Blog B

Option 1: I want to design a literacy unit for my kindergarteners. They are learning their colors so I’d like to do a unit on how they can match the words with the colors. They’ve used computers a little in the Paint Application and they can do a ‘color by numbers’. If there are several shapes with numbers in them, and they know what color names match each word, then they can fill the shapes in on their own and have their answered checked. They can also look at a picture that has already been colored and have to write the names of the colors filling the spaces. By giving the children both of the assignments, they will repeat them and will help them remember. I think with kindergarteners may need more than one period to get all this wore done.

Option 2: For a literacy assignment for the third grade, I think that the kids should read a short chapter book about the Native Americans culture. After they have brainstormed accurate parts of the culture, they can create a pod cast explaining some aspects of their culture. The class could be assigned a specific nation, and then in groups of four or five, research aspects different parts of the culture. They could explain their information in a pod cast that will be published. Knowing their information will be published will help them take the project seriously. After they create the pod cast they can show it to their family and they will be proud of what they created.

Option 3: The kindergarteners are doing a unit on the ocean. I think they should write a few words describing the ocean. This will help them learn what others know about the ocean and they will learn about adjectives as describing words. As a class, they could come up with a story using the words they chose. Each student will be responsible for completing an illustration for the book and with help from the teacher; the students will be able to publish it as a wiki. Each student will be assigned to read their story to someone outside the class and get feed back on the story. This way the student will be able to show off their work, what they learned and the art they created.

Option 4: Students in the third grade should all read informational books on a certain subject, like the planets. After gathering information they should make pamphlets on the computer with information on each planet. They can each make their own web page with the information on it with links leading to different parts. They can make their web pages have different colors and fonts to make it the most attractive. By having in published off the class web site, the students can share their information with parents and friends.

Option 5: Students in the third grade should split into groups of three or four and study the legends behind constellations. They should write a summary of what they learned by telling the legend and explaining what specific stars make up the constellation they studied. Then they can draw their constellation out on the computer. They can publish a website and have labels and explanations for each star and constellation.