Inspiration Blog

This is my first time blogging, so it's all new to me!!! I am a 2+2 cohort student at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls IA working towards a dual Elementary Education/Middle School degree.

Reflection on Inspiration project:

My current Thematic Unit topic is Windows on the World where groups of 4 students will be researching assigned countries (Australia, China, Egypt, Germany, India or Mexico) and put together a collaborative presentation for their classmates representing their group's country at a cultural fair at the end of the unit.

The unit objectives this project supports are:

Given a world map or listing of websites students working together will be able to locate their country and develop a map to include in country presentation with 90% accuracy.

Using on-line & off-line materials students will be able to locate points of interest to include in their presentation with 90% accuracy.

The audience for this project are 7th Grade Social Studies students.

This project supports the component of using effective nonverbal and media communication techniques to foster active inquiry, collaboration and supportive interaction in the classroom from Standard #6 because it will be the initial links students will be using to start working on their joint presentation to their classmates at the Cultural Fair at the end of the unit. Students will have access to links to locate maps, flags and other basic information on their assigned countries.

The links on the stars are for CIA World Factbook, Lonely Planet and Geographia for general facts, travel advice and in depth travel guides for student fact gathering and inspiration.

Windows on the World Inspiration Interactive Worksheet requires Inspiration 8.0 software . . . you can download a free 30-day trial edition at www.inspiration.com if you don't already have access.