Our 20 and 21 year old sons along with two friends blazed a trip across
Europe this summer using Eurorail passes. It was very fun but challenging
buying water, keeping in touch with no European cell phones, language
issues, money exchange issues (Switzerland ONLY takes Francs not Euros),
wiring emergency money, safety issues, schedules for museums and archeology
visits that they loved....it was life changing. (sky diving over the Alps!)
I have been thinking.... how can I use this with my midde school students?
This April, after testing, we did a fun research project on a country in
Europe. We worked with our librarian to list the number of sources we had
regarding countries and opened it to the Internet, as well. Our sons' trip
has given me the idea to create teams of 2-3 to create a summer trip across
Europe (or you could do the USA) with a budget, using hostels (research
them), plan an itineary, apply for a passport, airplane, food, water,
safety. Create the experience, write about how you hope it will unfold,
predict, and then write as though you have taken it.
What conflicts might they expect? How could they solve them? Compare and
contrast the USA to their experience.
I am planning to do it after testing next late April. We will spend time in
the library--learning to use the resources-- researching with books and
online before using the computer lab. They will research the countries that
they choose and write about it from a factual point of view and creatively
in a journal format. ("Today we were in Barcelona and there is talk of the
bulls running. This happens every summer in Spain because....". )Then they
will present their reports practicing public speaking skills. Some students
made great visual aids so I will encourage that, as well. They were so
excited about their work and I am hoping the trip that my sons took will
enhance my teaching to inspire them more.
I love the idea of AAA. I have been a member for 20 years so I will use this
as a resource. Thank you.
----- Original Message -----
From: "kimberlee hannan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "A list for improving literacy with focus on middle grades."
<[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2007 7:15 PM
Subject: Re: [LIT] Lessons to share...
> My best ever, and favorite lesson(s) were for my 4, 5, and 6th graders my
> first few years in multi-age. It was the first big project we did
> together
> in class. I haven't done it lately, but now that I think about it....
>
> I called AAA. I have a membership with them. I asked for several of
> their
> travel books. They gave me 15 of the previous years' books.
>
> The assignment: You have $1000.00 and 1 friend. You need to plan a trip
> that takes you from Crescent City to San Diego. You have one week. You
> may
> stop at any tourist attraction, hotel, motel, etc. You and your friend
> must
> stick together and share the money equally.
>
> Remember that food, lodging, gas, entertainment cost money and need to be
> included in your budget. You have an parent driver, if you choose to have
> one, who is not included in your budget. You are to write an itinerary, a
> budget, and a journal of your daily activities.
>
> I think I gave them two weeks to do this and a small notebook. Along the
> way we discussed and demoed several ways to do a budget, what an itinerary
> was and how to write one. Any questions they asked were, "I don't know.
> How can you decide that?"
>
> Remember, this took place before the Internet became common. Over the few
> years I did this: I had kids calling for train and bus schedules.
> Learning
> to read them and manipulate them. I had them talking to hotel managers.
> Calls to Grandma, aunt, and family friends with homes along the way were
> very common. Of course almost everyone had the Disneyland stop.
>
> When the adults on the phone believed the kids were for real, it was
> great.
> I did have a few come back with stories of being told off by business
> people. We talked about being customers and consumers. They moved on to
> get help from someone that was helpful.
>
> It was absolutely the most powerful thing we did. Once the standards
> became
> the "law" I had to let it go. I just couldn't figure out how to fit this
> wonderful round lesson into the horrible square box.
>
> Now with the internet, and spreadsheets, and various other assistance, I
> wonder how I could make this feasible. OR Since I am teaching Medival
> History and LA next year, I wonder if I can use this idea without
> borrowing
> any books. I will have to think about that. Hmmm.
> Kim
>
>
>
> Kimberlee Hannan
> Department Chair
> Sequoia Middle School
> Fresno, California 93702
>
>
> Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, let go of what you can't
> change, kiss slowly, play hard, forgive quickly, take chances, give
> everything, have no regrets.. Life's too short to be anything but happy.
>
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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