Recently, my students wrote essays about their hopes for their future families, jobs and how they would contribute to society. These essays were a result of my reading Fever 1793 where the main character had big dreams for her life. Their essays were so wonderful that they precipitated the creation of “The Academy Awards for Academic Excellence.” We just had to show off their essays and turned them into speeches. I love when one idea leads to another and great learning occurs spontaneously.
Then, I had another idea…
When I listened to the students’ speeches and how they would contribute to society, I felt they lacked some vision. There were lots of ideas for recycling, taking care of animals and the earth, but did they truly understand how to contribute? Did they know what it meant to “give back?”
Coincidentally, as I was reading the next chapter of Fever 1793 to the students, an opportunity for discussion arose. The main character survived the yellow fever illness and the nurse asked her, “How will you pay back the kindness and help that you received?” This led to my new idea.
I decided my students would research humanitarian organizations on line.
I began with an exploration of the word “humanitarian.” Once we defined it, we brainstormed organizations that they had heard of, but they didn’t necessarily know what they did to help people. Next, the students moved to the computers. I had bookmarked at least six sites that the students could explore. Their task was to explore the sites and choose the one that interested them the most.
I was worried that the text might be too challenging or too sophisticated, but I still plowed ahead to see what would happen.
Each student had a clipboard with an outline of areas to explore. (I found giving the students a clipboard to be an effective way for them to manage using the keyboard, mouse and still have a place to write their notes.) Once the students chose the humanitarian organization that interested them the most, they had to find and record its mission statement/goal, statistics, how they helped, as well as slogans and advertisements. We had previously spent time defining and exploring these concepts.
Initially, the students wanted to jump right in and start recording information. It seemed as though they were focusing on finishing tasks rather than learning, so I took away their clipboards. They were missing the point!
The new rule was they had to read and explore the site without doing any writing - at least twice (different days) to insure they were focusing on the importance of the organization and NOT FINISHING an assignment. I spoke about this at great length. I also required them to discuss what they discovered with peers. I wanted them to process the information! I wanted them to reflect.
Currently, I have allowed them to start taking notes while they research. Once they finish this, the next step will be persuasive essays to convince others to support the humanitarian organization that they chose.
I love that through reading this amazing novel to my class, another idea was born that led to a meaningful integrated assignment.
More importantly, my students may become humanitarians who give back to the world.
9 comments:
This is such a great overarching theme and what a wonderful extension of what they were already learning about! I can't wait to see what they come up with :)
Nancy - You are a genius. First of all to get the kids interested in humanitarianism is a wonderful. I truly believe our kids want to be helpful and make a difference. Going beyond the usual ideas of recycling and saving animals is great.
Having the kids just look at the website and LEARN about it without taking notes is genius. Often the kids are just too focused on the task and getting the job done. I'm sure having them read and digest what they've read is going to help them understand.
Great job - Thanks again for sharing.
Nancy,
This is my first time visiting your blog. I have been here a while checking out different posts. I love the Academy Awards event and the fact that your students don't lose recess. I think the clipboard for research is a good idea, and it could help prevent inadvertent plagiarism too.
Keep writing,
Denise
Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the comment. I can't wait to see what happens next myself. I truly don't know. Shhh.. don't tell, but I'm not a great planner. I'm more spontaneous! Thanks for stopping by. Nancy
Hi Nancy,
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting. As for genius, that may be a great example of hyperbole! I try to create situations of discovery and hope they focus on the learning. It is scary that as fourth graders they sometimes seem to focus intensely on the result and forget to enjoy the process.
I always appreciate your comments and look forward to them.
Thanks, Nancy
Hi Denise,
I'm so glad you found my blog and spent time exploring. Your time is appreciated and valued. I hope you found ideas that you can use. That is why I blog! Thanks again and I hope you visit again.
Nancy
Nancy,
I often practice the "seat of the pants" planning method as well and it's pretty cool when it comes together effectively in more than one way. I always enjoyed it when I got to get hands on experience in class growing up because you forgot that you were at school. I'm going to keep that in mind when I get my own class full of kids someday. Thanks.
Hi Ms. Nancy, my name is Patricia Radford and I'm a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. Students have great ideas on how to give back, but rarely do. They do not see how much time and effort it takes, they just see the easy parts. If students took the time and effort and gave back, they would see how rewarding it can be and would enjoy it very much.
Hello Nancy,
My name is KaShondra Rudolph. I am an EDM310 student from the University of South Alabama. I really enjoyed reading your post. I think students have many wonderful ideas and an a wild imagination. They really want to do their part to help and make a different. As long as we guide them the right way and give them that extra push and motivation, they will succeed at doing just what they want to do.
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