| Description: | The students in two fourth grade classrooms will create monsters out of common materials found at school and/or at home. To accompany this, each student will write a descriptive piece detailing what their monster looks like. The two classrooms will then swap writing pieces and recreate the described monsters based on the authors' descriptions only. As a culminating activity, the two classrooms will get together and reveal/compare original monster creations and their collaborative counterparts. The students will then have a chance to collaboratively discuss the commonalities and differences in their creations. |
| Dates: | Between May 13 and May 26; times can be worked out between collaborating teachers |
| Sign up method: | Email: sbutler@shelbyed.k12.al.us |
| Grades: | 4 |
| Subjects: | Fine Arts, Language Arts/English |
| Outcomes: | Learners will use written and oral language skills to successfully write, read, and interpret a descriptive writing piece. Learners will independently create artistic pieces using common household and school materials. |
| Preparation Time Frame: | 1 Week+ (TBD by collaborating teachers.) |
| Methods and Activities: | 1. Students will design and write descriptive pieces about monsters they create using common household and school materials. (materials list can be determined by cooperating teachers) 2. Students will swap descriptive writings with partner school students via email. 3. Students will create a second monster based on the descriptive writing piece they received. 4. Students will come together and present/compare/discuss monsters they created via distance learning equipment. |
| Responsibilities: | Students will be responsible for creating monsters out of common household and/or school items, writing descriptive pieces about their monsters, creating a second monster based on another student's descriptive writing, and presenting their monsters to the partner school. Teachers will be responsible for arranging the collaboration (day & time), providing the distance learning equipment, and ensuring that all students' monster creations and writings are ready by final "meeting" with partner school. |
| Agenda: | 5 min. Welcome and introductions. Each class shares their location and brief information about their school. Visuals: Use the document camera or PowerPoint to share a few pictures of local interest. 45 min.+ Students share descriptive pieces and compare monsters. 5-10 min. Students ask questions/Wrap-up |
| Credit: | Neva Kelly, a fellow CAPSpace member, is doing this same project but with two 5th grade classes. |
| Other: | I'd like to use trade-off presenting. Instead of each class presenting all projects/writings at once, the classes will trade off and take turns presenting. |
Stephanie Butler
sbutler@shelbyed.k12.al.us
205-682-5530
VALLEY INTERMEDIATE SCH
Time Zone: GMT-6: Central Standard Time