Artifact # 7
Bird’s Eye View – an interactive and ongoing learning activity that involved mailing a toy bird to someone in another region of the United States with a letter requesting that information in the form of pictures, pamphlets etc. be sent back to the classroom. It was also requested that the bird then be mailed on to another person in a different state. Our class tracked the flight of the bird on a map in the classroom.
Context:
I participated in this activity in a social studies methods class during
my block experience at ASU. The activity involved mailing a letter
along with Carl, a red cardinal (our state bird) to Hawaii. Our professor,
Mrs. Betty Dishman, mailed the original letter.
Impact:
This activity can be an ongoing project for the entire year.
It can also be modified to meet the standard course of study for social
studies at various grade levels. The activity can be used by a teacher
to expand his or her students’ knowledge on any given location.
Alignment:
By understanding the curriculum and the students’ needs, modifications
can be made by the teacher (INTASC #7).
For example, we focused on the fifth grade social studies curriculum in
which students study North and South America. Because we did not
have any contacts outside of the US, we initially chose the state that
was farthest away from our own. This would give students the opportunity
to gain knowledge of a state that they might not have the opportunity to
see first hand. If you were using the curriculum
for second grade (Neighborhood and Local Community), you may want to
utilize the people and businesses within your community to gain information
about your local area. Doing this would help to foster a relationship
between your classroom and the community around you (INTASC
#10).