ISTE SIGIVC 2007: The Artifact Exchange: A Grade 3-4 Project

Organizational Overview
Heritage South is an active member of the The Lorain County Distance Learning Consortium (LCDLC) providing programming to partnered schools and through team teaching of collaborative lessons.

Challenge
Students at Avon Heritage South Elementary School in grades 3 & 4 are required to meet Social Studies standards related to their community, geography, and research. In this process, we also wanted them to understand a community different than their own.

Solution & Innovation
We created a videoconferencing project to connect our students with schools in Texas, Tennessee, Florida and a school in the United Kingdom. Here’s how we did it.

Materials
Clues created by the classroom teachers to be exchanged over email
Items that represent their community to be shared in a videoconference

Phase I: Regional Clues
Two teachers from different areas tell their classes that they have a mystery partner classroom. The classes plan to exchange clues about their location in stages starting from the regional level (if both schools are located in the same country) or the national level (international collaboration). The clues are best submitted through email or read by the students in a videoconference.
Example: We are located near the great lakes

Phase II: State/Province
Once the regions have been guessed the classes exchange clues targeting their state/province. Historic landmarks, state symbols and geographic clues would provide the classes the best clues.
Example: Our state tree is the buckeye

Phase III: Artifact Collection
Students select items that best represent their community to be shared with their partner class. Teachers send the items to their partner school to be opened during the videoconference or have the items onsite to be shared by the students. Items sent to their partner school are either disposable or items that can be kept by the school.
Example: A roll of duct tape – Henkle Adhesives is the largest employer in our community

Phase IV: Local Clues
The final set of clues help students narrow the site to their city and school level. Students share information about their school and their home town.

Phase V: School Identification/ Presentations
In a videoconference the classes guess each others school/community and provide their partner school with a short presentation about their community.

Results
Our students more that meet the standards requirements and have an unforgettable experience. This program has been one of our favorite activities over videoconferencing.

Contact Information
Paul Hieronymus, Curriculum Technology Coordinator Avon Schools, Avon, Ohio 44011
Cell Phone 440-829-8273 hieronymusP@avon.k12.oh.us