#4: CPALMS, Resources, and WebHunt!!

The fourth grade Earth and Space Science CPALMS standard SC.4.E.5.1 states that the students should be able to, "observe that the patterns of stars in the sky stay the same although they appear to shift across the sky nightly, and different stars can be seen in different seasons" (CPALMS.org). I would incorporate an educational game from the PBS Kids website called, "Mindy's Constellation Exploration," to help teach this standard to my students. In the game students become stargazers with Mindy, a character from the PBS Kids show "Ready, Jet, Go!" They "look through her telescope" and can click on a constellation they want to see and learn about. When they click on the constellation they want to see, Mindy tells them to connect the stars together to make the constellation. After they connect the stars to make the constellation, Mindy informs them of interesting facts about that constellation. I think this is an awesome way for students to learn about the origins of constellations and that they are patterns in the sky that "stay the same" even though "they appear to shift" as the CPALMS standard says. The classification of this tool is educational game software because it, "presents and reviews instructional content in a game format" (Teaching and Learning with Technology pg.188). Online gaming is something most children in this day in age are familiar and comfortable with, and they have fun doing it. Us as teachers can use this to our advantage to promote active learning in our classrooms! (Teaching and Learning with Technology pg.188). This game would be especially fun for the students if they are familiar with the "Ready, Jet, Go!" program on PBS and its characters! (Link to the game: http://pbskids.org/readyjetgo/games/mindy/index.html)

Throughout my education I have searched for and used many Internet resources for my work. My method is usually to use a search engine like Google.com to find the resource and information I need. I determine the credibility of the resource based on if it is from a reliable source and then use the content in different ways, either by putting the information in my own words or by pulling out quotes directly from the source. I also used data bases, like Google Scholars, to find credible articles, journals, and resources to cite in my work. The podcast mentions how most teachers use open content for resources. The method to go about doing this is with the four R's of open content. Reuse (to only use for personal purposes), redistribution (putting out a resource in a different way or means), and Revising and Remixing (modifying content either just itself or by combining in with other content).I have definitely used these four R's in my educational career and will most likely use them on a regular basis in my teaching career. I have reused content, such as playing a YouTube video in a presentation. I have also revised and remixed content, like putting information into my own words or remixing a song by using a melody to a well known tune and putting in different lyrics for a project.

I learned many skills from the WebHunt assignment this week. I was surprised to learn how easy it is for teachers to find a multitude of FREE resources on almost any subject. It can be as easy as Googling what you need to find and clicking on a link! I learned that there are websites specifically designed for teachers and students to use in the classroom, such as a kid blogging website I found called KidBlog. I also learned that it's really easy to find poetry to share with your classroom, such as the Emily Dickinson poem I found, and that it's also easy to find different formats of it, such as audio from YouTube. My favorite thing I found was the virtual Africa field trip called Africam, where you can watch live footage of animals in the plains of Africa! I love that we live in a time where there are so many resources to be used for education and I hope we continue to use them in a beneficial manner for our students!

WebHunt Challenge:

1. You're doing a lesson on poetry. Find two media formats of a poem by Edgar Allan Poe.

2. You're teaching your class about the water cycle. Find an online resource to help your students create a concept map of the cycle.

3. Find an online math game that teaches your students their multiplication tables.