Planning Ahead

I can't wait to meet with all of you again on Friday. Here are some of my ideas for each class but these are only suggestions. Let me know if you have any better ideas, want to suggest changes, or have any questions. Grade 1: I'd like to work on a whole class research organizer about the hawksbill sea turtle. Some topics for research could be: description of the animal; food; habitat; why it is endagered; possible solutions. We only need one computer and the projector for this activity. Grade 2: We will continue with the research you started last week, putting students their own computers (2 per computer works best). I suggest either giving them a research question, or asking them to write a research question. They can find the answer on the Internet and then write it in their own words. You can create a "Frequently Asked Questions" page on your wiki. This may take more than one session. I'd also like to chat about the community service part of this project. I'm sure you have some good ideas. Grade 3: Since your research is coming along nicely, I'd like you to consider what the next step should be. We can approach this one of two ways: -- Post information from the research on a web site (such as a wiki) and use that to guide our PSA topics, or -- Plan out ideas for the various PSAs and use that to direct what information goes on the web site. Either approach is appropriate, so let me know what makes sense to you and I will plan accordingly. Grade 4: Hopefully you have your groups set by now and each group has a focus topic for their segment. To help guide the research, I suggest that each group needs to "pitch" an idea about their segment to the producer (that would be you!) At this grade level, I like to give a structure to what the pitch should include. Something like: --One sentence that explains what the segment will be about. --One sentence that discusses why this segment is important and relates to our essential question. --Three important facts from the research that will be showcased in the segment. Each fact should be supported by details. (We need to make sure they understand the idea of major ideas and supporting details) -- An explanation of what the group needs to do to get ready for the segment. Especially if they have to build something, do something, draw something, etc. -- A concluding sentence that persuades the producer that their idea is a good one. These are just suggestions, You can adapt it to what you think the needs are. Each group writes their pitch (some teachers use a worksheet, others leave it open ended) and then presents it orally to the class. This will obviously take more than one period to complete. You can start before I come, or wait until I come and then finish it up next week. Either way is fine.