Tool #7

1. After visiting the resources above, design a collaborative project with another classroom.
2. Post the following about the project:
   1. Content objective
   2. When you plan to implement
   3. What tool(s) you plan to use
   4. A brief description of the project (plan - two or three sentences)
   5. If you need to find another classroom - We can begin networking with other classrooms right here!

I visited One World Classrooms (amazing) and Class 2 Class.  Interestingly enough, I found a few ideas on Class 2 Class that sounded so much fun.  Just connecting your classroom to another group would be of interest to them.  So much could be learned if you were to choose a different culture! 

I found a project on Class 2 Class that I thought was enlightening.  The project was called, Learning the Game of Go, and was started on February 1, 2003.  This was an attempt to connect many classrooms and learn how to play the ancient Chinese game of Go.  What blew me away was how out of date this already is.  The concept of connecting to other classrooms and learning to play this game together is a great one.  The out of date part is that they are using Blackboard, which is a program that colleges use with students as a simulation.  Although this is still in effect, there are many other tools that could be used to connect these classrooms much more effectively.  Technology is almost a thing of the past before it even begins.

I would love to use another project I read about called Global Johnny Appleseed Project.  The objective in this case could be science related and the importance of trees to our atmosphere or social studies and connect with a different culture that you could learn about while attempting to increase the number of trees in the world.  If teaching a primary grade, I would implement this in the fall when farmers are harvesting and apples are in season.  I would solicit help from parents who could possibly assist us with planting the trees and the preparations that would be necessary.  I have a good friend who teaches in Maryland and I would love to use Skype and connect our classrooms.  In addition, we have some neighbors currently living in Kazakhstan and would LOVE to connect with them and learn about their culture.  It would be great to speak class to class on Skype, but possibly using Class2Class to share our results would be even better.  We would have to plan our tree project from deciding whether to plant seeds or a small seedling that had taken root.  Skyping with a farmer or someone from a tree company would be of interest in getting started.  I think the kids would LOVE THIS!!