This year, I really need to do something to liven up my Social Studies lessons. While most 4th graders are busy studying their states, we are learning about the entire United States. The scope of our standards is HUGE, and I don't feel like my students get much out of what study.
In order to help my students get more out of Social Studies, I want to do something to connect them to peers in the various regions of the United States. I am still on the fence about exactly what to do. I have thought about doing a postcard exchange, but I really would like the activity to have a bit more depth. I am hoping to find classes around the country (at least 1-2 in each region we study) who are willing to do a few different activities with us throughout the year that aligns to our standards. I think the postcard exchange could be one great component, but I think I'd like to plan some other activities such a questionnaire or survey, letter-writing, and some technology activities. I want my students to have some ownership of this activity, so final decisions about activities will not be made until school starts. My hope is to have three or four high-quality activities to share with our sister schools that do not take immense amounts of time.
If you are interested in being one of the classes we connect with, please leave a comment with a way to contact you (blog or email would be great!) and what state you live in! I'd really love to work with 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade classes in the Northeast, Midwest, Southwest, and West regions. We are in Southeast region, but would love to connect with other Southeastern classes as well!
Map found on: http://lets-study-the-us.wikispaces.com/
Hi!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a really neat idea to me. I am a fourth grade teacher in PA. We also study all the states, not just our own. My email is ugamler@boyertownasd.org.
Thanks,
Ursula
Would love to connect with you and your class! Have you ever done a mystery Skype? I am a 4th grade teacher in LA. My email is eshepherd79@gmail.com
ReplyDelete4th Grade teacher in Upsate New York...would love to connect! My email is kkoziarz@hpschools.org
ReplyDeleteI'm a 4th grade teacher in Iowa and would love to get involved. My email is lau_kim@valley.k12.ia.us
ReplyDeleteI am so excited! I will be in touch VERY soon and we can share some ideas!
ReplyDeleteI am in Silver Lake, WI and would love to communicate...kcoates@silverlakejt1.k12.wi.us
ReplyDeleteHey There!
ReplyDeleteI am a 4/5 combo teacher in the Northern AZ area and I would be very interested in this project with your class. Feel free to contact me at Hishandsandfeet@adelphia.net
I am a 4th grade teacher from Illinois and would love to be a part of this project too! bkraft@ivcschools.com
ReplyDeleteI am a 4th grade teacher in California. Would love to participate. bclarke@galt.k12.ca.us
ReplyDeleteI am a fourth grade teacher in Connecticut and would love to participate. We also study all of the regions. My email is cmarshall@ellingtonschools.net
ReplyDeleteI am a 4th grade teacher in Connecticut and would love to participate. We also study all of the regions. My email is cmarshall@ellingtonschools.net
ReplyDelete4th grade teacher here in NJ that totally agrees with everything you said. It's hard to study the regions, I've been struggling for years. If you do anything with htis, I would love to be involved with you AND the others here who posted.
ReplyDeletePeggy
mrspaulson@gmail.com
I am a 4th grade teacher in GA. This is my first year teaching 4th grade Social Studies and I would love to connect with all of you. We spend the majority of the year focusing on the regions as well. My email is tonya.milton@woodward.edu.
ReplyDeleteI would love to get connected with everyone and join in on this great idea. I'm a 4th grade teacher in Michigan. Have you started this project yet? Thanks, Abbi
ReplyDeleteWe are in tn I would be happy to share what we do...
ReplyDeleteHi, I teach 4th grade in Pennsylvania. We use the "Social Studies Alive" textbooks and I HIGHLY recommend them if your district is looking for something new. That being said, one of the things that series does is teach the children about the culture of each region through hands on activities. Each region has 3 or 4 activities to do with the kids. Today we were learning about the SE region and it's music. I played 4 different songs and the class had to identify what type of music it was based on what instruments they heard and the "type" of song it was. Last week I taught my class the Virginia Reel dance to help them experience what life was like in the SE region in the early 1900's. My plan is to include more cultural experiences and less boring facts that we all know they will forget anyway. Let me know if you have any cultural ideas for the other regions.
ReplyDeleteDgladfelter@pdsd.org
I am a 4th grade teacher in Massachusetts, and I would love to be involved in something like this. I am always looking for new ideas for teaching the regions.
ReplyDeleteHubertL@chelseaschools.com
Hi! I am a 4th grade teacher in North Dakota! I was wondering how this worked out this year and if you are planning on doing it again next year. I would love to get my class invovled. My email is ashlynn.m.aman@sendit.nodak.edu
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Ashlynn
Hello! I teach 4th grade in Southern Minnesota. The state standards recently changed but we are still focused on the regions of the US this year (we are adopting new curriculum next fall). If anyone wants to connect send me your ideas--I'm open to them:
ReplyDeletemnechanicky@albertlea.k12.mn.us
I'm a 4th grade teacher in Oklahoma and we would love to help. srcobb@okcps.org
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry I did not continue with this project! The school year has been a whirlwind of change.
ReplyDeleteI think it would be awesome if we could maybe exchange postcards from our area...even if we only did one card per class...I know my students would LOVE to learn about the various regions from the source...those who live there! I am going to work on trying to contact everyone who commented via email to see who is still interested.