Next week, my class will be joining in with many of their “blogging buddies” from around the world in a new global project.
This project is called Our World, Our Stories and the blog http://ourworldourstories.edublogs.org/ will be our central meeting place.
After months of planning, we look forward to launching this seven week project on Monday 24th October.
Classes involved
The students are all from junior primary classes and are from three different continents and six different countries.
2KM and 2KJ from Victoria, Australia
B4 from New Zealand
Mrs Yollis’ third grade class from California, USA
Mr Salsich’s third grade class from Connecticut, USA
Melody Watson’s 2/3 class from Canada
Andy Sefa Boachie and his students from Ghana
Miss Usher’s standard 3 class from Punta Gorda, Belize
View Our World, Our Stories in a larger map
How will it work?
Students from all classes will connect and collaborate by sharing their stories, experiences, thoughts and opinions about a variety of themes. This will happen through the blog and involve a variety of media.
A different class will “lead” a topic each week, publishing posts and moderating comments. Topics will be based on students’ interests such as school games, hobbies, food, local environment etc. The other classes will read the posts, possibly publish their own posts, and students will leave blog comments.
The learning
Through the blog comments, students from the different classes will have conversations. Students will gain an understanding of different countries and cultures. They will make comparisons and contrasts between their lives and other students’ lives.
The students will reflect on their own experiences and hopefully develop a curiosity about other students’ stories. They will develop a voice to share their own stories.
Concluding the project
Stayed tuned for a culminating celebration in December!
If you want to keep up to date with how the fun and learning unfolds, there is a “subscribe via email” box on the right hand side of the Our World, Our Stories blog.
@ Mrs Morris,
I like the blog post was a really good idea for a blog post.
My favourite thing was how you put the links to your blogging biddies’ blog it was my favourite thing about the blog post and I like the rest as well.
I looked at the our world, our stories link on our blog post.
I like the blog post was a really good idea for a blog post again.
Your student,
Mikayla
@ Mikayla,
Thanks for leaving the first comment on this post! I think everyone in 2KM and 2KJ is going to enjoy our new project. We will talk more about it on Monday.
Your teacher,
Mrs M☀rris
@ Mrs Morris,
Thankyou for repling to me on this blog post.
When I was on our blog I saw a new blog post on our blog so I thort I should live a comment on the blog.
I cant want to Monday Mrs Morris.
Thankyou for repling to me on this blog post again.
Your student,
Mikayla
@ Mrs Morris,
Great post, I love your idea for a post!
Wow, the project is only three days away.
I think it is great that you put links to all the different websites.
Great post again!
Best Wishes,
Hannah
@ Hannah,
Thanks for your great comment. You’re really going to enjoy this project!
Your teacher,
Mrs Morris
SO little time back such a collaboration of classes around the world would have seemed unlikely. This will be a wonderful experience for all involved.
Ross Mannell (teacher)
NSW, Australia
@ Ross, thanks – I agree. The world has changed so quickly and we need to make the most of the advancements!
Kathleen
I love how teachers are pushing past the post/comment cycle to pushing students to create conversations and hopefully relationships with others from other places. I really believe that these types of activities will help create a true global community based on respect and commonalities. Congratulations!
@ William, thanks for your comment. I agree with you and I hope other teachers are inspired to try something similar. I’ve helped to create a number of global projects now and the amount of learning the students get out of them is really incomparable.
Kathleen
Dear Mrs Morris,
I can’t wait to read all about your new and up coming adventure with your amazing blogging buddies and with the children.
I am pretty sure it is going to be a wonderful experience for everyone near and far.
As, I can still remember the wonderful Uganda project with your other wonderful blogging buddies. It only seems like yesterday. I know for a fact that whole experience really did make an impact on the children and adults.
You always amaze me Kathleen and I truly love it.
Keep up the great work!
From AA.
@ AA,
Thank you so much for your kind comment. Having family members involved in our projects really make them so much more worthwhile. We really appreciate your ongoing support! I’m sure the students will love taking part in this project and we look forward to a few comments from you on the new blog! 🙂
Kathleen
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