International Penpals

Subject Area(s):

• Civics
• Geography
• K-12: Technology

Grade Level(s):

• 3rd-4th Grade
• 5th-6th Grade

Description:

Students will develop a virtual relationship with other students around the world.

Goals & Objectives:

Students Will Be Able To (SWBAT) to recall appropriate Internet etiquette and practice personal safety and security on the Internet

SWBAT compare and contrast certain aspects of American culture compared to the same aspects of students in other cultures around the world.

SWBAT create a Microsoft Powerpoint presentation summarizing the assigned topics in a specific culture.

Materials:

Email, Microsoft Powerpoint (any presentation software), and International Penpal Comparison Organizer (see Supporting Files)

Procedures:

See Supporting Files

Assessment:

See Suppporting Files

Supporting Files:

• Freund_Project1.doc
  Supporting files
• International_Penpal_Comparison_Organizer.doc
  
• Internet_Acceptable_Use_and_Safety_Agreement.doc
  
• International_Penpal_Project_Rubric.doc
  

Standards:

National Information Literacy Standards (K-12)

Accesses information efficiently and effectively.

• Identifies a variety of potential sources of information.

Uses information accurately and creatively

• Organizes information for practical application.
• Produces and communicates information and ideas in appropriate formats

Practices ethical behavior in regard to information and information technology.

• Uses information technology responsibly.

Participates effectively in groups to pursue and generate information.

• Shares knowledge and information with others.
• Respects others' ideas and backgrounds and acknowledges their contributions.
• Collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to identify information problems and to seek their solutions.
• Collaborates with others, both in person and through technologies, to design, develop, and evaluate information products and solutions.

Information Skills and Subskills (K-16)

Definition

• Identifies requirements of research task

Planning

• Identifies potential information sources
• Identifies potential formats for presenting results

Exploration

• Locates and accesses information resources

Collection

• Selects most appropriate information sources

Organization

• Organizes final information for presentation

Presentation

• Reviews presentation for grammatical, spelling, and other errors
• Presents results

Evaluation

• Evaluates end product
• Assesses the efficiency of the research process
• Subject: Geography

National Content Standards (K-12)

The World in Spatial Terms

• Understands the characteristics and uses of maps, globes, and other geographic tools and technologies

Places and Regions

• Understands the physical and human characteristics of place
• Understands that culture and experience influence people's perceptions of places and regions