ePals Idea: Collaborative Story

Name: LeAnna Wagner

Grade: 2nd, but can be adapted to be used in other grades

Subject: Literacy

                In this activity, my class will connect with another class from a different state to write a story collaboratively. Ideally, the other state would be one where typical speech patterns, phrasing, and sayings are somewhat different from those we have in Washington. Because they will be writing a story collaboratively, I anticipate plenty of opportunities to discuss the differences in how we speak to arise. We will be using Skype or other web-cam software as well as google-docs to connect with each other in real time while doing this activity.

                I will start the session by reading aloud a variety of introductory sentences and our two classes will vote for which one they want to use to start our collaborative story. Once a sentence has been chosen, the students from each class will take turns adding a new sentence to the story, one at a time (student1 from class A, student2 from class B, student3 from class A, Student4 from class B, etc.). We’ll be using the webcam so that our classes can see each other and interact that way while everyone is also contributing to one Google document, typing their own sentences into the story.

                When each student has had a turn to add their sentence, we will read the story as a group and discuss what we’ve read. Then, together, the students will discuss changes and corrections that they think should be made to it. Finally, we will read the finished story, have another group discussion about it, and decide upon a title for the story. At the end, the students will share their thoughts about how they think the collaboration went, what surprised them, and new sayings that they’ve learned from the students in the other class.

EdTech GLE’s:

1.1: Innovate: 


Demonstrate 
creative thinking,construct 
knowledge
 and 
develop 
innovative 
products 
andprocesses
 using 
technology.

-The students are demonstrating creative thinking by coming up with and adding their own sentences to the original story they’re writing on the Google-doc.

1.2: 
 Collaborate: 


Use
 digital
 media 
and 
environments 
to 
communicate and
 work 
collaboratively 
to 
support individual 
learning
 and
 contribute
 to
 the 
learning 
of 
others.

-The students are using web-cam software (and hardware) and Google-docs to collaborate in the creation of an original story. Through discussion, each student is contributing to the learning of everyone else as well as their own learning.

2.1: 
 Practice 
 Safety: 


Practice safe,legal 
and
 ethical
 behavior 
in 
the 
use 
of 
information 
and 
technology.

-Each student will need a parent or guardian’s permission to participate in this activity. They will only be allowed to make changes to the Google-doc when it is their turn to do so.