By Grade 8, students are fairly well-versed in searching the internet and giving credit to their sources, but they often want to know how to prove that sources aren't fake, and how the skills they learn in school translate into real-life skills.
In this project, students identify multiple reliable website and database resources to convince Hanover School administrators to add or change an existing program to our schools. Students find and evaluate website resources for credibility to support their arguments. They are then able to take the information that they researched in order to advocate for themselves and their classmates about issues that directly affect them. Students are given the opportunity to present their project to a member of the Hanover School Committee or a Hanover school administrator to simulate the actual experience of proposing ideas to an administrator or employer. This helps to prepare them for real-life situations in which they must persuade others. You may view a sample presentation by two Grade 8 students below:
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At the age of 13, children can legally create their own social media accounts on giants such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter without parental permission. If your child isn't already on social media, he or she might be soon. As such, it is important for your young teens to be familiar with the pitfalls of social media use.
In this project, students research two topics related to social media. They check their sources for reliability, then write a blog in which they give facts that they have learned through their research as well as their own opinions on the subject, making sure to cite their sources in proper MLA format. At the conclusion of the project, students will view and comment on each other's blogs in order to gain a greater understanding of the issues surrounding social media use. You may view a sample project by clicking here or by clicking on the image below.
The internet is filled with people's creative work, whether it be photos, videos, drawings, or written work. However, what exactly are we allowed to do with the vast array of creative work that is available on the Internet? For example, can you take a photo or clipart from Google Images and sell it onto a t-shirt or coffee mug without breaking copyright laws?
Copyright and Creative Commons help to make clear to students what their rights are as a creator and what their responsibilities are as a digital citizen. In this project, students will be learning about the difference between copyright and Creative Commons. They will create a video teaching how to do a Creative Commons search and embed it within a slideshow presentation. Students will also create a legally modified version of a photograph as well as find an image that they can legally sell on products such as T-shirts, posters, mugs, etc. Finally, students will write a conclusion on why understanding copyright and Creative Commons is important for anyone who wants to use other people's content on the internet for their own use. You may view a project created by two of last year's 6th graders below. (Note: You can pause the presentation and click on links that are embedded in the presentation). In Grade 5, students learn the basics about ethical and responsible Internet research. Students learn how to carefully evaluate website resources for reliability, put information into their own words, and cite their sources in MLA format using Easybib.com.
In addition to these valuable skills, students are able to learn about a fun Massachusetts tourist destination and create a website dedicated to increasing tourism into our state! Student websites become part of a larger collection of Massachusetts Tourism themed web pages created by their classmates. These pages include photo slideshows, maps, and more! Students are able to view each other's websites and discover fun facts about the many places to visit in our state. You may view a sample Massachusetts Tourism website by going to masstourism.weebly.com or by clicking the screenshot below. Our Grade 5 students worked very hard on these websites, and they should be proud of their work! |
AuthorMy name is Erin Foley, and I have a passion for reading, technology and helping students learn! In addition to operating the HMS Library/Media Center, I also teach Grades 5-8 Digital Literacy. Archives
June 2018
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