Hello teachers!  This group activity project, Modern Fashion and Invention, is created to be used for third grade classrooms though it may be modified and used within any grade. It will require creative thought as students create a new invention.  Your creative encouragement and enthusiasm will help immensely! Have fun!

ACTIVITY PROCESS:

• Introduce this assignment by sharing an item from the 'Imagination Invention Box' and explain and demonstrate your new invention to the class.  Show them a sample of a news article that you would write about your invention.  Point out the characteristics of a news article (this may help them when they start writing theirs).  Keep a list of these characterisitcs on the board, in plain view.
• Assign students to groups of three.
• During this activity project students will each have a specific role.  These roles are: scribe, typist, and navigator.  Make notecards with these roles and pass them out to each group.
• Instruct each group, one at a time, to choose an item from the 'Imagination Invention Box'.
• Pass out chart paper and markers and allow time for students to brainstorm their ideas about their new invention.
• The students will then write about their invention (individually and as a group).  Encourage creativity and full group participation.
• If you do not have computers (at least one for each group) in your classroom, reserve lab time at your school computer lab.
• In the lab, allow students time to type and save their news article in a Word document.
• Take pictures of each group with their inventions.  Make sure that each group saves the picture to their group's disk.
• In the computer lab, walk the students through steps in order to get them to Netscape Composer.
• Get a lab assistant to help you (if needed).
• Students will compile their word document and their picture into Netscape Composer.
• After all groups have finished this activity, compile all assignments into a class webpage (if want).      --------refer to the helpful hints below in order to help you with this----------

MATERIALS:

• 'Imagination Invention Box' - (your 'junk' box)- with at least enough items for each group
• Floppy 3 1/2 disks for each group
• Chart paper and markers for each group
• Computer access - at least one computer for each group
• Digital camera

As You Begin to Create a Class Webpage:

• Helpful Hints for Webpage Creation and Space

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS:

North Carolina Standard Course of Study
*This activity can be adapted to any grade level and meets many NC Standard Course of Study objectives and   goals for language arts, information skills, and computer skills categories.*

FOR THIRD GRADE:
Language Arts Curriculum-
3.06- Conduct research for assigned and self-selected projects (with assistance) from a variety of sources (e.g., print and non-print texts, artifacts, people, libraries, databases, computer networks).
4.03- Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author’s chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
4.10- Explore technology as a tool to create a written product.
Information Skills
1.08- Select and use independently, both within and outside the school, a variety of resources (print, non-print, electronic) and formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).
1.09- Recognize that ideas are produced in a variety of formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based).
1.10- Identify characteristics and advantages of various media formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia, web-based) for a specific task.
2.06- Recognize the power of media to influence.
4.09- Present information in a variety of formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia).
5.02- Produce media in various formats (print, graphical, audio, video, multimedia) appropriate to audience and purpose.
Computer Skills
2.1- Identify the technology tools used to collect, analyze, and display data. (SI)
2.10- Create a multimedia project as a group/class activity. (M/P)

GRADING RUBRIC:

* Using this rubric to grade individual students:
        - 8 points is an average score
        - 12 points and above is an excellent score
 

Item	Beginning (0 points)	Developing (1 point)	Accomplished (2 points)	Excellent (3 points)	Score
Group Participation	No effort to participate with the group.	Little effort given to contribute to group work.	Some effort given to contribute to group work.	Full and complete effort given to contribute to group time and group work.
Creative Effort	No creative effort what so ever (either individually or as a group).	Little creative effort shown in work (either individually or as a group).	Some creative effort shown in work (either individually or as a group).	Creative effort shown in all work, both individually and as a group.
Grammar/Spelling in News Article	News Article is full with grammar and spelling errors.	News article has some grammar and spelling errors.	News article has minimal grammar and spelling errors.	News Article has no grammar or spelling errors.
Webpage	Efforts to include the group picture and the news article are not found.	Either the group picture or the news article are found within the webpage.	The group picture and the news article are found within the webpage.	The group picture, news article, and some other item(clip art,etc.) are included within the webpage.

 
 

Master Page

Student Page

Example Page