Types

Classroom Activities

Grade Levels

Keypals

While conducting a unit on different areas and their climates, students could be assigned a keypal from a different area and they could discuss the different plants, animals, and weather.  I would be a great way to learn more about how people live in different climates.

1^st-5^th

Global Classroom

While reading a story about a different environment than where you are, group up with a classroom in that type of environment and let the students ask questions and try to get a better understanding of the setting and the characters in the story.

1^st-6^th

Electronic Appearances

While conducting an author study, schedule an electronic appearance with that author.  That way the students can conduct interviews and learn more about the books he/she writes.

3^rd-8^th

Telementoring

There are a lot of students who need a little extra help or motivation and they do not receive it because the teacher does not have the time.  Telementoring could be a great way to find someone who these students could talk to and get little extra help and encouragement from.

K-12

Question and Answer Activities

The students could interview a scientist for a specific research paper.  It is a great way to get credible first-hand information.

4^th-12^th

Impersonations

Students could be asked to do a research paper on a famous person in history and in order to get credible information; they need to conduct an interview with that person.  One of the only ways to get the interview would be through impersonations because that person has passed away.

5^th-12^th

Type

Classroom Activities

Grade Levels

Information Exchanges

Students could use this as a way to find out the different the different boiling points of water at different locations and elevations.  They can share their information for their location and elevation and then they can compare it to other students’ information.  http://www.minnetonka.k12.mn.us/grovelad/insect.proj/insects.html

6^th-8^th

Database Creation

Students can compile different information in order to write research papers on different ideas on the same topic.  After the papers are written they could then be placed in a database organized according to their ideas.  If another student is looking for information he/she can look up the research paper along with the bibliography and get some new ideas.

4^th-12^th

Electronic Publishing

Students can create different masterpieces using the medium which they are learning about in art at the time. Their work will be published on the website for all of cyberspace to see.  It is a great way to get students motivated and have an art shows every couple of weeks.

1^st-12^th

Telefieldtrips

As part of a rainforest unit, students could track the progress of a scientist traveling through the rainforest.  By doing this, they are learning about the animals, plants, and environments of the rainforest first-hand.

1^st-12^th

Pooled Data Analysis

Students can create a survey about how kids get to school.  They could then share the survey with students from all over the state.  After all of the results are entered, they can compile a graph showing the results.

4^th-6^th

Type

Classroom Activities

Grade Levels

Information Searches

Students could choose a different president every other week and place clues on the site about that certain president.  As the other classrooms figure out the different clues, they will be asked to enter their guesses as to who the president is.

4^th-5^th

Peer Feedback Activities

Students learning about the writing process could post their stories online and get them reviewed and corrected by many other students.  This way they can get all different ideas on how to write a great story.

2^nd-8^th

Parallel Problem Solving

Students will be asked to create a spaceship that can land safely on the planet of Gob.  This specific planet has a very gooey surface (gelatin) so it is very difficult for the spaceships to land without sinking.  The students need to create a ship that will not sink into Gob’s surface.  It can be displayed o their website and students from all over can share their ideas on what type of spaceship will work the best.

5^th-6^th

Sequential Creations

Students create pieces of a virtual quilt as it travels from classroom to classroom.  Their piece must represent the city which they are from.  At the end of its travels, the quilt will return to the first class bearing information about all different cities.

1^st-6^th

Telepresent Problem Solving

During a study on plant growth students can plant their own seedling and watch them grow through the use of a robotically controlled device.  This is a great activity because in a lot of areas students can not plant a seedling and watch it grow until the spring.  The students can conduct this experiment through the University of Southern California’s Telegarden.  http://www.usc.edu/dept/garden/

Simulations

Students will explore the rainforest through the eyes of a scientist through the use of an online simulation.  They will need to pack what they will require for a 10 day stay and will need to make decisions based on what they already know about the rainforest and its habitat.  They will encounter rainstorms, wild animals, rivers, bug bites, etc…

6^th-8^th

Social Action Projects

Students will visit the website http://www.halcyon.com/arborhts/earthday.html and explore what the other students have done on earth day, participate in the activities, and find a new idea to help the earth that we can use in our classroom.  After they decide on an idea, we will complete the task and enter it on the website. 

Harris, Judi. Virtual Architecture. ISTE Publications.1998.

3^rd-8^th