This activity is designed for third grade. This assignment asks the students to create and design an invention using their imagination. They will be assigned into groups. They will write a newspaper article about the invention including digital camera pictures. Finally, the articles will be presented to the class as a group.
MATERIALS:
Junk Box to use for creative
"inventions"
Digital Camera
Zip Disk (100mb)
Class access to computers
PROCESS:
*Explain to the class that
they are going to be creating inventions out of old junk. The junk
can be anything ranging from a tire to a pool noodle!
*Put the class into groups
of at least 4. Have them brainstorm ways to make their object into
a new creative invention.
*When they have decided on
an invention, have them work together in writing a newspaper article in
a Word document explaining and describing it. It should entail what
the object is, how it can be used, where it can be found, etc. The
example page has a complete example. Make
sure the students have equal access to computers. Have them sign up by
groups to use the computers in the lab, this tends to work out better when
the lab will not accommodate all the students at the same time.
*Have them also take pictures
with the digital camera with their invention.
*The pictures should be included
in the word document for the article.
*The final products will
be presented to the class. Make sure to apply appropriate feedback
to students. This is not a critical assignment, you want to encourage
them to increase their technology use in the future.
GOALS
& OBJECTIVES:
Language Arts Curriculum:
1.03, 1.04, 1.05, 1.06, 2.02, 2.08, 3.03, 3.06, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 4.04,
4.10, Goal 5
Computer Curriculum: 1.3,
2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 2.10, 2.11, 3.1, 3.2
Information Skills Curriculum:
1.04, 1.05, 1.08, 1.09, 1.10, Goal 2, 4.03, 4.05, 4.07, Goal 5
GRADING
RUBRIC:
|
|
1 Point |
2 Points |
3 Points |
4 Points |
|
| Cooperative Group Work | None of the time | Some of the time | Most of the time | All of the time | |
| Uses time wisely | None of the time | Some of the time | Most of the time | All of the time | |
| Writing | Vague story; many grammatical and spelling errors; no digital pictures | Minimum detail in story; some grammatical and spelling errors; lack of correct amount of pictures or inserts | Detailed story; makes sense;few grammatical and spelling errors; correct amount of pictures or inserts | Story very detailed; above and beyond expectations; no grammatical or spelling errors; many pictures and inserts | |
| Presentation | Does not present project | Presentation is vague, no detail, unable to understand, only one-two people speak for the group | Presentation is explained correctly, able to understand, detailed, organized, the entire group speaks | Presentation is above and beyond expectations, organized, clear, the entire group speaks |
IN ADDITION:
This activity is an introductory
assignment to technology and writing using students' imaginations and creativity.
If there are students with special needs, the best way to give each student
an equal opportunity is to make sure they each are put in groups with students
that are willing and able to help them. Make sure the students are
understanding and cooperating well to the best of their abilities.
Grade appropriately according to their learning needs.
Remember: It is important that permission slips are sent home explaining the activity to the parents and asking for permission to take pictures of their children. This is a legal and ethical practice!
References:
http://www.cliparttoday.com
http://www.kidsdomain.com
| Master Page | Teacher Page | Student Page | Example Page |