3rd Graders Create a Menu with Luscious Adjectives

Would you like fries with your tacos?

What: Students collaborate to compose items on a menu by using adjectives that describe the items in an appealing way. 
 
Materials: 

• Google accounts for all students with access to drive and presentations.
• A list of menu items with specific students assigned to each item.

Time: 2 lessons

Challenges: 

• All students will be in the same google presentation so explicit directions about how to edit within an individual text box is necessary.  

Tips: 

• Students should look for a cursor before deleting a word or letters so they avoid deleting text boxes.
• Create a template with individual text boxes for each student.
• Use the File > Revision History and Restore option if large chunks of text are deleted unwittingly.

Narrative:
Mrs. Witte, a 3rd grade teacher, wondered if students could create a menu online that would showcase their adjective writing skills. She wanted the students to be able to work collaboratively on one document. We had originally thought that a Google Doc might work, but it doesn't allow text boxes over an image. We opted for Google Slides or Presentation instead. There is a bit more room for editing images with text boxes. There is also the option to print as well.

Welcome to 3D-Dubs!

4th Graders create State Websites

Cristian shares his research on Florida.

What: Students research, sort and compose informational text about a state and share their data on a website.
 
Materials:

• Google accounts for all students with access to Sites

Time: 2 weeks

Challenges: 

• Bibliography may appear as a top level site since the subpages are alphabetical.

Tips: 

• Students can share their sites via a KidBlog account or simply by sharing the URL with their teachers.

Narrative:
The 4th grade teachers wanted a fresh way for students to publish their state research projects. They found the Google Sites to generate excitement for the students to share their findings about the state.

Examples:

• Florida
• Indiana
• Missouri

5th Graders produce a news program of current events

What: 5th graders research, film and edit international, national and local news stories.

Materials:

• Curated news sources for students
• Reporter's Notebook (google drive accounts)
• Camera (on laptop or other digital camera)
• iMovie or other film editing program
• Teacher YouTube account

Time: 2-3 weeks

Challenges: 

• iMovie takes a long time to load on student computers.
• Green Screen takes a bit of practice.
• Selecting and editing video clips requires practice.

Tips: 

• Prepare a list of news proposals in advance to get the conversation rolling.
• Share Channel One News channel to show students how to add specific images or video to support their story.

Narrative: KidBlog instructions

Welcome to life as a student reporter!

In the next few weeks, you will be researching, writing and filming a newscast of a current event. Your teachers and I have compiled a list of possible story ideas, but good reporters are always on the lookout for current events. Local events like the upcoming Walk-a-Thon at ACS might also be a great story idea.
ResearchAfter you have been assigned a story by your Editor-in-Chief, you will begin researching your story with credible sources. Here is a list of possible sources:

• Teaching Kids the News
• SIRS Current Events: Student Edition
• GALE: Student Edition
• InfoBits
• CNN Student News
• MLive: Michigan News
• CultureGrams

Writing
As you are researching, begin to sort your data into the 5 Ws: What, Who, When, Where and Why. Use this Reporter's Notebook to record your ideas before writing it into a final copy. Make a copy of this google doc, and save it with your name in a folder called Newscast. Then share it with your teacher and Ms. Frens.

You will read your final copy on air in a filmed version of your report so practice reading it aloud to hear how it sounds.

Filming
You will film your newscast with Ms. Frens against a green screen in which we will insert the image you chose for your story.
Reflections 
As I reflect back on this project, I would like to incorporate more reflection on the part of the students about how and why news stories are told. I would begin by asking them to consider the following, "What is the value of sharing current events? Who benefits from having this story told and who does not? How do I influence both groups in the way I tell this news story?"