Saturday, April 23, 2011

ETC_Final Project

What an amazing lesson for my students! They have loved experimenting with Zimmer Twins. Watch the video to learn how I implemented the website in my Language Arts block. Follow the lesson plan below to share this wonderful web 2.0 tool in your classroom!




















Zimmer Twins Lesson Plan

Jonnie Williams
1.    Target Audience – My target audience will be my class of second grade students in my class and in the computer lab.

2.   Materials – Teacher and students will need access to a computer and the Internet. Completing this project on a large interactive whiteboard is very helpful.

3.   Objectives – Students will create a comic story video on ZimmerTwins.com, identify the story elements, and evaluates other comic videos by posting an appropriate comment.

4.   Procedure
Ø  Before getting started with the class, go to the website www.zimmertwins.com and create an account. Then, make a comic video and/or watch some that have already been created and mark them as a favorite.
Ø  With the students, access student background knowledge by discussing what they know about comics.
Ø  Ask students what story elements comics have. (Plot, character, setting, problem, and solution.)
Ø  Go to the web site www.zimmertwins.com and log in. Watch a comic video that you created or put in your favorites.
Ø  Identify the story elements of the comic video watched.
Ø  Then, watch and choose a story starter.
Ø  Have the students identify the story elements of the story starter. Discuss ideas on finishing the story.
Ø  Choose students to help finish the story. (I use popsicle sticks with student numbers on them so I can keep track of student opportunities.)
Ø  Watch the completed comic video and review the story elements.
Ø  You can make another comic video or take the students to the computer lab and have them create one on their own or with a partner. Students can complete a comic video by selecting the create a story from scratch or use a story starter.
Ø  Watch some of the comic videos the students created and use them to identify story elements.
Ø  Show students how to comment on each other’s comic video creations. Model the importance of commenting in a positive manner.
Ø  Encourage students to create some stories at home.
5.   Web 2.0 Tool – www.zimmertwins.com A creative and fun way to be the director and create a comic video.

6.   Social Participation/Social Learning – Students collaborate with a peer to create a comic video. Also, students learn to give appropriate feedback to others about the videos they created.

7.   Making Connections – Students will use their background knowledge of comics and story elements while acquiring new knowledge by creating a comic video on the website www.zimmertwins.com. The website is very kid friendly and the students can view and observe what others around the U.S. have created. Students can make comments on each other's creations but not communicate on a personal basis.

8.   Create/Produce – Students will create and publish a comic video. Students will evaluate other videos by posting an appropriate comment.
Zimmer Twins Rubric

9.   Assessment – Rubric

3
2
1
Created a comic video.
The video flows clearly and makes sense from beginning to end.
The video flows clearly and makes sense most of the time.
The video flows clearly and makes sense some of the time.
Comic video includes story elements
Comic video includes characters, a clear setting, a clear problem, and a clear solution.
Comic video includes only 3 of the story elements.
Comic video includes only 2 of the story elements.

Comments: _____________________________________
_____________________________________________

10. Reflection
a.   Students – Students will be presented with the questions “What did you like about this lesson?” “What did you dislike about this lesson?” “What should the teacher do differently next time she teaches this lesson?”
b.   Teachers – I will document the following, “How did the ending product meet expectations?” “What changes can I make next time I teach this lesson?” “What were the students’ overall attitudes about the lesson?”

3 comments:

  1. Yes, we're going to the computer lab today! Yeah! I love the excitement and the motivation brought about by technology. See, technology is a motivational tool for students to learn! You can see it in their faces and the clapping. Very nice work, Jonnie!

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  2. Awesome! I love it. Jonnie, I have a son who is in first grade this year, and I can only dream that he gets a teacher like you when he hits second grade. As a parent, I see my son's teachers completely focused on teaching exactly what the students need for the comprehensive assessment tests, and not showing much creativity at all when it comes to learning. Granted, I know that exams can be a big motivational factor when it comes to teachers in elementary education, but there is so much more that students can learn, and more ways that they can learn it. It looks like Zimmertwins was a big hit in your class. At that age, those kids will remember that experience for a long time, and also remember the lessons that were taught along with it.

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  3. Jonnie, this is fabulous! It's so motivating, I'm going to try it with my students as soon as I can get to the computer lab!! Great video too! You would be such a fun colleague to have!!

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