World News Report
This is just a test for Mrs. Williams. There is no information here.

Hello, this is Google, how may I help you?

There are approximately 91 million searches a day on Google. How many of those are yours??  Do you know all the tools Google offers to help you with your searching of the World Wide Web?  For example, did you know the Google search bar can be used as a calculator?

Have you heard of Wonder Wheel? Timeline? Pages Preview?  These are just a few of tools Google offers for searching.  Visit my "Google Search Handouts" folder at Google Docs to check out some of these tools!

Globalization Wordles

Students are using wordle.net to make word clouds that show their opinion on whether or not globalization is good for the world.  During the Olympics, students used wordles to show different winter sports. Building on that, students now have to think critically about our topic of globalization.  They have to develop an opinion and then again think critically to decide how best to visually show with words the support for their opinion.  This assessment looks at their knowledge of globalization, their ability to form and support an opinion and their ability to use technology. The students enjoy using wordle, and I look forward to seeing all their creations! See an example of a wordle below and click on it to visit the wordle site.

Chapter 2 Economic Systems and the American Economy Test

Students are finishing up their work for the online course in Moodle for Chapter 2.  They have worked through many tasks to acquire the knowledge in the chapter and now will be working at preparing for the Chapter 2 Test. Three groups will be taking the test Friday, and the fourth group Monday.

When we are done with Moodle, we will take a survey to see how kids felt about the online experience. I'll be sure to share the results when we are done.

Ask your student what he/she has learned about the American Economy to help him/her prepare for the test!

Moodle

Online learning  is becoming more and more apart of the American education system. Some of our students have had the experience with online learning through WCATY, Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth, courses.  I wanted to give all our students the ability to see what online learning communities are like, because at some point in their future, they will either take one or be faced with deciding whether or not to take one.

So, for Chapter 2 of our Economics book students are completing tasks found on our virtual classroom, called Moodle.  To ease the transition of online learning we have other techniques to help. Students are tracking their progress on a class spreadsheet showing tasks that are in progress and those completed.  We also have mini lessons or activities to help us better make text to self connections.

Check out our virtual classroom and see what an online classroom can look like. Scroll down to the Parkside list and select Mrs. Williams, then select Social Studies.   If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

On to Country Spotlights

With region posters going up in the halls, it is time to move onto our country spotlight posters.  Students researched the geography, demography and government of a selected country.  We used CIA World Factbook and the library's subscription to World Book Online (username: wautoma password: hornets) to gather our facts. Then using Microsoft Word, we created posters of our country!  After they are graded and revised, the country posters will be added to the Region Close-Ups learning hotspots around school. Check back soon to see some photos of our work or come on into school and check them out!

Region Close-Ups: Country Spotlights

Southern Europe...Oceania...Middle East...Central Africa...Where!!??!!

Students have spent the month of December working on getting to know world regions and the countries within them. Small groups were assigned a region and the task of creating a "Learning Hotspot"- a large, wall size poster that included their region's name, a map of the region, a world inset map to show where the region is located and some important facts about the region. Check out some of them below.