At the end of our final literacy circles for the year, the students had to create a complete "press kit" for their novel. The kit included a book review, poster and trailer.
I had 5th graders make a power point of the novel their group read to summarazie the book; then shared it with other students who had not read the book - next year I will probably have them use Glogster
We do a book making activy where groups produce text booklets to sell. Through this activity, they see the factors of production in action and learn what can be done to increase activity (like adding capital and specialization).
A new student entered my class in the 2nd semester. In an effort to help her acclimate to my students/classroom environment, we started a letter writing project to her former classmates. Each student had a partner from the other school, and our classes exchanged letters on a weekly basis. (Kindergarten)
Students worked with partners to to a social studies internet scavenger hunt. They had to verify their findings by making sure it was an accurate site and finding the same answer in at least 2 different sites.
Many times students will be asked to evaluate their performance or their peer's performance whether live or recorded. Students come up with a list of what was exceptional and what can be improved. Then, as a class we work on what can be improved while maintaining or improving on the exceptional qualities.
We used Brainpop many times throughout the year and students became familiar with the format of the video clips. At the end of the year, I had students design thier own brainpop video for a list of questions that students came up with. They were given a question, researched to find the answer, and set out to make their video. They performed their skit in front of the class or did a video presentation, whichever they chose. The kids loved it!
Sharing information on what they eat and what type of activity/workout they had done for the weekend. Then use the computer to figure out how many calories they burned and took in. Did they Lose or gain weight?
Students work in cooperative groups. Students create their own projects/rubrics. Students encouraged to do their own trouble-shooting before asking the teacher.
Using proportions in preparation for Tenoroc: We watched a video from Discovery Learning that showed how populations of animals are estimated using the catch, release and recatch method. We copied this method using beans. The students were given a bag of tree frogs (beans). They "captured" a number of frogs and tagged them (switched white beans for dark beans). Then they released them into the wild (mixed them back into the bag). They recaptured by scooping another bunch of frogs and counted the tagged frogs and the total frogs and created a proportion to estimate the total population (number of beans in the bag).
Several times throughout the year my students go to the sites that I would normally go to to choose their music - part of their curriculum - and based on guidelines that I give them, they choose the songs they would like to learn. The guidelines are difficulty level, genre, voicings, musical style, language, etc. This allows them to take ownership of the class and they become much more interested in learning the music. Once they have chosen their song, we listen to each one and each student discusses his or her song. They actually download the demos and take the music home and learn it on their own without being asked to do so. They've also, unknowingly learned to categorize music, what voicings are, what a genre is, and a little something about another language.
The 4th grade students made 3D documentaries about Florida history/environment that were then shared with the whole grade level.... Included evaluation of content and resources, research, multimedia development, composing a soundtrack, etc. They "got" it. :)
Working on fluency, I had my students write out a script about our field trip. Then we uploaded pictures and made a movie video, with the students speaking into the microphone…. Each group had 4 minutes to give a summary of the field trip, so they had to work together to say their part within 60 sec.
We read an article about the Black Plague and I introduced vocabulary using pictures, creepy music, etc. The kids really got into the text and when they had an opportunity to produce a digital storytelling project, at least three to four groups chose to create a project based on the Black Plague.
Longitude/Latutude - post on ceiling, have students moving around the room to specified locations; SmartBoard - locate cities on map; GoogleEarth; Partner activity: plot l/l and creating the mascot head.
I have a Masters Degree in Educational Technology and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership specializing in Instructional Technology. I taught Math for 18 years at various levels, mostly middle school and high school. I am now the Assistant Principal at McKeel Academy of Technology. I teach a variety of classes at FSC (my alma mater). Join me in discussing Active Learning.
Science Experiments
ReplyDeleteLab - Dissections
ReplyDeleteliterature discussion groups
ReplyDeletecreate competition and allow for cooperation on a regular basis
ReplyDeleteMy students contribute to the delivery venues used for projects!
ReplyDeleteAt the end of our final literacy circles for the year, the students had to create a complete "press kit" for their novel. The kit included a book review, poster and trailer.
ReplyDeletegames
ReplyDeleteI had 5th graders make a power point of the novel their group read to summarazie the book; then shared it with other students who had not read the book - next year I will probably have them use Glogster
ReplyDeleteUsing Google Earth in a project to find, describe, and mensurate the new South McKeel Academy building.
ReplyDeleteworking in a small group using manipulatives to find percents then gathering data from other groups and using that info to make graphs
ReplyDeleteWe do a book making activy where groups produce text booklets to sell. Through this activity, they see the factors of production in action and learn what can be done to increase activity (like adding capital and specialization).
ReplyDeleteA new student entered my class in the 2nd semester. In an effort to help her acclimate to my students/classroom environment, we started a letter writing project to her former classmates. Each student had a partner from the other school, and our classes exchanged letters on a weekly basis. (Kindergarten)
ReplyDeleteStudents worked with partners to to a social studies internet scavenger hunt. They had to verify their findings by making sure it was an accurate site and finding the same answer in at least 2 different sites.
ReplyDeleteMany times students will be asked to evaluate their performance or their peer's performance whether live or recorded. Students come up with a list of what was exceptional and what can be improved. Then, as a class we work on what can be improved while maintaining or improving on the exceptional qualities.
ReplyDeleteWe used Brainpop many times throughout the year and students became familiar with the format of the video clips. At the end of the year, I had students design thier own brainpop video for a list of questions that students came up with. They were given a question, researched to find the answer, and set out to make their video. They performed their skit in front of the class or did a video presentation, whichever they chose. The kids loved it!
ReplyDeleteSharing information on what they eat and what type of activity/workout they had done for the weekend. Then use the computer to figure out how many calories they burned and took in. Did they Lose or gain weight?
ReplyDeleteStudents work in cooperative groups.
ReplyDeleteStudents create their own projects/rubrics.
Students encouraged to do their own trouble-shooting before asking the teacher.
WWI Trench Warfare lesson
ReplyDeleteUsing proportions in preparation for Tenoroc:
ReplyDeleteWe watched a video from Discovery Learning that showed how populations of animals are estimated using the catch, release and recatch method. We copied this method using beans. The students were given a bag of tree frogs (beans). They "captured" a number of frogs and tagged them (switched white beans for dark beans). Then they released them into the wild (mixed them back into the bag). They recaptured by scooping another bunch of frogs and counted the tagged frogs and the total frogs and created a proportion to estimate the total population (number of beans in the bag).
Several times throughout the year my students go to the sites that I would normally go to to choose their music - part of their curriculum - and based on guidelines that I give them, they choose the songs they would like to learn. The guidelines are difficulty level, genre, voicings, musical style, language, etc. This allows them to take ownership of the class and they become much more interested in learning the music. Once they have chosen their song, we listen to each one and each student discusses his or her song. They actually download the demos and take the music home and learn it on their own without being asked to do so. They've also, unknowingly learned to categorize music, what voicings are, what a genre is, and a little something about another language.
ReplyDeletestudents created a storyboard based on a chapter from a novel
ReplyDeletebuilding their own globes
ReplyDeleteMake a compass rose using a cookie and candy to help them remember directions
ReplyDeletewe are going to incorporate the wi's into our PE class this year.
ReplyDeleteAllowing students to create a power point presentation on their topic of interest.
ReplyDeleteThe 4th grade students made 3D documentaries about Florida history/environment that were then shared with the whole grade level.... Included evaluation of content and resources, research, multimedia development, composing a soundtrack, etc. They "got" it. :)
ReplyDeletecooperative group science projects
ReplyDeleteVarious hands on projects throughout the year that challenged the students to think outside of the box.
ReplyDeletestudents collaborate and prepare a lesson to present to the class
ReplyDeleteStart off the year with building trust, active listening, etc. through many cooperative groups and teambuilding stratigies.
ReplyDeleteWorking on fluency, I had my students write out a script about our field trip. Then we uploaded pictures and made a movie video, with the students speaking into the microphone…. Each group had 4 minutes to give a summary of the field trip, so they had to work together to say their part within 60 sec.
ReplyDeleteWe read an article about the Black Plague and I introduced vocabulary using pictures, creepy music, etc. The kids really got into the text and when they had an opportunity to produce a digital storytelling project, at least three to four groups chose to create a project based on the Black Plague.
ReplyDeleteDonner Survivor
Longitude/Latutude - post on ceiling, have students moving around the room to specified locations; SmartBoard - locate cities on map; GoogleEarth; Partner activity: plot l/l and creating the mascot head.
ReplyDelete