HCPS Middle School

Miss Foley’s 7th grade social studies classes created talk shows and interviewed special guests, Andrew Carnegie or John Rockefeller (USII3.d).  This assignment strengthened their research skills as they found information on their “special guest.”  (research & information fluency)  The students worked in groups and each assigned a different task.  They had to learn to collaborate and rely on each other to get the job done in a timely manner.  The roles included a web designer, video editor, and writer. (communication & collaboration)

The talkshows were video taped, uploaded on the student laptops, and edited by the students using iMovie.  Once complete the videos then embedded onto a web page created using iWeb.

Popularity: 11% [?]

The 8th grade students in Ms. Cosby’s World History class became news anchors for WRMN Channel XII news for a day.  Students formed small groups from the students in their class and collaborated on ideas of ways they could present the information they researched about a topic from Roman history. They were challenged to use their creativity and problem solving skills to communicate what they had learned about their topic and present the information in a way that was not only informative, but also entertaining.  The groups then wrote scripts based on their ideas and video taped their presentations as if they were broadcasting the news live.  The footage was then imported into iMovie where the groups worked together to edit and fine tune their final product.

Through this project, the students became more connected with the information they researched and learned how to work with others in an highly productive way.

Popularity: 4% [?]

In Mrs. Craver’s world history class, the children traveled back in time to ancient Mesopotamia (WHI.3) to serve as consultants to village elders who were confronting big problems with their food supplies.  The kids analyzed information about the main problem in groups, then recommended a possible solution (critical thinking).  The village elders (Mrs. Craver with the actual historical decision) then made their decisions based on the recommendations.

Since the students had recorded their own proposals and rationales rather than the historical decision, the teacher had them create a Comic Life to portray the actual series of problems and solutions from history.  This was a cause and effect, review assignment used as a follow up activity to an experiential exercise in class.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Students in Mrs. Tierney’s 7th grade Social Studies class researched and studied FDR’s New Deal programs (SOL USII.5d)). To teach this unit Mrs. Tierney had students research FDR’s programs using a variety of resources and tools (research & information fluency), write their own “fireside chat” (creativity & communication), and record their scripts in Garage Band.

In this lesson students not only learned about key features of the New Deal, but also how to use research and communication tools to clearly articulate information. Each vodcast (podcast with pictures) was unique and supported students’ understanding of the New Deal programs.

A pre/post test on this SOL demonstrated major gains in student mastery with 98% pass rate on the unit assessment for this specific SOL.

For more information about this lesson please contact Mrs. Tierney

Popularity: 6% [?]

Through our Library Information Center, students in grades 6-8 create book reviews to share with their peers. The format of the website not only allows students to post their review, but rate other books listed on the site.

More to come

http://byrdmiddle.org/books/

Popularity: 6% [?]