Ms. Myers 6th grade Reading class worked collaboratively using the ActivStudio software to summarize and illustrate the journal, Trapped By the Ice, written by Michael McCurdy. Their small group projects where then collected to form a short story video about the real-life story if Ernest Shackleton and the crew of the Endurance. Click on the links below to find out what happened to these brave men in 1914!
Ms. Landis works with her 8th grade creative writing class to create an online newspaper. Students decided the layout of the paper as well as the content that was included. The students conducted interviews, created original editorials, along with other staples that you would see in your local newspaper. The class in continuing to improve the online paper and wants to include blogging so that students can respond to editorials and create a discussion on important topics relevant to our students.
Ms. Alcazar used literature circles in her 6th grade reading classroom to allow students to openly discuss topics within the assigned book Surviving the Applewhites. After students read and discussed the book in class they were given the task of creating a digital project. Students were allowed to choose the media in which they would present the project but were asked to include the following criteria: book title and author, main character(s), conflict (and what type of conflict it is), important vocabulary words from the book, a one paragraph summary of the plot, using the words exposition, climax and resolution, a one paragraph review of the book – what was good or bad and why. The 1st picture is from an iMovie and the 2nd is from a keynote presentation.
8th grade English students, in Ms. Saunders and Ms. Duckenfield’s classes, created websites using iWeb to illustrate, summarize and critique Historical Ficeion Novels Each site includes a short summary, character analysis, research into the historical time period, and a personal critique of the novel they chose.
Students in Ms. Mitchell’s physical science classes partnered up (collaboration) to create advertisements on various elements on the periodic table. Their task was to sell the element using persuasive techniques while providing factual scientific information on the element.
The groups of two had the freedom to choose either a radio or television advertisement. This lesson stressed to the students the difference between the two forms of advertising and allowed students to see the importance of audio and visual choices when creating these products. This student example was completed using iMovie combining both audio and visual components to sell the element, Helium.
[flv width="400" height="320"]http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/moody/jessup_k/helium.flv[/flv]
Mr. Rankin’s 7th grade French I.B students put their oral language skills to the test when they gave tours of a house to demonstrate their understanding of the French language. (SOL FI.5) This assignment was done individually and could be done live in front of the class, or pre-recorded.
This example is an enhanced podcast that was completed using GarageBand. The student matched pictures to her voice recording to create an amazing tour of a beautiful home. (creativity & innovation)
[flv]http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/moody/jessup_k/frenchvirtualtour.flv[/flv]
Ms. Landis 8th grade Creative Writing Class created their own magazine publications, which included a variety articles along with other basic magazine fillers such as horoscopes, book reviews, star interviews, and games. This lesson reinforced English Standard’s of Learning that student’s cover in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade as well as giving students a real world experience of creating their own magazine. Allowing the students to be creative and design the theme of the magazine and relate all of its contents to that theme develop creativity skills and give students a personal connection to the assignment.
The articles were created by the magazine’s authors and then edited by other students in the class, which also enhances student’s collaboration and grammar skills. Research was done through a variety of sites and personal information. Graphics were also located and downloaded from the Internet for student’s to organize into a power point presentation that was later printed and bound just as a magazine would look.
Students in Mrs. Clements’ 6th grade Gifted and Talented class worked together to create ad campaigns centered around a product of their choice. Students were organized into groups (“agencies”) that were responsible for creating an ad designed to sell their product. Students had to work together and effectively communicate key components of their product with a larger audience. In their groups, students created TV commercials, radio commercials, and billboards that highlighted their product. Once the products were created they had to share them in a professional and informative presentation.
This lesson allowed a wonderful opportunity for students to engage in a lesson that they could easily transfer into a “real world” context. Before creating their own campaigns, students used the internet to research PR firms, listen to adds, and generate ideas based on their findings. Technology enabled students to create multimedia products that were very professional. Students were engaged and excited about the unit.
Because students starred in their television commercials we will not be able to post them here, but can share some of their radio ad’s. We hope you enjoy!
“The Ultima Show” (Radio Ad)
[audio:http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/byrd/bostain_k/ultima.mp3]
“Groovy Gum” Bubblegum (Radio Ad)
[audio:http://teachers.henrico.k12.va.us/byrd/bostain_k/groovygum.mp3]
The 7th grade students in Mrs. Greene’s science class did research dealing with a specific element from the periodic table. After finding the information, the students created websites using the iWeb program. Through their websites, they communicated the information they discovered using first person narratives, as if they were the element. The students used critical thinking skills to determine what information they would like to share and how they would share it.
This project also allowed the students to tap into their creativity skills as they worked with the layout of the webpage and finding ways that they could personify their researched element. Students found and added music segments that were related to their element and wrote original poems about their element.
The finished websites were collected on one webpage where all the students would have access, creating a “social network” type site for elements.
