Celebrate 100’s day with a bit of technology. These free online tools allow students extra enrichment when celebrating the 100th day of school.
In this unit, students will understand where “fake news” comes from, why it exists and how they can think like fact checkers to become fluent consumers, evaluators, and creators of information. They will apply this knowledge by selecting a controversial topic to evaluate, synthesize, and analyze all aspects before sharing with a local audience.
This description of this activity is a 2-day lesson: Day 1, Field Lab, Day 2, and Classroom Investigation.
In this field lab, children working in groups will collect 3 samples of soil from different locations. Each sample will be placed in a different Ziploc bag, the groups will label the bags and record in their notebooks the location of each sample, including 5 observations about the area near the location the sample was taken from. They will need to make a plan on how to record and label the bags and locations so when we return to the classroom they will have a system for knowing the location. Individually, each student will also include in his/her notebook a question about each area or the soil collected. Groups will discuss own observation/questions. Each group will share 2 observations they made and 1 question they are wondering. The groups will bring their soil samples back to the classroom. Once back in the classroom, the students will work to create a data recording system and develop an investigable question about the soil. The students will also have available other sample soils provided by the teacher. Students will use the materials and observe the soils and record their findings. The groups would share their data and create a class chart of the information. Ask: What can we notice from this information? What questions do you have about the information?
3D pens are an easy way to create a 3D object. You can design from scratch or use a template. The pens work like a glue gun, except that they use the same filament in a 3D printer. The objects that the students create can be used in project based learning projects.
lesson plan for a student research project on animals
Google Docs is a great word processor, but is much more than just that. Although we can certainly use it to type up a report, take notes, or write a story, we can also get creative with the features and functions built into the program to make some fun learning activities.
Recently I did a video training webinar where I took a look at four creative ways to use regular Google Docs features in new fun ways to practice and develop literacy skills. These include:
The highlighting tool for the activity "Improve Reading Comprehension with Google Docs Black Out"
The special characters tool for the activity "Emoji Learning Activities with Google Docs"
The word count tool for the activity "Have Students Write Better by Writing Less with Google Docs"
The header tool and hyperlink tool for the activity "Choose Your Own Adventure Stories with Google Docs"
See below for the full 1-hour training video, as well as resources, ideas, and templates for each of the four activities.
Session Resources
Session Agenda - Google Docs link
Training Video (1 hour)
1) Improve Reading Comprehension with Docs Black Out
Description: In this activity students use the highlighter tool to black out any text that is not critical, leaving behind just the main ideas.
Resources: For full details and resources for doing this activity, see my original blog post "Improve Reading Comprehension with Google Docs Black Out"
Below is the portion of the training video that covers this specific activity:
2) Emoji Learning Activities
Description: In this activity students use special characters to insert emojis to summarize stories, write creatively, and explore character emotions.
Resources: For full details and resources for doing this activity, see my original blog post "5 Emoji Learning Activities with Google Docs"
Below is the portion of the training video that covers this specific activity:
3) Have Students Write Better by Writing Less
Description: In this activity students use the word count tool to write within a character limit or word limit.
Resources: For full details and resources for doing this activity, see my original blog post "Have Students Write Better by Writing Less with Google Docs"
Below is the portion of the training video that covers this specific activity:
4) Choose Your Own Adventure Stories
Description: In this activity students use headings and hyperlinks to create interactive stories in Google Docs.
Resources: For full details and resources for doing this activity, see my original blog post "Choose Your Own Adventure Stories with Google Docs"
Below is the portion of the training video that covers this specific activity:
Post by Eric Curts. Bring me to your school, organization, or conference with over 50 PD sessions to choose from. Connect with me on Twitter at twitter.com/ericcurts and on Google+ at plus.google.com/+EricCurts1
A lesson about online communication using a simulation of a Twitter conversation in a "telephone game" style.
This Internet fact finding activity is as easy A-B-C! Students will get an introduction to safe search engines, including MeL, (Michigan e-Library.org), to find ways to do a basic online search safely for information by simply using the letters of the alphabet.
Students go on a hunt to find a word for each letter of the alphabet from a free online picture dictionary.
In this learning object, students will review the basic formatting of in-text citations following APA style, 6th edition.
In this learning object, students will learn how to format in-text citations and reference list entries for sources without identifiable authors.
In this learning object, students will learn how to format in-text citations and reference list entries for sources without a publication date.
In this learning object, students will learn how to cite a primary quote that is contained in a secondary source.
In this learning object, students will review the basic formatting of reference list citations following APA style, 6th edition.
In this learning object, students will learn the difference between a short quotation and a long quotation, and will examine the different ways to format the in-text citation for each.
In this learning object, students will learn how to format in-text citations and Reference list entries for sources 3-5 authors.
In this learning object, students will learn how to format in-text citations and Reference list entries for sources 6-7 authors.
In this learning object, students will learn what a summary and a paraphrase are. They will understand the basic differences between the two and will learn tips for writing successful summaries and paraphrases. Students will also be introduced to the one-hand model of summary writing.
In this learning object, students will learn what common knowledge is and what they must cite and what they may not have to cite.
In fourth grade, students learn how to be better researchers and using AR Flashcards, they are taken to a new level with the interactivity of augmented reality. AR Flashcards Lincoln is an iOS app where students can see a full size Lincoln deliver the Gettysburg address, place magical doorways on the ground and walk through them using their device to visit places Lincoln lived.