This was so much fun making this video project. When I first started this class and read that we had to make a video I was first kind of nervous but then realized it would be shown to us how to accomplish this. I knew for a while I wanted to teach the Pollination process just because I wanted to incorporate my pet Fonzie. He makes a debut and does a wonderful job if I do say so myself. I told some people that I was excited for this project because I had never made a video. They couldn’t believe I had never made a video and I explained to them about editing and transitions and etc, then they thought it was so cool that I was learning this much in this class, which is so true. There are some classes you take and you feel like you haven’t gotten anything out of it by the end of the class, that is totally the opposite for this class. Learned so much and had so much fun!



Movie Maker instructions

When I watched the “Growing Up Online” I was really shocked. I would like to comment on the Jessica story that even went to the extent of making up a different name; I believe she used the name Autumn. I mean she was clearly different then all the students she went to school with. It even looked like she couldn’t talk to her parents about it, they seemed so All American and I sure they wouldn’t understand that she was going through a phase where she needed someone. So, she reached out to the people on the internet. Now, maybe if this would have gone on longer Jessica or “Autumn” wouldn’t be here to talk about it because of online predators but I just don’t see how it was any of the schools business what she was doing after school hours. That is the parent’s responsibility. I just can’t get over teachers doing things like these. There is a school close to me where the coaches would get on facebook and kick people of their teams because of pictures posted online that had alcohol in them. Now, alcohol is one thing, but who cares that Jessica got on the internet and wanted to be another person. I can’t even imagine them taking that away from her. I would be so scared if I was her parents that she would kill herself. That was like taking away her life in a sense, it was all she had.

Blogging is a new thing to me. I have followed several of my friends blogs, but never created my own. I just can't see why someone would want to "follow" what I am doing every day in my life. Then again, I think to myself about how I follow a lot of my friends and love seeing how they are doing. I never thought about using a blog in a classroom setting. It just goes to show how much times are changing. Twitter is a big thing now, which I just have no desire to start one of those. I'm trying to pull away from being sucked into the computer. I am already addicted to facebook and slowly but surely inching myself away from that. These sites are blocked at the schools around this area, but it crazy to think that one day teachers will be using these sites as classroom tools.
Twitter

So, as we were talking in class about things you should and should not do on the internet. It is very important for children to know that they can not trust everyone. There are bad people out there. Everyone always told me about this website you can go onto to find sexual offenders around your area. I finally went on it and it is scary. I mean I live in a tiny little town, but we have quite a few. I remember when I was in Elementary out on the play ground the teachers got us all together and told us if a man in a white truck comes up to you and tries to talk to you run away and get a teacher. I guess there was a guy driving around in a white truck to different schools and trying to get kids to come talk to him in his truck. It's a scary thing being a teacher and having the responsibility for these kids. I love going on field trips too but I am such a worry wart that when I become a teacher it probably won't be fun to go on field trips because I will be so worried for all the children safe being.

Find sexual offenders in your neighborhood.

This project I think will be very fun for the kids. I will have the kids plant the four plants in different conditions. I think it will be interesting for the kids to visually see that the plants need sunshine and water to grow. It will be chaos with the kids running around measuring the plants, but I think if I make them stay in their groups and I will tell them when to move on to the next plant to measure, we will be able to cut down on the chaos. After they have documented their data, it is off to the computer. I don’t think any child will have problems with the excel sheet. I made it very user friendly, with bright colors to keep their attention.

Plant project in a variety of soils -This is the same type of project I did with my students except she chose different soil settings, instead of different lighting and water conditions.

Making a website was so neat. I have never done anything like this. You would think that is weird since I just graduated high school a few years ago. Most high schools have web design courses but we didn't. I am so glad I got a chance to play around with it because this is a very amazing tool to have. I had no idea google provided so many different things such as websites.
I had never even heard of a webquest before starting this class. Come to find out they are every where on the internet. This was a great thing to create because it is something I will use in the classroom with my students.
I really enjoyed making it and I think I will utilize this in the classroom with different thematic units as well.
Webquest on plants - This was someone elses webquest that was really neat, I thought.

I just bought these begonia's for my front yard. I love them! I love plants! (which is why I picked this unit)!

This was a fun project and I really enjoyed creating it. I think it will really help students learn the different parts and functions of a plant. Some of the questions were a little more difficult than others, so I did provide a link that will help the students complete this. I wrote in the directions that the students should try and figure out as much of the cluster as possible before going to the link. I am trusting their honesty that they will do this. :-)
I remember doing a lot of these clusters in high school to help me write an essay. Once the children have completed the cluster I will recommend them to keep the assignment on hand for a paper that will be assigned at a later date.


Plant cluster worksheet

My First Blog!