Exploring the Solar System

I just added a new product on TPT, Yay! Here's the link:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Solar-System-Exploration-Packet-Grades-3-6-734056

This is called :Exploration of the Solar System". It is a packet students put together investigating each planet, as well as asteroids, comets, meteorites, and space shuttles.
Using this in my classroom the websites I would find most useful are:
http://www.kidsastronomy.com/index.htm
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/

It might also be fun to have students make models of the universe, do presentations for the class about what they learned (again they could make powerpoints or prezi's), or write their own "book" about the solar system once they have gathered information and facts about the different planets and objects in space.
Good Luck and have fun! Have more ideas? Post in the comments below.

Technology Tidbit Tuesday--Storybird

Tuesday is the day I share a favorite technology tool for the classroom. Today  I want to share a site called StoryBird. http://storybird.com/
My class absolutely loves this site. If you have never used it before you should go check it out! You can create a free teacher account and then, under your class name, add all your students. With the free account they can make as many projects as they want, comment on classmate's work, you can send out assignments to the students, and you can make it a private and safe environment.
The way the site works it a little backwards to "normal" storytelling. Students start with the artwork, and create a story based on the pictures they see. They may also choose a topic and pictures will come up relating to that topic as well. Not only do they create stories, they can browse and read them as well. There are some great storytellers on that site, and some really insightful authors!
I usually do this as a whole class first to introduce the site. I walk them through the steps of finding art, using a a graphic organizer to come up with an idea, writing a rough draft, and finally publishing their idea with the artwork.
Sometimes I have this as a center, when they really understand the tools on the website. I will give a story starter and have them finish the story, or a topic to start with, otherwise most students sit and stare blankly at the screen or browse through art the entire time. With this site, I usually have to give guidelines like, "one paragraph per page," otherwise they only do one sentence. After everyone has done a story it is always fun to share a few of them.
Another fun activity is to have students write stories with partners. This teaches them cooperative learning skills, and can benefit the lower level learners who might need a little extra help. It is always fun to allow the students to comment on each other's stories, they usually give excellent advice to each other! Just make clear instructions so no one goofs off and writes comments only to be funny.
This is a website my students enjoy all year! A lot of them choose to work on stories when they have free time. Let me know what you think, and post questions if you have any.
~Teresa

Country Report Ideas

Last year I finished my technology endorsement and I have to say, I am pretty lucky. I took classes and completed a course called eMINTS. This program started in Missouri, but is now in my home state of Utah, as well as Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada and Ohio. It's all about getting technology in the classroom and getting teachers to use it, as well as involving students in cooperative learning. With this program I was given 16 computers, one for every two students! Needless to say, we use technology a lot. I will delve deeper as time goes on, on what type of technology we use, how we use it, and how it is used to integrate the learning process. Look for my posts titled, "Technology Tidbit Tuesdays," for more ideas on using great websites and other technology resources.

Anyway, I thought I would occasionally post about lessons I have created and the websites and technology I use to enhance them. I am going to start today with one of my favorite research projects I do with my class called "Country Reports, " (what a clever name...hahahaha), this also happens to be one of my most popular products on TPT. The product looks like this and the link to my store is below:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Country-Report-Booklet-4th-5th-6th-grades-673020

The first picture is an explanation on how I use this project in my classroom. I do not include the technology ideas because I am never sure what everyone has available. If you do not have many computers you could always schedule a time in your school's computer lab or have students do research during rotations and use the ones you do have in your classroom. If you have access to ipads, tablets, or other devices connected to the internet, those are great resources as well.

The website I like best for this project is called culture grams http://online.culturegrams.com/ . This site requires a subscription which my district pays for. I absolutely love it because it has every country and explains the country's culture in very kid friendly words. There are maps, flags, the country song, recipes, photos, and tons of information for the kids to read and research.

If you do not have access to this site, other websites I would recommend are:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

http://www.timeforkids.com/around-the-world

http://www.factmonster.com/countries.html

http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/globaltrek/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/country_profiles/default.stm

All of these are great resources for gathering facts when your students are writing country reports. When students are done writing reports, I also like them to create PowerPoint presentations or Prezi's(One of my favorite presentation tools!) to present their information to the class. I have also had students make brochures in Publisher to pass out to the class, make newsletters in publisher, and another idea I want to try next year is to have them make talk shows about their country filming on ipods, and then uploading their work to movie maker (another favorite tool on Microsoft of mine). 

So there you have it! If you have purchased this of mine before or are wanting to do country reports, here are some great websites and ideas for presentations. Good Luck and have fun!

For sixth grade the writing core standards (taken from the common core website) this projects covers in my class are:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.6 Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of three pages in a single sitting.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate.
• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.6.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources.