Operation: Earth

Hello, team. I have put together 25 of the best Archaeologists in the universe. We have a big task for you to do. 450 years ago the Earth was destroyed as you all know. We have recently been accepted by the galactic empire to go back and excavate the remains of what happened. A team of archaeologists has uncovered the remains of a University in a place that seems to have once been called Ellensburg. They have reported that they are finding very little, but so far they have found 5 artifacts.

The first artifact they have found is a vehicle. This vehicle was hidden under the rebel of a flattened University. The second artifact they found was a substance called Velcro. I've never seen anything quite like it before. It was on the wrists of a jacket that used to be worn by ancient humans. The third artifact they found was a computer. This is something that we have today, but I never knew that it started on Earth. The fourth artifact they found was something called a pencil. It was wooden with a substance in the middle, it was actually quite strange. And the fifth thing that they uncovered was a television set. It seems that they watched things on a flat board, also strange.

What I need you guys to do is research what the origins of these artifacts are. You guys are in 6^th grade so this shouldn't be too difficult as professional archaeologists as well. I need you to get on a ship and fly down to earth and report on what you found. I want you to look at the artifacts, get a picture, and than research them and report in to me. I would like a field report done as well as a chart to show me. This will help the Universe understand what life was like on Earth. Thank you, and good luck team!

-Captain Hutch

Operation: EARTH

Objectives

Students will understand the following: 1. How certain inventions came to be. 2. Inventors who create famous inventions.

Materials

For this lesson, you will need: • Computer with Internet access • Printed index or online database of articles in periodicals

Procedures

The year is 3083, the Earth has been evacuated. For this activity, you will need to find out how famous inventions came to be when Earth was still alive. We are wanting you to become an Archaeologist for the artifacts that were dug up during an excavation at a sight on the destroyed planet. Here are the five artifacts that were dug up: Vehicles Velcro Computers Pencils Television Set I want you to pick one artifact and research this. The rest of the Archaeologists will research the remaining artifacts. Your end product will be a written report. 2. We would like you to choose 3 out of the four questions to be answered in your report: Why did the object first come about? Did someone set out to make it, or did an accident of sorts inspire the inventor? Through what stages did the object develop? What caused changes in the object over time? How did the everyday object in question affect the way people behave? What was the economic impact of the object? That is, how many are made each year, and how many people were involved in making it? 3. Because the year is 3083, humans no longer rely in books. You must use the Universal Database to research what these objects were and why they came to be. 4. Your report will be in narrative mode, moving forward in chronological order: explaining where the inventor began, what happened when, and how event  transpired once the inventor or someone else recognized the usefulness of the new product. 6. For a final question, is this project more about science or more about writing? Is it just as important to write well on a science topic as it is when writing a book report about a novel? 7. I will also need a field report on the artifacts, fill out the chart below for the one topic you choose. Here is an example chart, underneath the example chart is the one you will be filling out. This chart will help you with your report. And remember, we have already gone over reports, so you know how to write one. Artifact Name and Picture Inventor of Artifact and Dates lived Artifact use Electricity Thomas Edison 1847-1931 Was used as a light and a replacement to candle light. Artifact Picture and Name Inventor of Artifacts and dates lived Artifact use

Universal Data Base Sites for Information:

·       http://inventors.about.com/od/tstartinventions/a/Television.htm

·       http://www.computerhope.com/issues/ch000984.htm

·       http://www.rocketcityspacepioneers.com/space/who-invented-the-pencil

·       http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/auto.html

·       http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1996883,00.html

Report Criteria:

Because you are a professional archaeologist I need you to write a professional report. This report includes:

·       Introductory Paragraph introducing what your report will say

·       2 Body paragraphs, one for the inventor and the other for the invention

·       A conclusion paragraph summarizing the report

·       A reference page citing your reference(s)

·       Correct information as to who invented what, if you try to cheat or copy I will catch you and you will be fired as a researcher and fail your report.

·       The field report chart stapled to the back of the report.

§  Tips: Do not forget your name, date, class, and title of report.

The above criteria is a checklist. If you have all of this then you will receive a good grade on your report.

By doing this activity students will be able to acquire the skills that is needed to research historical events and items. They will also have more confidence in researching through the internet. They are also practicing their report skills as well. The students are sixth graders so this assignment isn't extremely easy. By doing this they will learn what it is like when researching and referencing what they find on the internet or an resources that they use academically. 

Happy Friday!!

Happy Friday second graders! Like I went over in class you all need to ask your parent(s) or guardian(s) about their experiences with animals. Come to class on Monday with a story to tell about your parents experiences during sharing time. The link for the Zoo we are going to is posted at the bottom below my name. Have a great weekend and I will see you all on Monday!

-Mr. Hutchinson

http://www.pdza.org/

Zoo Reminder

Hello Students! Remember next Friday we will be going to the Zoo! So please be sure to have your parents sign the permission form I sent home with you today. I will post a link to the zoo's website for you and your parents to look at later tomorrow. I will see you all tomorrow for a happy Friday!

-Mr. Hutchinson

Educational Links

Reading:

 http://www.readingrockets.org/

Reading rockets is a very informational website targeted for parents and teachers for teaching reading. Reading rockets has a variety of children’s books and authors as well as tips and ideas. There is a lot of useful information from other professionals in the field.

http://www.cookie.com/kids/stories/viewallstories.html

Cookie is a a very interactive and engaging website targeted for a younger audience. It has a avariety of games, stories, videos, and worksheets to help with reading. This website promotes reading as a fun activity that can be experienced individually or with friends and family.

http://www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks/index.asp

Scholastic Stacks is a website that is targeting children from K-12 who like to read. This website has a variety of games, books and authors, blogs, and videos to help students enjoy reading. This website also sells books and reading materials for anyone who might like the material.

Geography:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/

National Geographic Kids is a popular website for children to learn about geography, environments, animals, and the habitats we live in. This site has games, videos, photos, videos, games, news, and a community blog. This is a very engaging website with a lot of useful information for students of all ages to learn.

Health:

http://kids.discovery.com/tell-me/health

Discovery Kids Health is a very active and engaging website made for younger kids to learn about health. This website has games, videos, pictures, and trivia type of worksheets. Students can even explore their own bodies on this website by clicking on the parts for the names.

Science:

http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/

Science Kids is also a very active and engaging website for kids of all ages. It’s a colorful website that has games, experiments, facts, quizzes, lessons, and videos that teach a variety of elements in Science. This website is a more hands on website for kinesthetic learners to watch and engage in different activities.

Math:

http://www.ixl.com/promo?partner=google&phrase=Search%20-%20kids%20math&gclid=CIy3z7m3w7YCFWXZQgodMmMAsQ

IXL is a math website that is for pre-school through 12^th grade students who want to learn about math. This website includes practice, reports, awards, quizzes, and an integration of state standards.

http://www.kidsmathgamesonline.com/

Kids Math Games is a website much like the science website with the same basic format. This website includes numbers, geometry, facts, worksheets, videos, quizzes, pictures, and games that help with teaching math to student who have a rough time with it in the classroom.

Music:

http://www.kidsknowit.com/educational-songs/

Kids Know It is a great website that teaches educational songs in many different subject areas. There are songs about geography, math, reading, life skills, and language among many others. These songs can help the auditory learners with rhyming and remembering different patterns.

Education:

http://pbskids.org/

PBS Kids is an extremely active and entertaining website geared towards children from Pre-K through 5^th. This website includes books, games, videos, and interactive buttons that speak back to you. This website has a combination of reading, writing, science, math, geography, and history all into one website that is very engaging for students.