Critter Connections: Wikispaces Archive

Since Wikispaces is closing down, I’m moving my collaborative videoconference projects over to my blog for archiving. Great project formats can still be used and adapted!

Critter Connections Videoconference

Description: K-2 Students present or lead an interaction on the study of animals. Both classes share what they are learning about animals.

2011 Dates: May 11-12.

Videoconference Agenda:
Five minutes introduction from each class.
5-10 minutes presentation/interaction led by each class. (See Preparation for ideas.)
5 minutes: Compare and contrast the animals presented by both classes.
Five minutes Q & A.

How To Create Posters for Videoconferencing

This VC Poster Handout for students gives simple tips for clear presentations via posters.

Preparation

Animal Presentation
Share a presentation about an animal your class is learning about:

Information should include:

  1. Habitat
  2. Movement
  3. Description
  4. What they eat
  5. Song or poem about the critter

Presentation should include:

  • a visual – preferably student drawing
  • sound – what sound does the critter make?
  • motion – act out how the animal moves

Animal Riddles
Lead the interaction with the other class.
Have several riddles prepared for the other class (negotiate the number with your partner class).
Include a drawing of the animal to reveal the answer.

Animal Alphabet
Share a celebration of animals and the alphabet with your partner class.
Share a picture of an animal that starts with the letter. Have the other class repeat after you the letter, the sound it makes, and the name of the animal.

Animal Habitats
Teach the partner class the habitats you are learning (i.e. forests, deserts, wetlands, and grasslands). Then share pictures of animals in each habitat and have the partner class guess the habitat and animal name.
Sample supporting lesson plan.

Animal Colors and Shapes
Remind the partner class of the different shapes: triangles, circles, squares, rhomboids. Then share pictures of animals and have the partner class identify the shapes in the animal.

and/or Draw pictures of animals in their habitat to share on posters (see How To) or your document camera. Have the partner class identify the color(s) of the animal and the color of the habitat. Does it camouflage? Have the partner class say camouflage if it does.
Sample supporting lesson plan.

Your Ideas
What other ideas do you have? Share what you’re learning about animals, and figure out a way to engage the other class in guessing or interacting some way with your presentation.

Facilitator Confirmation Email Template

To: Teachers & techs on both sides, cc [coordinator]
Subject: Critter Connections VC Project Confirmation: [date]

Greetings and welcome to our Critter Connections Videoconference Project. The goal of this project is to increase student understanding of animals.

Dates & Times
[date & time in both time zones]

Technical Information:
[who] will dial.
[IP address]
If there are problems, please call [phone].

Introductions
The lead teacher for this project is [local teacher name, email, phone, school name, city, state, country].

The other participating school is:
[local teacher name, email, phone, school name, city, state, country].

Preparation
Preparation materials and resources are online:

Format
For the actual connection, I recommend this format as a rough guideline:
Five minutes introduction from each class. (prepare a map for each other)
5-10 minutes presentation/interaction led by each class. (See the Preparation page for ideas.)
5 minutes: Compare and contrast the animals presented by both classes.
Five minutes Q & A.

Action Items
Here’s what needs to happen next.

  • Teachers: Please email each other to discuss further.
  • Techs: Please sign up for a test call time here:

Let me know if you have any questions along the way. We really appreciate you participating in this project with us!

Janine

Wikispaces to Blog Conversion Feedback

Thoughts on the conversion of wikispaces videoconference projects to this blog format? This conversion is a summer project for me, and feedback is welcome.

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