We got a 100 on our podcast! Thought you guys would like to know. I added you guys to the website. just in case here is the website. https://sites.google.com/site/wmulocalhistory/

Website

I figured out how to create the website and already created it. Just need to add you all to it. I named the website WMU Local History. If not I can always change it as well as the layout.

Team Website

Ok, I was looking at the next assignment. Im a little confused about a few things. I think we should start brainstorming some ideas for our website and get a head start. While reading it, it seems like there is a lot to do and may be time consuming.

Hello everyone, I sent the podcast to your email. I couldn't attach it on here for some odd reason. so you all could here it. Let me know what you think

Meg, 

   No I was not able to open the files, I left a comment under one of the posts earlier today letting you know.

Kara

Kara,

Were you able to open my podcast?  If not, let me know so I can send it again.. looking forward to hearing the entire thing.
Meg

Thank you Jessica for doing the conclusion. Im trying to get this done tonight and send it to you guys to revise it in the morning. I have to redo my part, My part will not run smoothly with your pieces. Check out Maple Leaf Rag by Scott Joplin. Maple Leaf Rag here is the link. I chose this song to use as the back ground music. I thought it was cheerful and upbeat to grab our audiences attention. This was from the 1900's. let me know what you think about this song. The MP3 song that I bought is 3 minutes long but I can repeat the song if we need to go longer. I already have Jessica's piece in the clip. But having issues putting it where it needs to be.

Podcast Conclusion

Here is the script. It basically sums up the goal of the project... I can certainly revise and re-record if necessary, but in the meantime I will record it and send it to Kara so that it is ready to go if no revisions are necessary.

·         Through a variety of collaborative, technology-based activities, our local history project will bring several benefits to our classroom. Students will become more familiar with technology, and more skilled at conducting research. They will have the opportunity to practice working collaboratively to achieve a common goal, and learn to manage conflicts that can naturally occur in group settings. Additionally, our class will achieve several sixth grade content level expectations. They will cover social studies as they learn about local history. They will achieve new math and science goals as they practice data collection and organization through graphing. Even language arts will be touched on, as students will have multiple opportunities to give presentations and work on the skill of presenting to different audiences. Overall, the goal of this project is to increase learning across the board through an engaging and active setting. We look forward to showing you what we learn and receiving your support along the way!

Issues

Hey jessica can you please do the conclusion. Im having issues with the files. I tried sending all of the different files to myslef to see if i can open them and it wont let me open the files. So im trying to get these issues resolved. Ill try and help with the conclusion.

Ok here is what I am going to say.
" One activity that the class encountered was learning about the constant change of wages in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This activity incorporated history, mathematics, as well as technology. Students were required to research and gather data on Kalamazoo's wages for careers that remained over the years such as farming. Students were expected to organize the data and create graphs based on their data. By looking at the graphs, students were able to draw conclusions and see that types of careers that were in high demand during different time periods. The activity required students to work together in groups of four. Within each group, students had the choice to work individually or with a partner for a specific task within that group." Students had freedom to choose the type of technology used and become creative with their final product.

I feel as though i need to add more, but not sure what

Sorry Everyone, its hard for me to get on here during the beginning of the week. The lesson that I chose to incorporate into the podcast is the differences in wages throughout the years. I will post more later today and have my recording done.

I am going to record my podcast segment and send it to both of you. It is scripted to be second or third in line. Kara or Meg, could you record yours to fit into the recording as the first assignment being described?

Also, Meg, I did not get an email from you with your recording. Are you sure it worked?

sent both of you a link to my podcasts by your wmu mail.
Meg

Here is a possible introduction to our project:

Our 6th grade class is focusing on a project about the local history of Kalamazoo Michigan.  Within the framework of the overall project the class will work on several different lessons both in small groups and individually.  During the project each student will practice project management skills by planning together with their team, gathering the needed resources,  and setting and meeting deadlines for the entire project and for each piece of the project.
   

One of the specific projects the students will be working on is........... (this can lead into whichever one would fit best first.  I will record the first part, but the person whose lesson is going to go first needs to add this or something like it to smoothly transition into the projects.)

Again, let me know if you want it worded differently, added to or removed, or changed completely!  I am recording this and my lesson and sending it to Kara right now.  I can re-do anything you need, but not until Sunday.  I am at a Robotics competition from tonight through Saturday night and there will not be a quiet spot in the building!

Thanks!
Meg

My Podcast Segment

I changed my mind and decided to cover our ePals assignment in the podcast to make sure one of our "big" assignments gets covered. I only spoke about the ePals though. There isn't enough time to discuss ePals AND google maps at the same time. Although if either of you disagree I can certainly address that as well. Here's the first draft. It takes about 1 min even to read...

Students will also be participating in an ePals program which will connect our class with another 6th grade class in Australia. Groups of 4 will be paired up with groups from our ePals class and they will then choose an aspect of local history to compare and contrast. To do this, the students from both classes will  have to study  their own local history in relation to their chosen aspect, while building their  effective communication skills. Effective communication is a 21st century literacy described by educational researchers Suzi Boss  and Jane Krauss, and it can be built through teamwork, collaboration, and exposure to new social situations. We will end our experience with a 10 minute presentation from each of our groups that compares and contrast our local history with Australia's. By the very end, our class will have gained new skills, and will have an increased awareness of our own local history, as well as the history of our new Australian friends...

I tried to tie in the text as smoothly as possible. Thoughts? Comments? Feedback? I plan to record it tomorrow.

Here is the first draft of my podcast... let me know what you think.  It is about 50 seconds right now.

What would you like me to add?  remove?  clarify?

Thanks!

As part of a class project on local history students are working in small groups and researching local people from the past or the present and exploring how one person's idea can change history. For example, William Upjohn is is famous for developing the pill form of medication by creating a "friable" pill that could be easily crushed. He received a patent in 1885 for this type of pill and changed how medication is taken. Upjohn also created the Upjohn company which is now know as Upjohn pharmaceuticals.

During this week-long project, students will use the internet and a hot-list to do their research and then create a power-point to share their famous person with the rest of the class.

(50 seconds)

For this project I would like to present my first lesson plan on historical people of Kalamazoo. 
I believe that we will need an introduction and a closing as well as a project from each of us. I am willing to do one of them since Kara is putting this in final form.
We also have to share our scripts on this blog and make sure that there is an easy, natural flow from one persons part to the others.  I will have my script up here sometime Tuesday for you to see and to suggest changes.  I am going to look through the text again today for the ideas we want to pull from there, although I think that will be easier to choose once we all figure out what we want to do.
I will be unavailable Friday and Saturday this week, hope to have my part done by Wed. evening.
Looking forward to seeing how this will come together!
Meg

This is the beginning of the instructions for this project.  Then I have added some notes below about what I am thinking we need to do, please let me know if I am thinking right, or if you are reading this differently. Thanks!

This podcast will identify and describe several aspects of your project to share with parents and others. Each team member will be required to discuss a different area of your progress. You will also be required to pull out at least two concepts from the textbook.

1. 3-5 minutes in length.
2. You must include several aspects of your project -- a different one for each member of your team.
3. You must include at least two concepts from the textbook.  
4.  
5.  
6.  
7.  
8. I am thinking that we are supposed to be presenting an overview of our project to the parents of our "students."  We each need to talk about a different area, but not sure what that means... maybe what type of research we are having the students do?  What lessons we will be having in the project?  And this needs to include two concepts from the book.  I don't know if that means to share the concepts directly or indirectly.  This one has me a little confused as to what exactly is wanted.   Do you guys have any ideas on the overall concept or idea?  We need to get started on this.Thanks.  Meg.

Lessons 1 and 2

Just a quick question... Do you both have grades for lessons 1 and 2? I had some stuff I needed to fix on lesson plan 1, and apparently never requested feedback... Although, I could swear I did. When I finally talked to her about it, she didn't like how I had revised it and I have since fixed it again and requested feedback again. I still have no grade for either of them, and midterms are due on the 11th...

Podcast

I was looking at our next assignment. Since you both have done the web mapping and the link, I could do the podcast. Im a little confused about it though. It says that we are to include two concepts from our book. Would it just be two or two from each of us? I had an idea for the background music. Since Jessica did an activity with the music, we could use the music from Kalamazoo bands and use it as our background music.

If you two could send me the GLCE you have used for your lessons I could add them to our mind map.
Thanks!  I'll post it later tonight(about 10)

2nd lesson plan

For this lesson plan I chose to show the change in wages through out the years.

Lesson 2

I think I'm going to do Kalamazoo crime rate data or Grand Rapids weather history (there wasn't anything for Kalamazoo). I spent forever looking for a GLCE that fit a data topic and then I realized I could just do a data collection GLCE.