Read Around the Planet Ideas

January 21, 2008

Well, we have submitted all of our teachers into the matching system and now anxiously await to see who we will be partnered with this year. Now we begin the preparations for classroom interactions and I started thinking about the creative ideas I have seen from our teachers this year and want to share.

Let’s review the basic agenda.

Class Introductions (be sure to include a map to show your location)

Class A Presents

Class B Presents

Q and A between classes

Idea for RAP interactions–these ideas come from watching how my classes have presented material throughout the year. Many teachers ask me for ideas on how to present content in a videoconference and here is a list of some that might work for your Read Around the Planet presentations this year. Be sure to read through the “official teacher packet”, too.

1. Transform a well-known Dr. Seuss’ passage into a Mad-lib and ask your partner school to give you specific parts of speech to complete it. This could be a challenge because you could tell them “We need three nouns that rhyme with house and are all two syllables.” The challenge of this is to give clues so that the parts of speech will match the original rhythm of the work.
2. Dr. Seuss’ Tongue Twisters–Take snippets from Fox in Sox and have students memorize them and share. One student could be fox and others could pop in and share about the Tweedle Beetles and Sue’s socks, etc.
3. For our Texas schools, create a presentation related to Texas Independence day including a short book written about the history of your town.
4. Teach the other class something–a Texas’ saying, the Chicken Dance, how to make a tamale, the Hokey Pokey, how to draw a Dr. Seuss’ character
5. Research your partner class’ town and create a presentation about similarities and differences that you learn. Prepare questions about facts or news items that you find interesting or are curious about.
6. Play Wheel of Fortune with phrases, nouns, or sayings from your town or school. (This one should be 3rd grade or higher and watch the time!)
7. Write a story about characters who journey between your town and you partner class’ town. Share it during the RAP connection. (If you really want to get creative, use a wiki to write collaboratively and then meet in the videoconference to present it.) I think this might be a good 6th or 7th grade project.
8. Twenty questions–Be sure to review the rules of the game before you begin and give a clear idea of what they will be guessing. Example: You will be able to ask us 20 “yes” or “no” questions in order to figure out our mystery Dr. Seuss’ character.
   

Now, if you decide to be creative and want your partner school to interact with you in a manner like I have listed above…it is important that you TELL YOUR PARTNER!
Other presentation information is found on the main project website.

Official Teacher Packet from TWICE.

Tips for involving all students shared by our very own Kim Pearce!

What ideas do you have for your Read Around the Planet connection this year? 

Posted in Collaborative Projects, Read Around the Planet