Jerry's+Blog+Lesson+Plan

Jerry Wilczynski 1/26/08 Building Collaborative Environments 3-D-2


 * AUDIENCE: **
 * 6th Grade World Geography Students


 * OBJECTIVES:**
 * Students will research the culture and daily life of kids who live in their assigned county. Focus should be on education, lifestyle, gender differences, food, clothing, and shelter.
 * Students will use their research to respond to a blog discussion, writing as if they were a child from their county.


 * MATERIALS:**
 * Computers with Internet Access
 * Research materials collected with the help of the school librarian
 * Project Description Sheet
 * 2 Blog Starter Questions
 * Rubric


 * TIME FRAME:**
 * Research = 1 week
 * Blog Discussion = 2 weeks following completion of research

1) Introduce project to students using the Project Description Sheet. 2)  Group students according to ability levels (Students who can handle this project independently will do so, students who need more support will be placed into small groups.) 3) Assign countries – make sure that there is a nice variety of countries from different continents and different economic/political/religious backgrounds. 4)  During the week of research, have students focus on one aspect of culture each of the first four days (Education – Lifestyle – Gender Differences – Food/Clothing/Shelter). Allow them to use the last day either to catch up or extend their information, depending upon where they are in their research. Of course, if you feel that more research time is need, provide it to the students. 5) Once all research has been completed, introduce students to the first of two Blog Starters: //Describe a day in the life of an average (male/female) child who lives in your country. Things to consider include: 1) Where do you live? 2) What do you eat? 3) Do you go to school/work/both? What is life in your country like? What do you do for fun or entertainment? Your response should be a minimum of three well written paragraphs and must be posted no later than the end of Friday’s class.// 6) During the week leading up to the assignment deadline, allow time for individuals/groups to compose their response. They should draft their responses prior to posting them on the blog. 7)  Also during this week, pair up individual/groups with each other for the purpose of responding to Blog Starter #2. 8) At the beginning of the second week, post the second Blog Starter: //Now that you have told us something about your child, it is your turn to find out more about another child. Read the post of your partner child. Write a response to that post that comes from your child. Ask questions about things that you don’t understand, or ask questions about things that you would like to know more about. Create a discussion with each other through your blog entries.// 9)  Hopefully these discussions will require students to share their research, and perhaps, continue their research to find the answers to the questions that they have been asked.
 * PROCEDURE:**


 * ASSESSMENT:**
 * Students will be assessed according the criteria listed on the Project Description Sheet

 Name_Date__Block____


 * Kids Around The World **

respond to my latest discussion topic. I want to know what it is like to be a kid living in your country. What is an average day in your life like? Do you go to school? Do you work? Where do you live? What do you eat? What do you do for fun? In order to answer these questions, you are going to have to conduct some research into the culture and daily life of kids in your country. Use the graphic organizer below to record your research.
 * Task:** You are a student from another county who has just logged onto my blog and wants to


 * Education** (Do all kids go to school? What are schools like? How many years are kids in school? Etc.)

What types of housing is available? Etc.)
 * Food/Clothing/Shelter** (What are the main sources of food in your diet? How do kids in your country dress?


 * Lifestlye** (What do kids do when they are not in school? What do they do for fun?.)

to learn? What are the similarities/differences? Etc.)
 * Gender Differences** (Are boys and girls treated equally? Do they have the same expectations and opportunities


 * Other**

ASSESSED ** ||  ||   ||   ||   || ** Value ** || ** Score ** ||
 * ** OUTCOME
 * 1 || 2 || 3 || 4 ||
 * **// Overall Use of Blogs //** || Few blog entries have been made. || Almost all required blog entries and comments have been completed. || All blog entries are submitted, though not all of them may give evidence of a substantial contribution. || All blog entries are submitted, all of which are substantial. Beyond the || 30% ||  ||
 * **// Key Concepts //** || Blog entries are not written in a 1st person perspective AND do not include sufficient detail in regards to the life of a chid from your country. || Blog entries are not written in a 1st person perspective OR do not include sufficient detail in regards to the life of a chid from your country. || Blog entries are written from a 1st person perspective and include sufficient detail in regards to the life of a child from your country. || Blog entries are written from a 1st person perspective and include substantial detail in regards to the life of a child from your country. || 50% ||  ||
 * **// Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics //** || Blog entries use incorrect grammar and syntax consistently, making it difficult for others to follow. || Blog entries demonstrate some evidence of correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. Audience will have little trouble reading your blog entries || Blog entries show a good command of Standard English. No problems for your audience. || Blog entries show a very good command of Standard English and have some flair and originality. || 20% ||  ||
 * Scoring Rubric **