Assignment 4, Part 2, Blog Post # 1 For this assignment I worked with Kaitlin J and Alan A. We decided to form a group since we are all connections teachers. Since Kaitlin and I were both art teachers (one in middle and one elementary) we decided it would be best to work on a middle school art project dealing with global learning. I started the group off with some ideas, since I am already teaching an Art around the World class to my students. We learn about art from all over the world and students get an opportunity to create their own art in that style. We started with my PowerPoint on Festival of Elephants, and the passport my students make. From there, I added the basics of how the lesson would work. Kaitlin looked at the middle school art standards and selected one that best fit into our lesson plan. Kaitlin also helped with how students would complete the work, and how they would be communicating with students in India. She also helped with the website, setting it up and keeping the website cohesive. Alan worked on the technology section and how it would be utilized by both the students and teachers. Alan also worked on the assessment portion of the project and how we would evaluate. You can find our lesson, by clicking below.
Assignment 4, Part 2, Blog Post # 2 Group 1 Review: Fairy Tale Here, Fairy Tale There by: Kelly Baughn and Lauren Houston * This project was created for 4th grade students in an English/Language Arts Class. Students in an American classroom will be investigating similarities and differences in fairy tales that are similar in another country. Students will also look at topics/themes from the fairy tales and how the important parts of the story may differ, shedding light on important cultural differences. Venn diagrams will be used to discuss the fairy tales between two countries. * I really like the idea of this project. One thing I learned from this project that surprised me was that fairy tales are told all over the world. I had never considered this before, but it would be very interesting to see the comparison, even the artwork from the stories interests me. Another thing I learned is how important it is to have students discuss cultural differences and importances that may appear in these stories. Lastly, I learned some ELA standards that I could totally implement into my own art lessons, where students tell a story using pictures. Group 2 Review: Go Green by: Joshua Sullivan and Robert Dunlap * Middle school students were asked to collaborate with students across the globe, brainstorming ideas to improve the planet. Students will reference standards dealing with Latin America and how pollution effects the air and rainforests. They will work with students in Latin America to come up with plans of how to help lessen the pollution and will create a video explaining how to accomplish this. * I am big on protecting the planet and going green. One thing I learned, was how important going green is globally. Sometimes I think we get caught up in our own little town of recycling and doing our part, but we forget the bigger picture of the whole world. This lesson really teachers kids the importance of taking care of the Earth and how it could effect them years down the road. Secondly, I learned how important it is for the technology aspect of this project to be involved. Students, through Skype, can actually have an opportunity to see the pollution around the world and how it effects living in that area. Lastly, this project also inspired ideas for my own art classroom where students could work on slogan ideas with someone in another country and create a poster with their slogan. Group 3 Review: Positivity Across the Pond by: Warren Clemens, Kayla Evans, Victoria Jenkins, Chambliss Newsome and Aubrey Parson * This project is all about anti-bullying. Students from America will work with students in England to discuss anti-bullying in each country and how it looks at the middle school level. Bullying is such an important topic, and I think one that needs to be discussed during the critical time at the middle school age. Students will be conducting interviews and creating a project to present on the topic. Students will discuss similarities and differences of bullying and how it looks to each country. * One thing I learned from this group is the importance of discussing social discrimination and how people of all ages, gender, race etc. can all be bullied, especially cyber. I also learned that it is not only important to recognize what bullying looks like, but also be able to change the perspective, where students can work on the good and encourage each other through social media. Lastly, I again, learned that I could use these ideas for an anti bullying project in my own classroom where students create poster to discuss/discourage bullying.