Online Projects, Collaboration Sites and Publishing Opportunities

Lesson Idea Name: Snowglobe Stories

Content Areas: English Language Arts and Social Studies
Grade Level(s): 3rd Grade
Content Standard Addressed:
ELAGSE3W3: Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique,
descriptive details, and clear event sequences.
a. Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds
naturally.
b. Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show
the response of characters to situations.
c. Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order.
d. Provide a sense of closure.

SS3G2 Locate and describe the equator, prime meridian, and lines of latitude and longitude on a globe.

Technology Standard Addressed:

7) Global Collaborator- Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by
collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.

Selected Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity:

Projects by Jen

URL(s) to support the lesson:

http://holidaycardproject.weebly.com/
http://www.projectsbyjen.com/

Describe how you would incorporate an Online Project/Collaboration Site/Publishing Opportunity in your
classroom:
One popular project on the website is called Holiday Card Exchange. Classrooms from all around the world
can sign up to participate. I would have our class sign up for this fun project. The overall idea of the project is
to have students create holiday cards to exchange with other classrooms from around the world. This years’
theme for the project is snow globes. Each student would create a story that involves a snow globe. Students
could be as creative as they want to be, within reason.
I would first have them brainstorm their story by thinking about where they would want their story to take
place, who they would want in their story, and what they would want their story to be about. I would have
them fill out a brainstorming template that they could use to refer to when writing their stories. As the
students think about their story, I would walk around the classroom observing and helping those who need it.
After the students create an idea about what they would want their story to be about, I would have them all
go to the computer room to type up their story. Next, I would have the students draw a picture to go along
with their story. Once the students are done with their stories and have it printed, I would mail all the stories
and pictures out to each classroom that was participating in the project.
Not only do the students get to send out Holiday Cards to other classrooms around the world, but our class
would also get to receive cards from other classrooms. As the other cards come in, I would have the students
practice mapping where the cards came from. As we get the cards, I would read the card out loud to the
entire class. Then, instead of telling the students what state the card came from, I would give the students the
latitude and longitude of the state. The students would then look at our big map of the United States and try
to decipher the state the card came from. If the student thinks they know what the state is, they would raise
their hand and patiently wait to be called on. I then would call on one student to tell me what state they think

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the card came from. If they are correct, I would have that student come to our map and place a sticker on
that state. This would be an excellent way for the students to practice using latitude and longitude on a map.

What technologies would be required to implement this proposed learning activity in a classroom?
I would need a computer to access the google doc to access all the names and addresses of the classrooms
that the students’ cards would be sent to. Students would use computers in the computer lab to type their
stories on Microsoft Word.

Describe how the following features are addressed in this learning experience (note: all of them may not be
addressed in the project, but most should be if you are reaching a high LoTi Level).
a. Collaboration with peers, near-peers, mentors outside their classroom, and often beyond their
school: Students would be given the opportunity to share their stories with other students outside the
classroom. They would also receive letters from the classes that they shared their stories with. This
would be similar to having a pen pal.

b. Student-centered learning and knowledge creation (creating original data and or producing original
products as a result of engaging in a project): Students would create their own story about snow
globes and get to share it with others.

c. Higher-order thinking: Students would analyze where they think the letters are coming from by
applying their knowledge of latitude and longitude.

d. Students publishing their original work to others who will use/care about their product: Students
would have the opportunity to write stories for other classrooms from around the world to read.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Level(s):

☒ Remembering ☒ Understanding ☒ Applying ☒ Analyzing ☐ Evaluating ☒ Creating

Levels of Technology Integration (LoTi Level):

☐ Level 1: Awareness ☐ Level 2: Exploration ☐ Level 3: Infusion ☐ Level 4: Integration
☒ Level 5: Expansion ☐ Level 6: Refinement

Universal Design for Learning (UDL):

 I would use diagrams and graphs for them to plan out their story before they start creating it. This
would provide support for students who need help with organizing their ideas.
 Students would be allowed to express themselves freely through their drawings and stories.
 Students would be able to use a large map and visualize where the cards are coming from, comparing
it to where they live.
 Students get to use computers to write their stories. Therefore, if the students don’t have excellent
penmanship, it is still legible.
 Students are given the opportunity to create stories for others to read which will help students care
more about their work knowing that it would be sent somewhere.

Lesson idea implementation and Internet Safety Policies:

Students would be required not to give out any information about themselves when they are writing their
stories and creating their cards. They would also sign their card with their first name only. Even though the
teachers from the other classrooms would receive the name of the school, address, name of the teacher and
the student, there is no additional identifiable information about the student. The only given information can

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already be found by other means. Therefore, this project should comply with my district’s Internet Safety and
Student Privacy policies.

Reflective Practice:
I believe that students would enjoy this project because they get to interact with other students around the
world. The students would also enjoy the fact that the story they are creating is going to be read by other
people they have never met before. Another thing that I thought was cool that I saw on Jen’s website is a
Mystery Skype. Skyping with other classrooms would be an excellent way for students to connect with other
students around the world. It would provide the students with opportunities to learn about different cultures
and regions around the globe.

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