Five Ideas for Unit

Option One: For the first topic, I was thinking about working with a kindergarten classroom and have them create their own butterfly book after learning about the topic. This would give students the ability to create their own work using both their words and their pictures to describe what is happening during the life cycle of a butterfly. I will provide some of the words that need to be incorporated into this assignment that would be beyond them at this level. Once they have all created their books and have helped each other edit, I will record them either reading their books or explaining what they have learned about butterflies. I will then post this on my website for the parents to view so they can see the progress their child has made throughout the unit.

Option Two: Another option for a unit would be working with second graders and their study on dinosaurs. The reason this would be a good unit to spend a good chunk of time would be they really get into learning about dinosaurs and look forward to this part of the day. I would assign a dinosaur to a group of students and their job would be to trace a large picture of their dinosaur. I would them have them each create five sentences on their own that are unique to the other sentences in their group that would inform the others in the class who aren't studying that dinosaur. With these images and words, I would them plan on putting it together in a movie by having the picture of their dinosaur the visual and each student reading his/her part. The final product will be viewed in class and also available on their very own web page found on my website. This would bring the class together by having them all work individually, as a group, and also bring their family together to watch the final product.

Option Three: The next idea I had would be working with third grade students and their solar system study. This is a big topic in third grade, and I would plan on making sure that this unit would be able to cover a lot of material in other subjects besides science. My focus for this unit would be for them to use kidspiration as an introduction to using technology to help with their projects. The main topic would be the solar system and there would be branches coming off of this topic that related to each planet. The students would be responsible for finding an image of each planet to attach as a separate bubble with a caption. They would also be responsible for at least five interesting fact about each plant. This would create a nice web for them to see all of the planets and how different they are. This could easily be turned into an outline for them to use studying before a test at the end of the unit.

Option Four: For this unit project I would be working with fourth graders during their State of Maine study. Since kidspiration is a good resource for children this age, I would have them use this program as a start for a web to begin their research paper. Once they have a web, I will have them change it to an outline format so they have a better grasp of where to begin their paper. I will have a model of both steps as a hand out so they have that to refer back to. They will then be able to use the internet as one of their sources after completing my site evaluation sheet assignment. This will make them more aware as to what an appropriate site is and what is not.

Option Five: For my final unit I plan to work with fifth graders during their Oregon Trail study. As part of the simulation, I will have their journals posted as blogs online so they get used to using this type of technology. This will be the spot where they can react on the day's events and their progress if any. There can also be a simulation map online for them to track their progress and see the progress of the other students. This way other students will be able to log in and see how the other "families" are doing on their trip. I feel that this unit will be a lesson in disguise. I remember doing this when I was in fifth grade and I looked forward to this part of the day more than anything!