Natural+and+Man-made+Disasters

(5th Grade Language Arts and Science) By Shannon Davenport and Tracey Hoover
 * Natural and Man-made Disasters**

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Standards: Science- CFU 0507.2.5 Create a poster to illustrate how human activities and natural disasters affect the environment. GLE 0507.2.3 Establish the connections between human activities and natural disasters and their impact on the environment. Language- CFU 0501.3.8 Compose and respond in writing to original questions and/or problems from all content areas. CFU 0501.7.1 Use media (e.g., photographs, films, videos, the arts, online catalogs, nonfictions books, encyclopedias, CD-ROM references, Internet) to view, read, and represent information. CFU 0501.4.3 Use current technology as a research and communication tool for personal interest, research, and clarification. Technology- NETS II. Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students: a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts or others employing a variety of digital environments and media. b. communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences using a variety of media and formats.


 * Explanation:**
 * This lesson is a 50 minute culminating activity following a unit on natural and man-made disasters and environmental impact. This lesson was done in the computer lab with each student having a computer and all working at the same time. It can, however, be done on one classroom computer as a station.

Procedures:** 1. The teacher has completed a lesson on Natural and Man-made disasters. 2. The teacher has set up a teacher Voicethread account. Directions for Teacher Account Set Up 3. The teacher has set up individual student identities within the teacher Voicethread account [|Directions for Student Identity Set Up] 4. The teacher has created the Natural and Man-Made Disaster template in Voicethread. In this case, it was 21 slides including image slides of natural and man-made disasters, a directions slide, an essential questions slide, a citations and standards slide, and a prompt card slide. ** ** NOTE: It was important to the teacher that the Natural and Man-Made Disasters Voicethread include all information needed for students to work independently. Following the 50 minute lesson, this thread was made available as a STATION so students could continue to refine and edit their work.
 * Prior to this lesson:**
 * NOTE: When creating student identities within an individual teacher account, name each identity Student One, Student Two, Student Three, etc...(NEVER name student identities within the teacher account with actual student names, this can cause data storage issues over the long term!) As students become more comfortable with technology and have access to their own email accounts, it is possible for students to create their own individual Voicethread student accounts. Student first names CAN be used for these individual student Voicethread accounts, but it IS NEVER a good idea to use first AND last names!

During the Lesson: 1. The teacher will introduce Voicethread (http://voicethread.com) as a Web 2.0 tool that allows students to collaborate and share ideas locally and world-wide. 2. The teacher will show an example Voicethread made by a 10 year old child. ([|Example VoiceThread Created by a 10 Year Old]) It is NOT necessary to view the entire example thread. The teacher should show the first slide with the original student's comment and then pick one or two additional comments to highlight so students can understand the interactivity of the program. The teacher may show one or two additional slides and comments, but MAKE SURE to show the number of views (on the last slide.) 3. The teacher will then show the Natural and Man-Made Disaster template. 4. The teacher will MODEL logging on to the Teacher Voicethread Account and locating the template. 5. The teacher will assign students an identity (Student One, Student Two...) and MODEL how to choose the appropriate identity. 6. The teacher will MODEL use of the control buttons (pause, play, advance forward or back a slide), adding a voice recording, and use of the doodle tool. 7. The teacher will discuss expectations, including the rigor and relevance of using Voicethread as compared to an oral report. Students should also be reminded of the importance of publishing highly thoughtful, quality work. 8. The teacher will assist students as they log on to the TEACHER'S Voicethread account and choose their assigned identities. 9. Once students are comfortable with the basics use of Voicethread, the teacher will walk the students through the first few slides of the template which include the following directions (slide 2) and essential questions (slide 3.)

//Directions// **
 * 1) //Read the essential questions on slide 3.//
 * 2) //Carefully view the images provided. As you study each image, take time to consider if the image depicts a natural disaster or a man-made disaster.//
 * 3) //Carefully view the images again, this time consider the effects each might have on humans and the environment, and how we might prepare for or prevent the disaster.//
 * 4) //Choose one image of a NATURAL disaster and one image of a MAN-MADE disaster.//
 * 5) //Use the provided prompt to script your response. Fill in the blanks with logical, thoughtful, and clear details.//
 * 6) //Read through your script several times “silently” to perfect your reading fluency.//
 * 7) //Record your thoughtful comments on the slides.//

//Essential Questions Is it a NATURAL or MAN-MADE disaster? How might this disaster affect humans in the area? How might this disaster affect the environment? How might humans prepare for or prevent this disaster?

10. Students will then proceed to follow the directions. // 11. Once the students have completed directions 1 through 4, the teacher will provide a printed copy of the "prompt card" and students will complete the rough draft of their responses using pencil and paper. 12. Once thoughtful, quality responses are prepared, students will navigate to their chosen slides on the template and record the "Voice" version of their written responses. They can use the doodle feature while recording, if needed. 13. If a student gets finished before the end of the class period, encourage them to view comments that have been left by other students!


 * After the Lesson**


 * If necessary, the teacher may choose to make the Natural and Man-made Disasters template available as a station on a classroom computer. This will allow opportunity for students who wish to edit or revise their comments to do so. *Once all student comments are complete, the teacher MUST then change the settings within the Natural and Man-made Disasters thread to PUBLIC...this will allow it to be viewed. The teacher can also choose if the thread is only "viewable" or if viewers can also "add comments." (Directions for changing the settings)
 * The teacher should then make the address to the Natural and Man-made Disasters thread available for students and parents. This can be done by adding the address to the class newsletter or embedding the address as a link on the teacher's webpage. (Directions for providing the thread address to students and parents.)

[|Natural and Man-made Disasters Voicethread!!!]

The teacher will model using the [|Disaster Voicethread] to record a comment by choosing the picture in the lower left hand corner and choosing their identity. Then recording a comment by clicking on the microphone. Save must be pressed after each comment. If you wish to cancel your comment press cancel. The teacher will discuss the importance of fluency, tone, and the need to record in a quiet place if possible. The teacher in this lesson will need to point out the use of the prompt card and display a prompt card on the document reader to model writing in the information using complete well-written sentences. (The [|prompt card] is used to get our ideas down and allows students to practice reading with fluency before the actual recording.)
 * Additional Info**

The teacher will model going to the next image by using the arrow in the lower right corner and going back with the arrow in the lower left corner.

The teacher will model using the typing comment feature by clicking type and typing in the speech bubble. Save must be pressed after each comment.

The teacher will model using the Doodle feature by clicking the type and then clicking the color wheel to the right and using the cursor to control the pen to circle or draw on an image.