Surviving a Zombie Attack and Why Your Students Need to See This

This video is perfect for Halloween. It's fun and teaches a great lesson that hopefully no one will ever need. In all seriousness, this video can be a great jumping-off point to an effective Project Based Learning activity for your students. See below for how to incorporate this type of simplistic digital storytelling into your classroom.



This might be too scary for very young children, but if you feel comfortable showing this to your older students, you might use this very simplistic method of explaining in one of your lessons:

1. Have your students create a similar video on a topic they are currently learning or a book they are reading (they can retell the story or explain a particular portion). 
2. Discuss the importance of creating a timeline and script. In my discussions with Lee LeFever, from Common Craft, I learned that the script is the most important part to providing effective explanations.
3. Put students in small groups to create cutouts of their stories, practice their scripts and then film them from above. 

When I did this with my students, I used a rectangular table or student's desk with Scotch tape to identify the camera area and I stood on a chair over my students' backs while holding a Flipcam. (In retrospect, a cheap tripod would have been much better and safer.) I did this with my fourth grade students (video below) when they were learning about the Water Cycle and again when we studied the seasons. Since students will be required to be succinct in their verbiage, this fits particularly well with the Common Core Standard below:

L.7.3a. Choose language that expresses ideas precisely and concisely, recognizing and eliminating wordiness and redundancy



Disclosure Statement: Common Craft has provided me with a free membership to their service with the understanding of no obligation on my part.

iPad For Halloween?

Brilliant and fun! Enjoy!

 

The Problem of Plagiarism

A few days ago, I was proofreading a paper for my son and I noticed he kept making the same error. He was citing his sources when he mentioned some ideas of common knowledge. For example, he defined ROM (Read Only Memory) and then cited the Internet site from where he got the information. I tried to explain to him that it wasn't necessary to provide citations for definitions such as RAM, Cloud Computing, and Touch Screen. I'm proud of him for not wanting to Plagiarize, but could see that he was confused.

How nice it would have been to have Common Craft's latest release. The latest from Common Craft explains Plagiarism. As with all of Common Craft's work, this video does a great job of taking a difficult concept and making it meaningful and really easy to understand.

Take a look!

College Readiness Today

Created by Knewton and Column Five Media

Apple For a Teacher Contest

I'm very excited to share that I've been asked to judge a contest that will begin tomorrow, October 11, 2011. The Green Mountain Naturals contest will take place over at their Facebook page and all you have to do to enter is choose an inspiring teacher and then write a 200-word essay on why he/she should win.  It's an easy contest to enter and the prizes are pretty cool. These are the official rules.

As one of three paid judges, I'll be reviewing the essays and judging each one based on:

·       Creativity/Originality (33%)

·       Quality of Submission/Well-supported (33%)

·       Fit with Contest Theme (34%)

Here's more information, direct from Green Mountain Naturals:

As the school year gets under way, it’s the perfect time to recognize a few good apples in the classroom. Hot Apple Cider from Green Mountain Naturals™ is looking for the most inspiring teachers in the nation with its Apple For a Teacher contest.

How it works:

• From October 11 to October 31, 2011, you are invited to nominate a teacher that has inspired you or your child at the contest tab on the Green Mountain Naturals Facebook page.

 

• 10 Teacher finalists will be announced on November 10, 2011. The finalists will win a Keurig® Brewer and Hot Apple Cider K-Cup® portion packs for themselves, and a $1,000 Apple®gift card, Keurig® Brewer, and Hot Apple Cider K-Cup® portion packs for their school.  If your nominated teacher is selected as a finalist, you will receive a Keurig® Brewer and a $25 Apple® gift card.

• Green Mountain Naturals Facebook fans are then invited to vote for America’s Most Inspiring Teacher, who will receive a $10,000 grant to his/her school of choice. 

• If your nominated teacher is selected as the grand prize winner, you will receive a $100 Apple® gift card.

• Visit www.facebook.com/GreenMountainNaturals for more information.

Win a Mug:

Submission Prizes: The first 50 entrants to submit an essay each calendar week during the first three (3) weeks of the Contest, namely, the weeks beginning October 11, 2011, October 18, 2011, and October 25, 2011 will receive an exclusive Green Mountain Naturals mug. For purposes of this Contest, a calendar week begins on Tuesday at 12:00 a.m.

(50 more mugs will be given away on Oct. 31^st for final submission incentive).