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Activity #3
Explore resources that can be used with REAL assignments. What are the characteristics of assignments that engage students? What tools are effective in assessing student performance on these types of assignments?
Diary of Louis B. Hancock
Ben's Guide to US Government for Kids

Student Engagement

Epidemic Books: The Great Influenza, The American Plague, The Influenza of 1918, Life During the Black Death, Dr. Jenner and the Speckled Monster, Crispin, Fever 1793, Sweetgrass, A Time of Angels.

The graph below is adapted from Csikszentmihalyi, Mihaly (1997).

Make a Decision

Make a decision.

• Our Policy - Paper or Plastic?
• Out Tree - Pine or Oak Tree?
• Global Warming - True/False?
• Stem Cell Research - Yes/No?
• Best Graph for Data - Histogram/Bar?

Open Call-Out Starter. Create call-out bubbles. What would this person say about this place? Open More Call-Outs. Create an assignment for one of the photos.

Highlight Dissent & Differences

Artists and musicians, poets, scientific discoveries, different perspectives, and different views. Use Ellis Island Records for the traditional way of thinking. Use Angel Island for a different way of thinking.

The Depression Era: Esperanza Rising, Out of the Dust, Bud, Not Buddy, Grapes of Wrath, A Year Down Yonder, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry

Explore and develop literature-based WebQuests to explore different perspectives.

Virtual Adventures

Connect local topics with global topics. You may not have falcons, but you can read books and watch falcons on the falconcam.

• FalconCams
• Fifth Grader Project
• Jean Craighead George
• Incubator simulation

- Birdhouse Network - 2006 Archives
- Monterey Bay Aquarium Cam
- WildCam Africa - cam and blog, view highlights
- Virtual Adventures
- Teacher Tap: Virtual Field Trips

Collect Data

Collect and compare data. Use one of the following tools:
- Create a Graph
- Grapher

Compare Data

Collect and compare data. Use one of the following tools:
- Ology

Exchange Ideas

Share and compare ideas, issues, and experiences. Connect for discussion. Use blogs and forums to share ideas.
- CyberSchoolbus
- Epals
- Friendship through Education
- Kids Learn - Shark Bites Starts Soon
- GSN Internet Projects Registry - find a project to join
- National Math Trail

WebQuests

Explore WebQuests at your grade level. Adapt one.
- WebQuest.Org Search
- Teacher Tap: WebQuests - K-3, 3-6

Create

Create projects using online tools:
- ReadWriteThink Tools
- Dinosaur Scene

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| Active Learning | Questions | Assign & Assess | Resources | Teaching |

Developed by Annette Lamb, 11/04. Updated 10/06.