Jigsaw Method

Jigsaw Method Reflection

I found that the Jigsaw Method was very effective. Everyone in both the expert groups as well as the base groups did their part and held themselves individually accountable. When each expert reunited in the base group, they were knowledgeable about their topic and were willing to go into depth to explain it to the rest of their group. I liked the Jigsaw method because it allowed for everyone to become experts on a certain topic and yet still learn about everyone else's topic. 

Before this project I had limited to no knowledge of the Tlingit tribe, nor the other three tribes which included the Muscogee, the Lakota, and the Dine. After watching everyone's presentations I found it interesting to compare what I learned about my own tribe to that of the other tribes. My assigned topic was culture, so I found myself mesmerized by the culture of other Native American tribes and comparing and contrasting them. 

This is a very effective project to implement in the classroom because it allows students to practice the skills of working together in groups. It also allows for students to build their research skills which is very important. 

How to Teach Geography

More than 100 Creative Ways to Teach Geography 

I never realized that there were so many different and creative ways a teacher can approach the subject of Geography. Out of all the 100 creative ideas shared on eclass, some of my favorites were: 

v  "Google Earth Trip" -Box/tub/bucket full of slips of paper, each with a world city, landmark, or destination...first student to pack away gets to pick out a slip of paper, and you fly there as a class in Google Earth. 

Ø  I love this idea because it allows the class to see a place anywhere in the world without even leaving their classroom. I especially like this idea since some students may never have the opportunity to travel out of the country, and with this activity they can at least get to see a location with the accuracy that Google Earth allows.  

v  “Go Local”- Ask students to walk for five minutes in different direction from their homes, school, etc. After five minutes, they take a picture of what they can see at their ‘destination’. Students can produce a simple photomontage, perhaps annotated and linked to a map or a class or group could link photos together.

Ø  This is a creative idea as it allows for students to explore geography right in their own neighborhood. This concept also teaches students to observe all that is around them and appreciate local beaut.

v  “Can of Worms”- When a controversial topic is discusses, it is often said that it “opens up a can of worms.” Make a tin and print off thin strips of pink card each one with statement relating to the topic-fill the tin, students take a worm, and have to talk about the contents for 1 minute-vary the difficulty of the worms.

Ø  This is a creative idea as students do not know what topic they will have to discuss which will allow for honest answers. It can also be a literacy teachable moment as the teacher will be able to explain the saying “can of worms” and how it is a figure of speech.

v  “Sing it”- Ask students to adapt the lyrics of a nursery rhyme to fit an issue or the development of a physical feature. For example Old MacDonald updated to reflect current issues in farming.

Ø  This is a fun way for students to think creatively and apply the subject of English. It also offers a way for them to remember a topic easier by applying it to a catchy tune.

v  “Warm Up Maps” – I have a stock of A5 maps of the world, Europe, UK and other continents and countries with up to ten boxes with place names around the outside. These are on desks when students enter the room and they simply draw arrows to connect labels to locations.

Ø  An important part of geography is maps and how to properly label one. This is a good activity in order for students to study locations on a map of a certain country or region.

v  “Adopt a Webcam” –Regular ‘visits’ to the same location give pupils an excellent impression of the changing seasons and a real familiarity with a distant location. Start with S Georgia-seals and penguins from Nov to March, snow and ice as now in the S Hemi winter.

Ø  This is a creative activity that allows students to learn about a location without just reading about it or looking at pictures but by watching live footage of that location in order to actually get an idea of the area.

v  “Before, Before, After, After” – Choose an image and ask pupils to consider what happened before the picture was taken and what will happen in the future. You can choose the time ranges. E.g. 10 years before.

Ø  This is a good project as it allows for students to apply their knowledge of geography and the environment in order to think critically and make predictions.

v  “Throw a Globe” –Use a globe shaped stress ball or a blow up globe for questioning. Throw the globe to the individual you want to answer a question, this student can then throw the globe to another student.

Ø  Not only is this a fun activity to get students moving around but it allows for class participation and sharing.

v  “Produce a Wheel”- Two circles of card, one with a cut-out window, attach together with a butterfly clip in the center. Students can draw images in the window to show change over time- for example the passage of a depression. Remember to move on the window each time.

Ø  Students can make these themselves and decorate them how they want. This project will allow them to showcase their knowledge and they can also use it to study.

v  “Use a Shower Curtain”- A world shower curtain is a useful addition to the classroom, it can be displayed on a wall or used on the floor and annotated with non-permanent pens.

Ø  This is a creative idea as it is not a typical map. It also allows for the teacher to add notes to it as the year goes on and more is learned. In order to get students to participate, they can also add to the map. 

Reflection on Presentation

My First Presentation 

Tuesday I presented in Social Studies methods for the very first time. I wasn't too nervous because I was comfortable with my topic and knew most of the students in my class. I had to present on Glogster which is a multimedia website I had used before in high school. My first choice was Prezi since I had also used that website in school, but it had been taken so I went with Glogster. After my presentation I asked the class if they were familiar with Glogster and none of them said that they were. After my presentation I realized that my high school really was up-to-date on technology and media and I'm grateful that I had knowledge of these various platforms before college. I have used Prezi in presentation here at the Mount and I guess I owe that to my high school. They were always generous with iPads and teaching us how to utilize different media such as Glogster or Prezi. In the classroom I believe Prezi and Glogster will be great tools to use not only for students but to give information rather than a simple Power Point that ma cause them to lose interest. 

Cooperative Learning

Teaching Geography and Cooperative Learning 

What is Cooperative Learning? 

• Promotes collaboration and gets rid of competition
• Students become invested in classmates' learning as well as their own 
• Not just "group work"

5 Components/Elements: 

1. Positive Interdependence
2. Face-to-face interaction 
3. Individual accountability
4. Interpersonal and small group skills
5. Group processing 

Different activities to promote Cooperative Learning: 

• Think-Pair-Share
• Inside/Outside Circles
• Jigsaw
• Four corners
• Three-step interview
• Place mat

Class Notes Week Two

Class Notes. Thursday 9/10

Components of Assessment 

1. Evaluation
2. Management 
3. Feedback

Types of Assessment

Diagnostic-Pre-Assessment

Formative- During the Lesson. It is ongoing 

Summative- Happens at the end of the process. 

• some types include: tests, class projects

What is an authentic assessment in comparison to traditional assessment? 

• Students complete projects that relate to real life. 
• Life-oriented, active, students are engaged. 
• There are multiple aspects to measure, it is not just cognitive. 
• It is not a punishment, it is a gift. 

What can be assessed? 

• Readiness
• Interest
• Learning Profile 

Class Notes Week One

In-Class Notes

What is Social Studies?

A combination of different disciplines

Social Studies is....

• Meaningful-When u connect what students are learning with real world situations. 
• Integrative- It is not just a memorization of facts but incorporating different subject areas. 
• Value-Based-  Make the students become involved citizens and hold them socially responsible. 
• Challenging-  Hold students to a higher standard. 
• Active- Hands-on but also Minds-on 

I believe that it is important as a teacher to incorporate these 5 elements into each lesson. If social studies is not meaningful to students, they will not retain the information.  

How People Learn-What is Learning? 

    Knowledge retained when: 

• Reading-10%
• Audiovisual-20%
• Demonstration-30%
• Discussion-50%
• Practice doing-75%
• Teach others-90% 

Structure of Knowledge: by Jerome Bruner

1. Meta-Cognition-learning about learning thinking about thinking 
2. Generalizations 
3. Concepts
4. Facts

Week Two Readings

Important Points From Readings 
What is Social Studies?


Social Studies is an integrated study of the social Sciences and humanities to promote civic competence. 


 There are many different disciplines of social studies, each having a specific perspective to the study of reality. 


  In  order to contribute to the the world you must be an active citizen. Ultimately, social studies helps promote the knowledge of an involvement in civic affairs. 


There is a difference between superficial knowledge and a deep understanding of knowledge. 



Understanding is the ability to think and act flexibly with what you already know.  


Social Studies integrates different areas of study, therefore making school more of a learning place rather than something for students to get "through". 


Reflection- I already had a general understanding of what Social Studies was, but after reading the articles I understand that it involves many more disciplines than I realized. I also never thought of learning about Social studies as a way to be an "active citizen." It is true though, in order to be more involved in out country and our world we need to understand them. 

First Blog Post

Today is the fourth day of my junior year of college. Time has gone gone by way too fast but I am looking forward to this year and looking forward to furthering my journey as an education student. 

I found this video very engaging and eye-opening regarding the youth of today and how much technology they use. As a member of the media-driven generation I know that in the future our world will be mostly driven digitally. As a future teacher it is my job to utilize what the students of today are strongest in. If they are spending most of their time on iPads, the computer, and watching TV then as teachers we should use that interest in order to keep them engaged. 

Although this is a media-driven country and students are interested in learning digitally, I am also still someone who believes in pen and paper and the authenticity of reading a physical book. In my future classroom I will make sure that there is a nice balance in order to keep traditions yet embrace the digital age and take advantage of all it has to offer.