Webquest Standards

I would like to use first graders as the target age for my webquest. I feel like first graders are just old enough to be able to use the computer and use the webquest to learn more about plant growth.

Standards:

Students will be able to learn what environmental factors need to be in place for a seed to grow.

Students will able to describe the stages a plant goes through from a seedling to a full grown plant.


I hope that this webquest will be an informative and fun way for children to learn a science concept

Webquest Brainstorm

I would like to do a webquest for first grade about how plants grow. On UEN I looked up the Core Standards for first grade and here is what it says:

Standard 3: Students will develop an understanding of their environment
Objective 1: Investigate plants and plant growth.
c. Observe and describe plants as they grow from seeds.

I would like for the students to discover what happens to a seed when it is planted and begins to grow. They will need to know the proper conditions (soil, sun, weather, shade) that most plants need in order to grow in a healthy manner. Since photosynthesis is a major component to plant growth, I will include that topic as well. I may also include in there why plants are important for humans and our environment. I hope I can find a virtual plant so the students can actually see all the stages and what it looks like.

Web Site Evaluation

http://www.wilson.logan.k12.ut.us/web/
This public school site for Wilson Elementary in Logan, UT was not a very flashy website. It had basic information like contact information for the school, links for clubs and organizatins, and the school calendar. Based on last evaluation form this website would not be up to par. You cannot tell who the author is, when it was updated, the URL did not inlclude edu, gov, net, or org.

http://www.preschooleducation.com/
The lesson plan page wasn't the most appealing but I could navigate my way around it and there was a lot of different areas to look in. The lessons seemed pretty much on level and there were a lot of different content areas for each subject. It is published by Preschool Education.

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/eek/index.htm
Based on the evaluation form, Kathy Shrock's Guide for Educators, this was a really good website that teaches children about the reasons leaves change colors in the fall. The website was created by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. It had contact information, good graphics, explanations that an elementary school student can understand, easy navigation, and correct and factual information.

http://www.amblesideprimary.com/ambleweb/mentalmaths/additiontest.html
This website was really cool for addition math facts. It was a simple website that gave you lots of different problems and let's you know when you get the answer right or wrong. It also had different levels so you could start out with easy problems and ends with more difficult ones. I would definitely show my students and their parents this website so the children could practice at home.

Spreadsheets in the Classroom

Since I plan on being an early childhood educator, I'm not sure that my students will be able to understand and use spreadsheets on their own.

I think I could create one for a class assignment. For example, I can compile the data I collect on favorite colors and just show them how it works. Early exposure to these programs can be positive.

I believe I could use the survey tool on google docs. I could take the idea of finding out favorite colors and make a survery out of it. If my students can't read maybe there is a way to add color.

I think it's possible to use spread sheets and surveys in early childhood if you can get creative.

Word Processing and Collaborating in the Classroom

Coming up with ideas about how to use word processing in the classroom has been really tough for me. I see myself teaching the younger grades: pre-k through maybe 1st grade. Most of the students are just learning how to spell and adding another component like the computer might be too much. Brian gave me a suggestion about using an extension of firefox called vox that reads the web page for the children. I have never heard of this but am really excited to check it out. I'm starting to feel my age catching up on me... I once was the computer savvy tech girl in my family and I can see the generation after me far surpassing my "basic" knowledge of the computer.

We talked about collaborative writing in the class last week and I felt the same problem creeping up on me. How will the students write a story together if they can't even write? Once again, Brian swooped in with a fabulous idea. Peer teaching is a great way to help students learn. If you invite an older class to come be a "buddy" to the younger class the older children could type out the story, while adding their own flair but also be dictating the younger students suggestions. I think that the younger class would find that to be so cool if they had an older buddy to work with.

Thanks Brian for the great suggestions!

Valentine's Day Collaborative Writing

I dressed all in red today, in respect for Valentine's Day. Even though I am totally against Valentine's Day. It's a holiday that makes single people sad and the Hallmark Company, candy stores, and flower shops more rich. Here's what is really symbolic blood is red and red is the color most associated with Valentine's day. I think Valentine's Day makes people want to kill each other. It's a holiday loaded with high expectations that can never truly be met. When those expectations are unfulfilled the crazy unleashes. Tears of anger are rampant and hearts left unfulfilled are a common occurrence. I think that there should be a facebook group created with the intent of abolishing Valentine's day. I would be the number one fan and officer. I believe there would be a great following on that facebook group. Valentine's Day is a day for bruised hearts and manic minds. But truly hopeless romantics are the ones who suffer the most from all of this mania. They continuously hope for the best when in reality its a build up to get let down. Has there ever been a Valentine's day that was truly perfectly romantic from start to finish? I highly doubt it. It's just one more day of the year that we all suffer through until it's over and then all the flowers, candy, and wasted money is forgotten. Granted, any day full of candy should be celebrated; Halloween anyone? As the Valentine's complaining draws to a close... all I can say is thankfully it's only once a year!

Collaborative Writing Story..

It’s Friday the 13^th and Laura is missing. Wish I was in California with her. One might say I am a bit superstitious, but I have a bad feeling about her.  Maybe she really is missing though, she seemed kind of freaked out last time I saw her. I have no idea why she just seemed a little nervous.  It’s probably not a big deal but people are more likely to go missing in California than any other state. But still, it’s pretty suspicious to be missing on Friday the 13^th.  Maybe she was kidnapped by apes and taken to their mysterious jungle forest, although it seems highly unlikely.  At any rate, she better be home to eat my green eggs and ham supper.  I love green eggs and ham.  Laura did too.  Maybe she would smell it cooking and come home to eat.  So, I tried to make my special green eggs and ham and waited to see if she would come.  To my surprise it worked!  I’m so glad Laura is no longer missing.