Teddy bear project
Aims and Objectives of the Project:
The project aims to encourage authentic writing by providing children with a real audience. They write the diaries as if they are the visiting bear. It provides an opportunity for students to develop understanding about cultures other than their own.
Methodology
Step 1: Make contact and establish a partnership with another classroom.
Step 2: Purchase a Teddy Bear. Ask students to give a name to their Teddy Bear.
Step 3: Send the Teddy Bear to the partner school through airmail.
Step 5: Guide the structure of diary writing to the students.
Step 4: When you receive the bear, each student is given the teddy bear to take home for one day. Students write the diary entry and take pictures or draw whatever they wish to show what the visiting bear saw or did as though the teddy bear was writing back home. Students taking the bear home can also take it out on any special occasion e.g. a birthday party, a wedding, visit to a grocery store etc.
The diary entries could be about how the bear spent the time in different homes, simply doing everyday things like playing, watching TV, listening to stories etc.
Students may choose to write their diary, letter or drawings using pencil and paper which can be scanned and sent as attachments every week via epals website. Photgraphs can be sent too.
Additionally, each class can choose its own unique experience for the teddy bear too to share, for example, a ride around the city etc.
Each diary entry should begin with a different date at the top so it can be read in sequence. Step 6: The diary entries, emails, photographs, sent and received should be shared and discussed in the class.
Step 7: Video conferencing can be arranged between the students of partner schools with mutual understanding.
The project aims to encourage authentic writing by providing children with a real audience. They write the diaries as if they are the visiting bear. It provides an opportunity for students to develop understanding about cultures other than their own.
Methodology
Step 1: Make contact and establish a partnership with another classroom.
Step 2: Purchase a Teddy Bear. Ask students to give a name to their Teddy Bear.
Step 3: Send the Teddy Bear to the partner school through airmail.
Step 5: Guide the structure of diary writing to the students.
Step 4: When you receive the bear, each student is given the teddy bear to take home for one day. Students write the diary entry and take pictures or draw whatever they wish to show what the visiting bear saw or did as though the teddy bear was writing back home. Students taking the bear home can also take it out on any special occasion e.g. a birthday party, a wedding, visit to a grocery store etc.
The diary entries could be about how the bear spent the time in different homes, simply doing everyday things like playing, watching TV, listening to stories etc.
Students may choose to write their diary, letter or drawings using pencil and paper which can be scanned and sent as attachments every week via epals website. Photgraphs can be sent too.
Additionally, each class can choose its own unique experience for the teddy bear too to share, for example, a ride around the city etc.
Each diary entry should begin with a different date at the top so it can be read in sequence. Step 6: The diary entries, emails, photographs, sent and received should be shared and discussed in the class.
Step 7: Video conferencing can be arranged between the students of partner schools with mutual understanding.