This course will challenge upper elementary student to examine the impact of the conflict between the United States and Japan during World War II. The historical fiction novels of Eleanor Coerr,
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes and
Mieko and the Fifth Treasure, along with online investigations will support students in constructing understanding of the significant events of World War II. The knowledge acquired by students will be used to create multi-media presentations.
Course Objectives & Goals
Goals:
*Students will use fiction and non-fiction text to write summaries and questions
*Students will navigate in the a virtual learning environment to learn the history of World War II
*Students will interact with peers by using a online forum to make meaning of text
*Students will create a multimedia presentation using Digital Storyteller to demonstrate learning of course content
*Students will examine their own understanding of people with disabilities based on how they responded to questions related to disability awareness test
Objectives:
After completing this course, students will be able to perform the following tasks:
Language Arts:1. Compare and contrast information on the same topic after reading several
passages or articles.
2. Distinguish between cause and effect and between fact and opinion in expository text.
3 Follow multiple-step instructions in a basic technical manual (e.g., how to use computer commands).
4 .Use appropriate strategies when reading for different purposes (e.g., full comprehension, location of information, primary source documents).
5. Identify the main events of the plot, their causes, and the influence of each event on future actions.
6. Use knowledge of the situation and setting and of a character's traits and motivations to determine the causes for that character's actions.
7. Quote or paraphrase information sources, citing them appropriately.
8. Locate information in reference texts by using organizational features (e.g., prefaces, appendixes).
9. Use various reference materials (e.g., dictionary, thesaurus, card catalog, encyclopedia, online information) as an aid to writing.
History/Social Studies:10. Locate the country of Japan and the major cities in the country on a map.
11. Understand the customs and religion of the Japanese culture.
12. Recall the significant events of World War II.
13. Create a time-line which details the significant events of World War II.
Technology:14. Navigate a Moodle course to support learning and research.
15. Apply strategies for identifying and solving routine problems that occur while using hardware and software.
16. Collaborate with peers with the use of an online journal.
17. Design and develop a multimedia presentation to for audiences inside and outside the classroom.
Grading BreakdownAssignment Points
Journal Responses 10 points each
Expository/Media Summaries 10 points each
Quizzes 20 points each
Final Project 80 points
Total 200 points
Course GradesA = 94 – 100
A-= 90 – 93
B+= 87- 89
B = 84- 86
B-= 80- 83
C+= 77- 79
C= 74- 76
C-= 70 – 73
Grades below 70% require revision or alternate assignments for partial credit
Online AssignmentsEach week of the course, students will respond to a question that is provided by the teacher. The question will require students to go beyond the text by drawing an inference or making a connection All students will also draft one question related to the weekly reading assignment. The question will be posted in the forum activity block and will be responded to by peers who are enrolled in the course. The teacher will evaluate responses and questions.
Summary of Expository TextStudents will read expository text and interact with historical media each week that is related to the events of World War II. The Student will write an online summary of the content. The teacher will evaluate the summary.
Quizzes
Students will take an online quiz each week that reviews the weekly content of the course. The questions will evaluate comprehension of the novel, expository text, and media components of the course.
Final ProjectAt the conclusion of the course, students working in groups will create a multimedia presentation that reflects the content of the weekly lessons. The presentation will include a summary of the main events of the U.S. war with Japan. Students will also incorporate pictures and audio files with the goal of engaging an authentic audiance. The final project will be graded in accordance with the rubric that is referenced below and included in the course Moodle.
http://www.sdlax.net/longfellow/sc/ck/info/teacher/ckpodcastrubric3.pdf />
Assignment Deadline
The reading of the novel chapters must be completed prior to the students scheduled computer time that will be denoted on the course schedule. Students will have two sessions on the classroom computers each week. Any additional computer time needed to complete the weekly assignments or the final project is the responsibility of the student. Students will have access to the course for homework or at the site computer lab that is open daily after school. Students who are absent on the day of their scheduled computer session will need to arrange for a make-up time at the lab, or complete the assignment on a home computer.
Assignments missing or incomplete on the course schedule due dates will result in loss of recess until complete and parent contact. Late work is also subject to a loss of ten percent of the points for the given assignment for each day it is late.
Safeguarding your Work
Your will back-up all your work using the procedure that is discussed in the course. This will be reviewed with the whole-class. When your computer session ends in the class, please exit the course, but do not turn off the computer.
