Children Around the World

Subject Area: Language Arts

Grade Level(s): 5-6

Duration of Activity: 10, 50-minute class periods

Description of Activity:

Students will choose and research a country to find interesting information to present to the class. This activity is designed to introduce students to the research process, proper note taking, using the writing process, and using technology to facilitate their research.

Objectives:

• The student will use reference sources including encyclopedias, almanacs, and atlases to research a given country.
• The student will scan these reference sources (Encyclopedia, Almanac, Atlas), using key words, typographic aids, such as words in dark print, slanted print, numerals, and proper nouns.
• The student will take proper notes by paraphrasing the information using single words or phrases.
• The student will use the online references to locate interesting facts about their chosen country.
• The student will use the writing process and gathered information from reference sources and the Internet to write a report.
• The student will draw a flag, make a map, dress a paper doll, or make a craft that represents their chosen county.
• The student will take a digital picture of one student from each group to put on the paper doll. The student will dress the paper doll in a costume that represents the chosen country.
• The student will prepare and present one part of the group Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

Materials/Equipment:

• Computers with Internet access, 2 per 4 students
• World Wide Web sites including an online encyclopedia and an almanac
• Microsoft PowerPoint software
• Books such as

  Around the World Crafts for Church and Home by Susan Addington (Shining Star Publication, 1994, ISBN 1-56417-001-2)

  Crafts of Many Cultures by Aurelia Gomez. (Scholastic Inc., 1992, ISBN 0-590-49182-2)

  Multicultural Crafts from Recycled Materials by Deborah Whitacre and Becky Radtke (Good Neighbor Press, Inc., 1996, ISBN 1-57310-025-0)

• Digital camera
• Handout 1: Facts from the Encyclopedia, Almanac, and Atlas
• Handout 2: Facts from the Internet
• Handout 3: Checklist of Materials Due
• Handout 4: Research and Written Report Rubric
• Handout 5: Oral Presentation Rubric

Prerequisites (skills or background needed):

• The students need to be familiar with the writing process, including prewriting, editing, and publishing.
• The students will need a basic understanding of how to use of World Wide Web, Microsoft PowerPoint, and a digital camera.

Procedure

Teacher Component: The teacher will

1. teach reference sources including encyclopedias, almanacs, and atlases.
2. model and teach scanning reference sources using key words and typographic aids such as words in dark print, slanted type, numerals, and proper nouns.
3. model and teach proper note taking by paraphrasing the information using single words and phrases.
4. provide a list of countries from which students choose their research topics.
5. teach students how to use the Internet in order to research their country.
6. teach students how to use Microsoft PowerPoint so that they can prepare and present a group Microsoft PowerPoint presentation on the country they research.
7. teach students how to use the digital camera for making pictures of one member of each group. That group member will use their picture on a paper doll dressed in the costume that represents their chosen country.
8. research and bookmark Web sites for use by the students.
9. prepare handouts for students.
10. divide students in groups of 4.

Student Activities: The student will

1. randomly choose from the given list of countries to research.
2. research using printed reference sources including the encyclopedia, almanac, and the atlas.
3. scan using keywords and typographic aids such as words in dark print, slanted type, numerals, and proper nouns to find interesting facts to present to the class.
4. record information from the reference sources using single words or phrases onto Handout 1: Facts from the Encyclopedia, Almanac, and Atlas.
5. research the Internet using reference sources including an online encyclopedia and an online almanac.
6. scan and record information from the World Wide Web onto Handout 2: Facts from the Internet.
7. prepare one part of the group presentation.
   • Student 1: research country’s location, landforms, climate, capital city, other important cities, and other interesting fact. He/She will make a map, write a one-page report, and prepare a slide for the group Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
   • Student 2: research country’s language, ancient and modern history, current leaders, and other interesting facts. He/She will make a flag of the country, write a one-page report, and prepare a slide for the group Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation.
   • Student 3: research culture of the country, including holidays, dress, music, and food. He/She will dress a generic paper doll in the costume of the country, write a one-page report, and prepare a slide for group Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.
   • Student 4: research a specific topic that represents the chosen country. He/She will make a craft that represents the chosen country, write a one-page report, and prepare a slide for the group Microsoft PowerPoint presentation.

   Example: English castle will represent England

   Example: Mexican Piñata will represent Mexico.

Accommodations:

• Students that are weak in computer skills will be paired with students that can help them.
• Activity may be extended for classrooms with fewer computers.
• Activities may be modified for special-needs students (e. g., peer tutoring, shortened assignments, or additional time to complete assignments)

Extension Activities:

• Students will be able to communicate with children from their chosen county by having an Internet pen pal (e-pal).

  URL: ePALS Classroom Exchange
  http://www.epals.com

• Students can prepare food from their chosen country.

Integration:

• Language Arts
• Social Studies
• Technology

Assessments:

1. Handout 3: Checklist of Required Information
2. Handout 4: Research and Written Report Rubric
3. Handout 5: Oral Presentation Rubric

URLs:

• Yahooligans!
  http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/
• Yahooligans! Reference - The Britannica Concise
  http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/reference/encyclopedia/
• Almanac Search Page
  http://www.infoplease.com/almanacs.html
• ePals Classroom Exchange
  http://www.epals.com

Curriculum Frameworks

Mississippi:

Fifth Grade & Sixth Grade

1. Communicate for a variety of purposes through different forms of writing using processes of reading, writing, listening, and viewing for an expanding audience.
2. Speak coherently and listen in effectively to exchange ideas and opinions for a variety of purposes and audiences.
3. Complete projects and tasks in an organized and coherent manner.
4. Read, listen to, and view multimedia sources to select and use information.
6. Participate cooperatively while engaging in small group activities to analyze and interpret information, to make decisions, to solve problems, and to produce a given product.
9. Read independently with fluency and for meaning using a variety of strategies.
11. Demonstrate continuous progress toward control of penmanship, grammar, mechanics, sentence structure, and usage of standard English in the context of writing and speaking.
12. Acquire and use appropriate vocabulary and spelling concepts.

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS):

4. Use content-specific tools, software, and simulations (e.g., environmental probes, graphing calculators, exploratory environments, Web tools) to support learning and research. (3, 5)
8. Select and use appropriate tools and technology resources to accomplish a variety of tasks and solve problems. (5, 6)

TerraNova:

02 Basic Understanding (Level 10-21/22)
Demonstrate understanding of the literal meaning of a passage through identifying stated information, indicating sequence of events, and defining grade-level vocabulary.

Write responses to questions requiring literal information from passages and documents.

05 Identify Reading Strategies (Level 11-21/22)
Demonstrate awareness of techniques that enhance comprehension, such as using existing knowledge, summarizing content, comparing information across texts, using graphics and text structure, and formulating questions that deepen understanding.

Write responses that interpret and extend the use of information from documents and forms, and that demonstrate knowledge and use of strategies.

07 Sentence Structure (Level 11-21/22)
Demonstrate an understanding of conventions for writing complete and effective sentences, including treatment of subject and verb, punctuation, and capitalization.

Demonstrate an understanding of conciseness and clarity of meaning in combining two sentences.

08 Writing Strategies (Level 11-21/22)
Demonstrate knowledge of information sources, outlines, and other pre-writing techniques.

Demonstrate an understanding of the use of topic sentences, concluding sentences, connective and transitional words and phrases, supporting statements, sequencing ideas, and relevant information in writing expository prose.

09 Editing Skills (Level 11-21/22)
Identify the appropriate use of capitalization, punctuation, nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs in existing text.

Demonstrate knowledge of writing conventions and sentence structure through identifying and connecting errors in existing text and in text written by the student.

Link and Feedback to Author(s):

Sandra Green, West Lauderdale Middle School, Collinsville, MS
sbuckgreen@yahoo.com