"Stop Disasters!"

6th grade social studies students learning how plate tectonics affect the behavior of earthquakes and volcanoes used Explore Learning to interact with a virtual simulation that demonstrates how plate tectonics work. Students answered questions about their reading and Explore learning activity on a Google Form, then had the chance to actually take over a virtual town and prepare it for an impending disaster, on Stop Disasters. 

Ask Mr. Nelson if you're interested in learning more.

On November21st, students in the 5th Grade Animal Rights Service Learning group participated in two Skype calls. Students are reaching out to organizations across the world to make a difference for animals and learn about the work that is happening around the world. Students Skyped with an animal shelter in Sayulita called Sayulitanimals and the Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) in Washington DC.

Reaching out globally and using Skype as a way to connect with these organizations across the world, engages students. The video shows a student concerned about shark fishing and the endangerment and mistreatment of sharks. During this call with AWI, she was able to converse with experts, ask good questions, and learn more so she can start creating her action plan for her project.

Students are taking the initiative on their service learning projects. One student created a blog and another created a website to reach out and collaborate with others. Realizing that with new literacy practices, we can co-construct, publish and collaborate, this project reinforces core curriculum learning. Soon the group will be opening a SL twitter account to do some research and connect cross culturally with other people micro blogging about animal rights.

and then created their videos individually. Most students used their YouTube account for the first time on this project so we discussed creating channel names which protect their identity and how to add music to videos following copyright laws.