March Challenge 2014

 

Think About It Thursday - March 2014  

---

This month's challenge will not be differentiated by grade level.  Any grade level is free to join as we explore how the digital age has changed some of the ways  we communicate. 


We'll focus on the how postcards have changed over time and then collaborate to see how fast we can receive a postcard from all 50 states.  

---

Essential Question “What does a postcard communicate?”

---

Our host this month is Mrs Jenn Button and her students from Founders Memorial School in Essex, VT.   Mrs. Button's students would like to collect a digital postcard from students in all 50 states.  We've designed a collaborative process where we can all work on this goal together.

Mrs. Button would like to invite you and her students in a challenge to collect a student-created electronic postcard from every state. We would love the digital postcards to include 3 important facts about your state and 2 about your town in the body of your postcard.

How can you and your students participate?  

1) You can make and send an electronic postcards to this special blog we have set up to host our collection of digital postcards from the 50 states.

2) You can forward this challenge to teachers and their students from other states who might want to contribute a post card.  

Teachers from classrooms who want to participate should  complete this form.

http://goo.gl/3JdHt6 .  

Upon completing this form, you will receive the instructions for adding your digital postcard to this collection.

---

Here are some additional learning resources about postcards through the years.

History of a Postcard from the Smithsonian - for younger readers http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/postcard/chronology.htm

An in depth history of postcards

http://www.metropostcard.com/index.html

Google Draw Postcard Template    (Example)

http://goo.gl/ghX1RY

February Challenge 2014 - Think About Digital

This month's Think About IT Thursday is the same for all grade levels.  Think About ways you use Digital Tools to Learn.  We challenge you to Participate in Digital Learning Day and share your celebrate with your Vermont colleagues.

Let's Share and Celebrate Vermont's participation in

 Digital Learning Day 2014

Share your pictures, screenshots, participation events and more. 

Hangout out with the Agency of Education in two scheduled Google Events. 

Click here to learn more about how you can participate. 

December Challenge 2013 - Think About Code

Our December Think About IT Thursday has a special focus. Our goal is to get hundreds of Vermont classrooms joining in the an international event called HOUR OF CODE.  Our host this month have created a special age appropriate challenge especially designed for Vermont students!. We have created special website called THINK ABOUT CODE ~ Vermont  to host this month's challenges.

Whether you give one of these home-grown Think About Code Vermont challenges a try,   create your own Hour of Code learning tasks, or complete any of the other challenges and tutorials found on the official HOUR of Code site -  OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU is to  SHARE

SHARE pics, screenshots, links, files from your hour of code participation to the

Think About Code ~ Vermont Virtual Gallery

 using the directions found on the Share Tab of the THINK ABOUT CODE ~ Vermont Website.  

Click HERE to PARTICIPATE in ANY of our December challenges

Early Elementary I Can CODE a Dancing Sprite Host: Phyllis Tate and her 1st & 2nd grade students from Dorset School Learn more ...

Upper Elementary I Can CODE a Drawing Machine Host: Matt Allen and Grade 3 - 6 students from St. Albans City School Learn more ...

Middle School I Can CODE Motion & Collision Host:  Eli Rosenberg and his MIddle School students from Main Street School in Montpelier Learn more ...

High School I Can CODE Google AppsScript Host: Charlie MacFadyen and his HS students at Champlain Valley Union HS Learn more ...

Click HERE to HOST a Future prompt or mini projects

How Do You Make A Difference

Think About It Thursday - Early Elementary

November 2013 Host
Sharon Davison
and her Kindergarten class
Williston School District

---

Think About It - Prompt

How do YOU Make a Difference?

---

Learn More About

• Voice Thread Make a Difference VoiceThread
  
  VoiceThread PD Resources
  VoiceThread Discount for Vermont Teachers
  
• Skype
  Skye in Education

'

---

How Do I Participate

• • Sign up  here to Participate in This Think About IT Project.
    
    Listen  and Read about  how Ms. Davison's students make a difference on their class wiki
    
  • Brainstorm ways they can make a difference with your students
  • Read Have You Filled a Bucket Today by Carol McCloud. Add Comment about this book on this  Make a Difference VoiceThread
  • Skype with Ms. Davidson's students to share your ideas
    (See details below for Skype user name and date/time)
  • Add more  comments to the  Make a Difference VoiceThread describing ways you make a difference
  • Or Add your own Slide to the VoiceThread.  In order to add slides you will need to become a member of the THINK ABOUT IT THURSDAY VoiceThread Group. See details below.
• 
  

Click here  for ALL the details about how to participate in THIS Think About IT Thursday event.

Early Elementary

All prompts and mini projects posted in this section would be available for students PreK through 3rd grade.