Technology Integration Plan

Family Heritage

By Stephen Cook

Phase I: Relative Advantage

I would like my students to investigate their family’s history in an effort to create a deeper appreciation of their own unique cultural background. Using the internet, students will have access to materials that can help them accomplish that goal.

Phase II: Objectives and Assessment

• To provide experience on a third grade level that focuses on exploring each student’s unique family history.• During this series of lessons, students will:

• Create a family tree• Research their family’s country(s) of origin using

mapping and timeline applications.• Make a sketch of their family crest• Write descriptions of celebrations and traditions with

their families that link to their family’s history.• Use online resources to obtain specific information

Phase II: Objectives and Assessment

• To assess the outcomes of these projects, you need to look at a number of different factors.• Throughout the unit, the student should have:

• Interviewed family members and utilized online research materials to gather important information.

• Made meaningful connections to the material through reflective written passages.

• Kept on task within the unit and met assigned deadlines.

• Formal Assessments• Family Tree• Art Sketch• Research Report

Phase III: Integration Strategies• Constructivist Method- students will make a more meaningful connection when they have a say in what they will learn.• Technology can support this method by allowing students the options to explore the material and gather the information in whichever way they choose.

• Online resources open an entire world of possibilities to discover family history, from ancestry to geographical chronology.

• To prepare students to use these technologies, everything has to be thoroughly checked for authenticity and appropriate content. It is the teacher’s responsibility to fact check and make every effort to guide their students through a safe and productive online environment.

• Every website and every online application should be tested.

Activity 1: The Family Tree

• Teacher will give an interactive read-aloud with the book Me and My Family Tree by Joan Sweeney.•Students are then told that they will be making their own family trees and can view the WebQuest provided to get some ideas as to how to gather and organize their information.•Once students have completed their research, they will then go to www.familyecho.com and use the online template to create their tree.• Print trees and decorate • Share final product with the class.

Activity 2: The Family Crest• The teacher would begin with a class discussion about what exactly a coat of arms is. There are two excellent resources to help in that explanation.

• How to Trace Your Coat of Arms Video• Ehow.com article on family crests

• Then students will have the opportunity to find their own family’s coat of arms.

• House of Names• After finding their picture, students will then sketch their coat of arms in Kid Pix or another drawing application and display them to the rest of the class.

Activity 3: Country of Origin• Students will research one country of origin and gather information.• All research will be conducted online with some of the following resources

• New World Encyclopedia• Encyclopedia.com• Google Maps

• Students will then organize the information into a short presentation using either PowerPoint or Windows Movie Maker• Presentations can be displayed on Smart board or overhead projector connected to a computer.

Phase IV: Instructional Environment

• Students will need the following• Computer with internet connection and printer• Unit packet outlining the three activities,

expectations and deadlines. Packet also includes all online resources and instructions on how to use said resources

• Drawing program• Writers notebook for reflections• Pencil• Access to family members to gather information• Time to complete projects- 2 weeks

Phase IV: Instructional Environment

• The online resources listed will be arranged according the progression of the unit.• A packet would be made for the entire unit with each of the lessons detailed and the resources available to complete the task. •Not only would the links to the sites be given, but explicit instructions as to how to use the site.

• In some instances, the teacher may even model how to use the site in order for each student to understand the layout of the site and not be confused as to how to navigate.

• Further planning includes thoroughly checking the sites for appropriate and accurate content as detailed in previous slides.

Phase V: Evaluate and Revise

• The integration strategies will be evaluated by overall performance in the following key areas:

• How well they utilize class time to complete assignments• How well they utilize their resources outside of class to

gather information and conduct research• Thoughtful reflections in written assignments• Completion of three major assignments by their deadlines• A clear understanding of the material they present

• The total project will be evaluated by the finished products of all three main assignments and the demonstrated knowledge and growth each student displays during the duration of the unit.

Student LessonActivity # 1

Creating a Family TreeResearch and Presentation

Creating a Family Tree

• Introduction• A family tree is a unique look into your family’s

history. A timeline of people and places that tell the story of how you came to be. It gives a glimpse of the past of those who came before us, some of whom you may never have met. In this activity, you will create your family tree and retrace your family’s place in history.

• The Task• After gathering research with your family at

home, you will create your family tree online. After your tree is completed, you will tell your family’s story, sharing it with the rest of the class.

Creating a Family Tree• The Process

• After we read the book Me and My Family Tree in class, you will go home and interview your family members, gathering information on the structure of your family. Make a rough sketch of your tree and fill in the information as you find it. Interview as many family members as you can. I would suggest trying to interview• Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, etc.

• The more people you interview, the more thorough your information will be. Bring the information to class on the assigned day and we will begin the process of making your family tree online.

Creating a Family Tree

• The Online Tree• Once you have gathered your information, bring it to

class. We will be using the computer lab to go online at www.familyecho.com to make our trees.

• At the beginning of class, I will go through the steps with the entire class to ensure we understand how to navigate through the site. I will walk around and help you throughout the process.

• Once all of the information has been entered into the site, you may add photos if you wish. You can either bring in digital photos or printed photos that can be scanned into the computer and used online.

Creating a Family Tree

• Presentations• After you have completed your online family tree, you will print the results and decorate your trees. You will then prepare a 6-8 minute presentation on your tree as you take us through your family’s history.

Creating a Family Tree• How you will be graded

• You will hand in the following items during the course of the assignment • Your interviews with family members and research

gathered at home • Your family tree rough draft sketch• Your finished family tree printed in the computer lab• Your completed family tree

• The following things will also be factored into your grade• Meeting the assigned deadlines• How well you utilize your time in and out of the

classroom• Behavior in the computer lab• Presentation