So, we're finally at this moment! Yhee ha! I totally feel overwhelmed, however, to be honest. I have the proposal, but I've had a change of heart after looking more closely at the virtual website I'd like to incorporate into the social studies curriculum. The website, Wiglington and Wenks, is designed for grades 3-6, so I was going to go with it as a way to introduce 3rd grade to virtual worlds. Visually, it's perfect for them, somewhat mimicking a Club Penguin feel and look. When I started thinking about the incoming 3rd grade, however, I quickly had a change of heart. In particular this year, there will be several lower-level readers and students I know who will need much more guidance. This last group of 3rd graders I had were extremely tech savvy and independent and would have thrilled at the prospect of working their way through this virtual maze.
So, after more consideration, I've decided to go to the other extreme and use W&W as a 6th and 7th grade social studies unit. I'm hoping once the students get past the little kid look of the avatars, they'll find the website interesting and challenging. I've already spent a lot of time exploring the various geographical locations, collecting artifacts and historical figures, and I have yet to solve anything, so I'm thinking it'll keep them challenged.
My challenge right now, however, is not so much visualizing the task at hand; rather, it's trying to get all my ducks in a row, and I'm concerned that I've really bitten off more than what is realistic. As a complete unit, this will be fabulous and is certainly something I'll take directly back to my classroom in the fall. But in order to introduce W&W, I first need to review/introduce newer concepts in Internet Safety. W&W includes a great Internet Safety tutorial and is one of the first tasks students must complete in order to obtain a passport to travel. I wanted to branch off on theirs, however, an include several teaching units from Netsmartz.org. Finally, I also want students to reflect on what they're doing, so I have spent a huge amount of time, revising St. Ann's Ning that I created last year. Rather than focus only on Computer class, I have broaden the Ning to include Grades 5-7 in all subject areas and hope that I'll be able to demonstrate to the appropriate teachers how they can upload and use the Ning. But for my purpose, I am using the Ning as the gateway for everything we're doing for this project. So, that's where feeling overwhelmed comes in.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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Kara-
ReplyDeleteI think you have many good ideas. But, is there a way that you could pare some of them down? At the rate you are going, it is going to take you years to complete this project. Do you think it will be easier to focus on one or two aspects, and cover them well, rather than try to do everything you have set out to do? I only ask because I, too, realize that my project was way more than I could have accomplished in the next year. Having smaller, more specific objectives has really helped!