Science
Plant Growing Contest
Students from a variety of geographical areas throughout the world plant the same kind of
seeds on the same day, follow the same directions for care of the plants as they grow,
measure the plants, and send data to other participants so they can use this data for
graphing, analyses, and drawing conclusions.
Weather Watch
Students exchange, compare, and graph weather information with other students across the country and around the world
Pollution Patrol
Students measure the quality of the air and water (in lakes, oceans, or rain) and compare findings with students in other parts of the world. The impact of pollution and environmental factors can be addressed.
Mathematics
Sun and Shadows
Students throughout the world measure
the length of shadows cast at the same time on the same date. Comparisons between latitude, shadow length, and
time of year can be analyzed. Measures must
be standardized (using metrics).
Price is Right
Students conduct surveys, collecting
and comparing food, gas, or clothing prices from around the world
Language Arts
Round Robin Stories
Students in participating classes start
a story. Each story-starter is sent to a
predetermined class, and the students add a new section to the story. Stories continue to rotate to the different
classes untiI each story reaches the original class.
Graphics can be added to illustrate the stories or create a book.
Tales to Tell
Exchange and collect regional, ethnic,
and urban folktales from various parts of the world (or country). Compare common themes, and discover what makes
each story unique.
Make-a-Monster
Students write an original, detailed description of a monster. Descriptions are sent to another class. Students in the second class create a picture of the monster from the written description. Results are displayed with the text in both classrooms or posted on the Web.
Social Studies
The Other Side
Contact another school and play Tom
Snyder Productions "The Other Side" - a software program that requires students
to buiId a bridge between two countries while maintaining a stable economy and national
security.
Geography Game
Each class sends local information such
as the latitude, weather, natural resources, etc. to a facilitator. The facilitator sends the information to all
participating classes and they must determine the locations based on the data provided.
Map Skills
Students from various parts of the
world exchange postcards. Each class then
connects the postcards to a large map as they arrive.
Another idea is to have the students plan a fictional trip to visit their keypals,
analyzing the best routes and modes of transportation, amount of money needed, and sites
to see when they arrive.
Foreign Languages
Language Learning
Contact a teacher in a country whose
language your class is studying and arrange for students to exchange "real-lif
e" communication. If each school has a
relatively fast Internet connection, a microphone, and an audio card, the communications
can take place through Internet telephone technologies.
Translating Text
Search on the Internet and locate
newspapers, articles, or Web pages written in a foreign language for your students to
translate.
Fine Arts
Television Time
Contact students in other states and
countries to survey their favorite television shows, movies, or other pastimes. Students can investigate issues such as:
"Students in which countries (or states) watch the most television? Which countries produce their own TV programs, and
which ones dub their language on imported programs? How
do the commercials differ from country to country?"
The Cost of Culture
In some countries, cultural
performances, such as ballets are subsidized by the government. Conduct surveys to find out how much a concert
would cost in proportion to an average daily salary.
Is a professional ballet more expensive or less expensive than a movie? Are the museums free for the pubIic, or is there a
fee?
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Ideas from KSU, Teaching with the Web
Traci Redish and Jerri Cheek