Global Classroom Module LessonPlans RHudson
Global Classroom Module LessonPlans RHudson
Global Classroom Module LessonPlans RHudson
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Introduction:
This Global Classroom Module is a project that will be collaboratively
worked on by first graders (6-7 year olds) in Silver Spring, MD, USA and
early elementary students (6-8 year olds) in Wanguri Primary School in
the Northern Territory of Australia. Wanguri is a northern suburb of the
city of Darwin. The website for the school is
http://web.ntschools.net/w/wanguri/Pages/Home.aspx. The two classes
will observe, record and then compare and contrast the weather in
their counties. The two classes will complete copies of the same
weekly weather record sheet (Appendix B) by observing the weather.
Then each week, they will share a completed weekly weather record
sheet so each class has the other classs weekly weather record sheet.
Each class will graph their weather each week then share their
Weather Graphs with the other classroom.
Each class will continue to record the weather each day and they can
continue to participate in activities such as read-alouds, graphs,
videos, etc. Then, at the end of the module, both classes will create a
digital Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the weather in both
countries and share their Venn Diagrams with each other.
Summary:
This lesson modules main goal is to collect data about four weather
features with first graders. The weather features they will be observing
and recording are cloud cover, precipitation, wind and temperature.
Each student will record the data each day on a weekly weather chart
and the class will also make a class record. The students will work
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collaboratively with another classroom in the world that is collecting
the same (or similar) data about the weather. Students will engage in
many activities during the module such as taking photos of a tree to
note changes through the year, and taking photos of clothing that
represent adaptations to weather, reading weather books and graphing
the weather data. In addition to sharing data (weekly weather charts),
photographs and graphs with the collaborative class, students will
create a digital Venn Diagram that compares and contrasts the
weather in the two locations.
Time frame:
Over an on-going six week period or longer.
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to observe our weather, but think beyond their own world to the
experiences of others somewhere across the Earth.
Key Challenges:
One of the challenges I face in my school is that we participate in team
planning. The administration provides common planning time for six
first grade teachers. In turn, we are to plan together and teach the
same lessons so that there is consistency among the team. This has
been a challenge for me when I have tried to incorporate technology
into our planning. Several of the teachers are not comfortable using
technology and so I either need to convince them of the benefits, so
somehow squeeze in my technology lessons in addition to the lessons
we plan as a team.
Prior Knowledge:
Content Standards:
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3.1.E.1 Describe some of the ways in which animals depend on plants
and on each other.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.1
Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.10
With prompting and support, read prose and poetry of appropriate
complexity for grade 1.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.1
Write opinion pieces, in which they introduce the topic or name the
book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the
opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.2
Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply
some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.3
Write narratives in which they recount two or more appropriately
sequenced events, include some details regarding what happened, use
temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of
closure.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.6
With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to
produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.
CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4
Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories; ask
and answer questions about the total number of data points, how
many in each category, and how many more or less are in one
category than in another.
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National Education Technology Standards for Students NETS
(S):
NET(S) Standards:
Global Theme:
Many of the global issues and challenges listed on the American Forum
for Global Education website are very advanced for young elementary
students. However, some of the concepts can be broken into
developmentally appropriate ideas for first graders. There are two
categories listed on this website that are connected to the Weather
Around the World project; Planet Management:
Resources/Energy/Environment and The Technocratic Revolution:
Science/Technology/Communications. The weather project, when
geared toward first graders is a science lesson, therefore it fits under
The Technocratic Revolution: Science/Technology/Communications
category. In the description of this category it states, having students
discuss both the pluses and minuses of the impact of science and
technology on peoples lives worldwide is suggested (The American
Forum for Global Education, 2003). The weather project does this and
by connecting with other classrooms, it makes it possible for students
to see the impact of weather much clearer.
Pre-Lesson Steps:
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In order to connect with another classroom before teaching the lessons
to my class, it will be necessary to follow these steps:
Technology Use:
Students will use a variety of technology tools during the process:
Essential Questions:
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As an introductory hook, it is important to activate students prior
knowledge.
Students can draw two pictures for their starting activity. The first
picture is of what the weather looks like today. Then, students will write
an informational paragraph (or sentence depending on the time of
year). The second picture is of what the weather looks like today in the
collaborative country and write an informational paragraph (or
sentence depending on the time of year). First graders are able to write
a sentence at the beginning of first grade, but can write a paragraph
(with an topic sentence, three supporting details and concluding
sentence) by the end of first grade.
Lesson Plans:
The second lesson will compare and contrast the weather in another
country to the weather in Silver Spring. Information will come from the
two schools weather charts associated with the collaborative project
and the other information gathered throughout the unit, such as
writing projects, books read, graphs created or other information
exchanged with the collaborative school. As a class, we will complete
a Venn Diagram comparing the weather in the two locations on the
Promethean Board. Individually, students will complete a Venn Diagram
where students will draw one labeled picture in each section of the
Venn Diagram. This Venn Diagram can be done on paper or using Pixie
3.
Summative Assessment:
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As a summative assessment, the students will complete an illustration
that shows pictures and labels for all four seasons of the year in Silver
Spring, MD, specifically with the weather during that season and what
clothing we wear during that season. They would also draw an
illustration that shows pictures and labels for all four seasons (if
applicable) for the weather of the collaborative classroom.
The first change to this module was that the following Common Core
State Standard was added to Lesson #2:
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.1.9
Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in
stories.
The second change was that I added rubrics for the teacher to use as
assessments. This rubric can be found in Appendix I.
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variety of digital tools to produce and publish
writing, including in collaboration with peers.
CCSS.Math.Content.1.MD.C.4
Organize, represent, and interpret data with
up to three categories; ask and answer
questions about the total number of data
points, how many in each category, and how
many more or less are in one category than in
another.
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looks like today where we live. Then, write a
sentence about the picture. The second
picture is of what the students think the
weather looks like today in the collaborative
country, Australia. Then, write a sentence
about that picture. Appendix A.
Step-By-Step Day 1
Procedures: Warm-up:
After completing the activator activity in the
Introduction above (Appendix A), ask, What is
a meteorologist? What does he/she do? Why is
this important?
1. Choose weather helpers (or
meteorologists)
2. Describe how the weather helper can
observe the cloud cover by looking at
the clouds. How does this help us know
what the weather will be?
3. Describe how the weather helper can
observe precipitation. What is
precipitation? What are the different
types of precipitation? Why is it
important to know the types of
precipitation?
4. Describe how the weather helper can
observe the wind. Using the flag, see
how the flag helps us observe the wind?
How does the wind help us know what
the weather will be?
5. Describe how the weather helper can
use a thermometer to take the
temperature. Why is it important to
know the temperature?
6. Students will be given a Weekly Weather
Record Sheet (Appendix B) to record
their weather observations.
Day 2-5
1. Choose different helpers (or
meteorologists) to observe and report
the weather to the class.
2. The teacher will use the Promethean
Board or the Elmo document camera to
model how to complete the Weekly
Weather Record Sheet.
3. Students record the information on their
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Weekly Weather Record Sheet.
Day 5
1. Using the website, Graph Club, as a
class, create a weather graph for the
week. Graph Club is very easy to use.
Website:
http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/pro
duct.asp?SKU=Grpv20
a) First, click Lets Graph. Then, click
Create Graph.
b) Then, go to the menu bar and click
Graph on the menu bar, then
Choose Symbols.
c) Once in the Choose Symbols
section, choose how many symbols
needed for the graph and what the
symbols will be. They are easily
dragged to the top.
d) For this lesson, we will choose 8
symbols: sunny, cloudy,
thunderstorm, rain, snow, wind,
bright sun (for hot) and large
snowflake (for cold).
e) Then, choose a color for each symbol
by dragging the color to the top and
matching a color with a symbol.
f) Go back to your graph by clicking
OK.
g) There are two documents now on the
screen. By clicking on the options at
the bottom, you can choose the type
of graph: chart, picture, bar, line and
pie. Of the two documents, to will
need to click on the document to
select it. Once the document is
selected, you can drag the symbols
to create your graph.
h) Click on Title to change the title to
Weather Graph. Be sure to add a
date to the graph.
i) If you click on Notebook, you can
write notes.
2. Students will take out their weekly
weather record sheet and they will use
the information from Monday to add
data to the class graph.
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3. Students will complete their own graph
on paper as a follow-up. (Appendix D).
The x and y axis labels, Number of
Days and Types of Weather will be
filled in for the students. They will need
to write the numbers (for Number of
Days), the types of weather (for Types
of Weather), the title and then fill in the
data.
4. Expectations for the graph:
Your name
Graph Title
Label the numbers on the
Number of Days axis
Label the types of weather on the
Types of Weather axis
Fill in the data (by coloring) on
your graph
5. Students are given the opportunity to
complete their graphs using the data on
the Weekly Weather Record Sheet.
6. Students should complete the Graph
Self-Evaluation based on the graph
expectations above (Appendix E).
7. Students should keep their weekly
weather record sheets in their folder.
8. The students will share (with the help of
the teacher) the graphs with the
collaborative classroom in Australia.
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Assessment Based on 1. The teacher will observe how the
Objectives: students completed their weekly
weather record sheet. Students should
have accurately recorded the weather
on their Weekly Weather Record Sheet.
2. Using the Graph Expectations, the
teacher will observe if the student
accurately completed their weekly
weather graph.
3. The teacher can choose to use the
students Graph Self-Evaluation, as
assessments.
4. The teacher can use the rubric found in
Appendix I to assess students.
Follow-up: Students will complete their own graph
on paper as a follow-up. (Appendix D).
The x and y axis labels, Number of
Days and Types of Weather will be
filled in for the students. They will need
to write the numbers (for Number of
Days), the types of weather (for Types
of Weather), the title and then fill in the
data.
Students will complete the Graph Self-
Evaluation.
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The self-evaluations also have picture support.
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Lesson Plan Template #2
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.6
With guidance and support from adults, use a
variety of digital tools to produce and publish
writing, including in collaboration with peers.
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Silver Spring, MD, USA and in Wanguri,
Australia. The students will use Pixie 3 to
complete a Venn Diagram.
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5. The teacher demonstrates how to create
a Venn Diagram on Pixie 3.
http://www.tech4learning.com/pixie
a) On Pixie 3, students will use the
shape tool to make a Venn Diagram.
Note: Students may need help with
this, so the teacher may want to
make a Venn Diagram template on
Pixie 3.
b) Click the Stickers button and then
the Weather stickers.
c) Choose the stickers desired and place
them on the Venn Diagram.
d) Students can use the T (text)
button to write responses as well.
e) The Pixie 3 Venn Diagram can be
saved or printed by choosing Save
or Print.
6. Expectations for the Venn Diagram:
Your name
Label your country
Label the other country
Draw or write 3 similarities in the
weather (middle of the Venn
Diagram)
Draw or write 3 differences in the
weather (3 in each of the two
sides of the Venn Diagram)
7. Students are given the opportunity to
complete their Venn Diagrams using all
of the data (weekly weather record
sheets, graphs, etc.) on Pixie 3.
8. Students should complete the self-
evaluation based on the Venn Diagram
Expectations (Appendix G).
9. The students will share their Pixie 3
Venn Diagrams with the collaborative
classroom in Wanguri, Australia.
Day 4
As a summative assessment, the students will
complete an illustration that shows pictures
and labels for all four seasons of the year in
Silver Spring, MD, USA specifically with the
weather during that season and what clothing
we wear during that season. They would also
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draw an illustration that shows pictures and
labels for all four seasons (if applicable) for
the weather of the collaborative classroom,
Wanguri, Australia. (Appendix H).
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from Lesson #1) and the Venn Diagram
graphic organizer support ESL students
because it has picture cues to aid in their
weather vocabulary. The students can use
pictures or words, depending on their ability,
to complete the Venn Diagram.
There are very few special education students
identified by first grade, but the
accommodations for ESL students also serve
as accommodations for special education
students.
The self-evaluation also has picture support.
Note: the self-evaluation for the Venn Diagram
does not specifically label the same and
different areas because that should be
implied from the lesson.
Comments/Notes: Students in first grade are familiar with Venn
Diagrams.
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Appendix A: Activator with pictures
Name
________________________________________________________________________
Draw a picture of what you think the weather looks like today.
________________________
________________________
______________________
Draw a picture of what you think the weather looks like today in
_________.
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________________________
________________________
_____________________
Appendix B: Weekly Weather Record Sheet
Weekly Weather Record Sheet
Dates:_______________________
Days of Mond Tuesd Wednes Thursd Friday
Week ay ay day ay
Types of
Weather
Precipitat
ion
Cloud
Cover
Wind
Temperat
ure
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Types of Cloud Types of Wind
Cover Precipitation
Sunny
Partly
Cloudy
Cloudy
https://www.enasco.com/c/math/Measurement/Thermometers/
http://www.eslprintables.com/vocabulary_worksheets/the_weather_/we
ather_flashcards/
http://ed101.bu.edu/StudentDoc/Archives/ED101sp06/mwoolard/page1.
htm
http://www.olympicrainshadow.com/feb2011.html
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Appendix C: Sample Graph Club graphs.
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Appendix D: Graph Follow-up
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Appendix E: Graph Self-Evaluation
Your name
Graph Title
Label the numbers on the Number of Days axis
Label the types of weather on the Types of Weather axis
Fill in the data (by coloring) on your graph
Name__________________________________________________________________
_
Numbers
ypes of
weather
3.
2. Did I put a title on my graph?
4.
3. Did I label the numbers on the Number of Days axis?
5.
4. Did I label the types of weather on the Types of Weather
axis?
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5. Did I fill in the data on my graph?
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Appendix G: Venn Diagram Self-Evaluation
Your name
Label your country
Label the other country
Draw or write 3 similarities in the weather (middle of the Venn
Diagram)
Draw or write 3 differences in the weather (3 in each of the two
sides of the Venn Diagram)
Name__________________________________________________________________
_
6.
2. Did I label my country?
7.
3. Did I label the other country?
8.
4. Did I draw or write 3 things that are the same with the weather?
5. Did I draw or write 3 things that are different with the weather
in each country?
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Appendix H: Summative Assessment
Name__________________________________
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Appendix I: Teacher Rubrics
Weather Graph:
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Weather Venn Diagram:
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References:
The American Forum for Global Education (Ed.). (2003). Global issues,
problems and challenges. Retrieved June 30, 2015, from
http://www.globaled.org/guidelines/page2.php
ePals (Ed.). (2015). Find global classroom matches. Retrieved July 14,
2015, from http://www.epals.com/find-
classroom.php#age_range=0&collaboration=0&country=&langu
age=0&num_students=0&p=1ion=&search_text=
Scholastic (Ed.). (2015). The graph club 2.0. Retrieved July 14, 2015,
from http://www.tomsnyder.com/products/product.asp?
SKU=Grpv20#
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