Virtual Pen Pal Map.
Delete