This project was created as an assignment in Planning Interactive Curriculum Connections, an online class offered by Berrien RESA and taught by Janine Lim.
South of the Border Buddies
Looking for a presentation on Mexico & Central/South America? We are a group of special education 7th graders looking for a younger class to present or projects to. We would prefer someone local in the Berrien County/SW Michigan area. We have worked very hard on these projects, and look forward to sharing what we?ve learned!Dates/Time: winter/spring of the 2005-06 school year
Timeframe: We would like to write back and forth via e-mail for a few weeks ahead of time to get to know each other; For the VC, we will need approximately 60-90 minutes to present our projects, and allow for question and answer time in between.
Connection type: IP is preferred, but both are available (IP or ISDN)
Registration Deadline: Reply no later than November 1, 2005
To Sign up: We are only looking for one class, so serious inquiries only reply to Mrs. Kali Martin, MrsMartinBMS@hotmail.com with any questions or for more details.
-Inspiration drawn from Shari Raymond, Katherine McLaughlin, and PICC Class/Janine Lim
Project Planning Page
Topic: South of the Border Buddies - 7th grade presentations on Mexico & Central/South America
Possible Dates/Times: Winter/Spring of 2005-06 school year, time of day negotiable
Learner outcomes:
For the presenters:
- Improved public speaking skills
- Improved confidence in self and work
- Detailed knowledge about country
- Complete project developed with a presentation (5 minutes) using visual aids
- Develop mentoring relationship with younger students
- See importance of self as teacher and learnerFor the audience/questioners:
- Listening skills
- Questioning/critical thinking skills
- Mentor relationship with older students
- Knowledge of culture and geography of Latin countriesMethods and Activities:
The conference will be mainly prepared for by the 7th grade students through the completion of their class projects. The students will practice their presentations in front of their 7th grade class and for their special education teacher. They will get feedback on how to improve their presentations for maximum effectiveness with younger students.The audience class will prepare by thinking about any ideas they may already have about these countries or this region of the world, and brainstorm any questions they wanted to learn about that area.
The two teachers will connect via e-mail prior to the project to work out any details or expectations for the classes.
During the conference, the 7th graders will present, one at a time, and after each student?s project, the younger class will have an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the project with the 7th grade student.
The audience class will ask questions (mediated by presenting student and their teacher), and (teacher will) record the answers to their questions, or any information they want to remember on chart paper. Teacher will mediate a closing for both classes.
Materials/Notes:
The 7th graders will use the presentation materials created for their social studies class ? posters, presentation boards, costumes, etc. for their presentations. The audience will need chart paper and a seating chart so they can be called on by the presenters. The teachers will work together to develop any other necessary materials (worksheets, powerpoints, etc.)Time: Approximately 60 -90 minutes to allow for 8 or so short presentations and question and answer time in between each, time will be attempted to keep short for the bnefit of the attention span of the audience class.
Students will do: Present to each other, ask questions of each other, prepare for their presentations, interact and learn!
Teachers will do: Facilitate discussion, help prepare presentations, develop meaningful interactions/lessons to go with conferencing, guide students to maximum creativity!
Agenda:
Agenda Item Who Will Do Which Site? Introductions Teacher/Students Buchanan, then audience Presentation 1 7th gr. Student Buchanan Question and answer Students Both Sites Presentation 2 7th gr. Student Buchanan Question and answer Students Both Sites Presentation 3 7th gr. Student Buchanan Question and answer Students Both Sites Presentation 3 7th gr. Student Buchanan Question and answer Students Both Sites (on through to however many presentations we can fit) Closing Teachers/Students Both Sites