Henrico Staff Development

8^th 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.

An Acquaintance with Darkness

The Letter Writer

Anne Frank and Me

Crispin

A Break With Charity

Witch Child

The Devil’s Arithmetic

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.

Click here to visit ElementSpace.

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.

Mrs. Sharpe and Ms. Saunders 7th grade English classes did research projects about mammals.  They spent the week researching, both online and in the library, the animal of their choosing.  Once they had the required information, students were able to begin designing their webpage.  Students used iWeb to design a webpage about their animal.  Most students did a bio page from the viewpoint of the animal.  Students used videos from Discovery Education and embedded them within the website.  In addition to the webpage, students were required to turn in their research and a complete outline of the information on the webpage.  Once all pages were complete, they were complied into the teacher’s webpage.  Students then went on the pages to view the research about each other’s animals and rate them on information, visual appeal, and creativity.  Click here to visit Mrs. Sharpe’s website.

Mrs. Thompson’s 6th grade class used Garageband to create podcasts to share their writing assignments on their favorite holiday.  Students worked on expression, enunciation, speed of reading, and volume while reading their work. When students discovered their work would be shared with a broader audience, they were self motivated to make further revisions to improve the quality of their work. To listen to Mrs. Thompson’s students work visit The Spoken Word.