Lincoln talkers

As part of our study of Lincoln, the students create these Lincoln talkers.  They actually make them and fill them with words or quotes for their Lincoln recital text.

Students are shown a model, receive an explanation of what to do, and are given a circle to use for the talker, but that is it.  I like that they all look so different.  The kids do a nice job making the head outline, and then they add details to that.

 

The mouth opens to reveal words or phrases from a speech that President Lincoln gave or part from a poem about President Lincoln.

This activity forces children to choose what they think is most important in their piece of writing, because they typically can't fit the whole text into his mouth.  Also, it puts them into the practice of reviewing the text again so that they are prepared to recite it to the class.

I have used these talkers for different things over the years.   I have had students make themselves and fill the mouth with adjectives about themselves, had them be other famous people we are studying and put ideas that they think they would say, make leprechauns and fill the mouth with a limerick....the possibilities are endless!

I hope you can find a use for them with your kids.  Let me know if you have other ideas for uses!  ( I love comments!)

RAFT follow-up

So we concluded our unit on Jane Addams with the RAFT project I blogged about earlier.  I was so pleased with the students' output!  They worked very hard, and used their computer time so wisely so that it could be completed at school.  Nearly all of them completed it at school.

This year, each of the RAFT options were chosen by someone!  I think that is a first.  I am including some of the final projects for your reading pleasure.  :)  I hope that if you don't know much about Jane Addams, you know more after reading their projects.  More importantly, I hope that you can see that they learned about Jane Addams!  :)

Have you ever used a RAFT?

RAFT is a student choice project which allows students to show their knowledge of a subject in a variety of ways.

The above RAFT is one I created for a unit we are doing on Jane Addams.  Students have 6 project options that they can do which shows their knowledge of Jane Addams.

RAFT stands for Role, Audience, Format, and Topic. Students read across the row to determine which project will be best for them.  For example, a student may choose to be a social worker who is writing a letter to his parents explaining to them why he is so glad that he chose to be a social worker.  In the letter, he would list the jobs that a social worker at the beginning of the 20th century would have done.  This would be done in a way that keeps the voice of a child to a parent and follows the format of a letter.

The formats labeled DIGITAL are broad on purpose.  I have tried to expose my students to many different online tools as well as other publishing tools, and the digital term means they can use any of them...Photostory, Prezi, Glogster, Powerpoint, SMART Notebook...  All children will be encouraged to type their project.  Time is given in class for the work to be done because it is an assessment, and I want the child's ideas.

Have you ever used a RAFT?  In what subject did you use it?  The students appreciate the choice options, and I like the differentiated options that can reach learners at all levels show their understanding in a way that best suits them.

You can access a copy of the above RAFT plus the rubric I use to score it by clicking on the image above.

History and Fun

You know you are becoming addicted to blogging when you are on vacation and just can't wait for a break so you can check out what's going on in blogworld!

My family and I are enjoying Philadelphia for a couple of days.  On our way out here, we were able to fit Gettysburg and Valley Forge in for some history learning.  We have really enjoyed the historical sites here in Philly, too.  I get chills thinking about the places we are visiting and the fact that George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Ben Franklin lived and walked in these same places.

We have been lucky to expose our boys to a lot of historical landmarks in our travels.  While it wears me out to lug them all over (often alone because my husband is in meetings), I think it is good for them to be able to have a real reference to the places talked about in history class.  It also allows me to be  a more engaging teacher because I am talking about places that I have actually been to.

Sometimes, they aren't thrilled with going to these places.   They would rather stay in the hotel and swim.  I believe it is worth a little fight now.  I believe they will be more enriched and better citizens because of these experiences.  I also know while every moment isn't a "lovely family moment" among the six of us while on vacation, we are making memories to last a life time!