My Multiple Intelligences assignment in the Instructional Collaboration course led to something wonderful in the fourth grade curriculum. I decided to do my chart based on a United States unit that is used in fourth grade social studies classes. After a general study of the states, students are each assigned an individual state to research and present to the class.
Once I got going and started thinking outside of the box (using the nine intelligences we had studied), I brainstormed a variety of activities that could go with this unit, including skits, a commercial, a brochure, a puzzle activity and more. I was so excited that I immediately went to the fourth grade teachers and showed them my ideas, promising that I would assist with anything they might want to use. They liked my ideas, and the unit evolved into a real collaborative project. First, the teachers allowed me to actually introduce and start the unit off with some basic research skills in my library class using both print and electronic resources. Then the students were assigned their individual states; I helped them find their resources and covered notetaking skills as they did their research. I used a great picture book called When Marion Copied by Brook Berg to cover the concept of plagiarism. The fourth grade teachers and I agreed on very basic citations for a bibliography, and I helped the girls understand the importance of crediting sources. The teachers decided that the final assessment would be a brochure and a commercial presentation promoting the particular state. An afternoon was set aside for these presentations, and students each brought in a food-related to their state (this added another aspect to the research). Parents were invited, too. The commercials the girls devised were creative and delightful. Some included songs and special props or costumes. The project was a huge success and the presentations have now become an annual tradition in fourth grade. I am grateful that the School Library Media program gave me the assignment that prompted such a creative project. It was particularly appropriate for 21st century learners who encounter such easy access to methods for plagiarism through the advancement of technology. I believe that all students should be introduced to the concept of integrity in their academic work as early on as possible.
Once I got going and started thinking outside of the box (using the nine intelligences we had studied), I brainstormed a variety of activities that could go with this unit, including skits, a commercial, a brochure, a puzzle activity and more. I was so excited that I immediately went to the fourth grade teachers and showed them my ideas, promising that I would assist with anything they might want to use. They liked my ideas, and the unit evolved into a real collaborative project. First, the teachers allowed me to actually introduce and start the unit off with some basic research skills in my library class using both print and electronic resources. Then the students were assigned their individual states; I helped them find their resources and covered notetaking skills as they did their research. I used a great picture book called When Marion Copied by Brook Berg to cover the concept of plagiarism. The fourth grade teachers and I agreed on very basic citations for a bibliography, and I helped the girls understand the importance of crediting sources. The teachers decided that the final assessment would be a brochure and a commercial presentation promoting the particular state. An afternoon was set aside for these presentations, and students each brought in a food-related to their state (this added another aspect to the research). Parents were invited, too. The commercials the girls devised were creative and delightful. Some included songs and special props or costumes. The project was a huge success and the presentations have now become an annual tradition in fourth grade. I am grateful that the School Library Media program gave me the assignment that prompted such a creative project. It was particularly appropriate for 21st century learners who encounter such easy access to methods for plagiarism through the advancement of technology. I believe that all students should be introduced to the concept of integrity in their academic work as early on as possible.