This week we have been asked to create a lesson plan in which a wiki is used to foster collaboration and construct knowledge. The unit I have put together is over Ancient Greece. This unit will focus on historical content and accuracy, reading comprehension- specifically compare/contrast skills, writing, technology & mapping skills.
The students will work on their group wikis primarily in the classroom so that they are able to have guidance from the teacher if needed and guide each other through this collaborative creative process. Creating a wiki gives the students some creative license, but also lets the students analyze the content and determine what they think is the most important information about Ancient Greece.
Title:
History of Ancient Greece
Target
Audience: 6th Grade Social Studies Students
Learning
Objectives:
Students will describe important features of daily
life in Ancient Greece.
Students will understand where Greece is
geographically located and know the significance of the geography of the
surrounding area.
Students will compare and contrast the civilizations
of Ancient Athens and Ancient Sparta.
Students will compare and contrast the climate and
terrain of Greece to the climate and terrain where they live.
Students will understand the significance of the
contributions of Ancient Greece to today’s society.
Students will be able to create a collaborative Wiki
and understand basic formatting.
Materials
Needed:
Internet, smart board, laptop cart or computer lab
access, Athens/Sparta compare contrast worksheet, outline maps of Greece and surrounding
area, excerpts from the Odyssey, video note packet, dry erase trade route maps,
Wiki FAQ handout for students.
Instruction/
Learning Procedures:
o
5- 45 minute technology sessions in
class, if more time is needed to complete the Wiki it will be done at home.
o
9- 45 minute class sessions for Ancient
Greek content
o
2- 45 minutes class sessions to present
Wikis to the class and conference with the teacher about the project.
Additional class time may be needed depending on student needs.
The teacher will have a Smart Board lesson for each section
of the unit along with appropriate videos and internet sites.
o Students will be in groups of 4 for Wiki
collaboration.
o
Students will compare/contrasts Athens
& Sparta in groups of 2.
o
Students will complete maps of Ancient
Greece individually.
o
Students will write a 4 paragraph compare/contrast
essay of the U.S. government & culture vs Ancient Greek government and
culture- groups of two.
o
Students will complete a Greek god or
goddess Glogster individually- homework.
Evaluation:
Ancient Greece map rubric. Wiki Collaboration rubric; peer evaluation and
self-assessment. Compare and contrast essay rubric. Glogster rubric.
www.ascd.org
Learning
Activities:
- Create a Wiki incorporating the major themes of
Ancient Greece; include graphics, references, and hyperlinks.
- Map of Ancient Greece-color, label, and create a key.
- Note packets will be distributed for all videos
watched during the course of this unit.
- Compare and contrast essay of U.S. culture and
government vs Ancient Greek culture and government.
- Greek god/goddess Glogster homework assignment.
Day
1-
Intro to Wiki *add content, edit, basic formatting, students will be able to
play in the sandbox. –Wiki how to video on YouTube- *students will have the opportunity to explore other educational wikis
Day
2-
Geography of Greece *locate on a map; describe important physical features and
how they helped/hurt Greek society/culture; Map of Ancient Greece- label,
color, create key. Short video with note packet about Greek geography/features.
Day
3-
Agriculture & Trade *With rocky soil, what can Greeks grow? Where did they
get the rest of their food and other important items? Dry erase maps to trace
trade routes; What did Greeks trade with other countries? Culture?
Day
4-
Begin Wiki in class *establish group norms and roles *define important content
*create *trouble shoot –Wiki FAQ handout for students-
Day
5-
Athens- government, daily life, people *type of government *men/women roles
*children in Athens *agora/culture *navy –British Museum daily life in Athens-http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/
Day
6-
Sparta- government, daily life, people *type of government *men/women roles
*children in Sparta *military *culture?? –British Museum daily life in Sparta- http://www.ancientgreece.co.uk/ *Begin compare/contrast essay on Sparta &
Athens
Day
7- Wiki-
collaborate, write, add new content to group wiki during class
Day
8-
Conflict in Ancient Greece- Trojan War, Peloponnesian War, Persian War –video with
video notes packet-
Day
9-Religion
*polytheistic *Mt. Olympus *Olympics * gods & goddesses –assign god/goddess
Glogster
Day
10-Wiki-
collaborate, write, add new content, edit
Day
11-
Greek Culture & Contributions- Art & Architecture *statues, pottery
columns, famous buildings *power point on Greek art & architecture
Day
12-Greek
Culture & Contributions- Literature & Philosophy *excerpts from the
Odyssey for analysis *short video with notes on great philosophers
Day
13-
Compare & Contrast- U.S. government & culture with Ancient Greek
government & culture. Four paragraph essay with a partner.
Day
14- final
in class Wiki time- collaborate, edit, add new content…
Day
15-
Wiki presentations to the class
Day
16-
Project conference with teacher
Wiki Grading Rubric
Student Name(s):
Assignment:
____ 5 pts A collaborative effort (as seen in the history)
IF IT IS A GROUP WIKI. – 5 points
Several participants have contributed. Wikis are
collaborative. Each person brings their strengths
and contributes things that they are good at to the project.
____ 10 pts Visual appeal
Graphics are used as needed and add to the message. Graphics
are not distracting and used where
needed to further explain a topic. If does not look
cluttered.
____ 10 pts Organization
A table of contents is used, headings and underlines are
used appropriately.
____ 10 pts Hyperlinks to sources
An effective wiki hyperlinks sources and gives readers
additional information about the topic.
Because most people tend to not trust wikis (they don't know
the authors), you must include a
variety of hyperlinks to be considered an effective source
of information. As people follow your
hyperlinks, they will begin to look at the information
you've linked to. They will learn that you
are an authority and that you've "done your
homework." Make sure that you have checked your
hyperlinks and that they work.
_____ 15 pts Original, intelligent wording
The effective wiki summarizes information but never copies
it! (Cite your sources.) The wording
is intelligent and meaningful and jargon is not used. Wikis
may be read by a global audience and
authors must keep that in mind.
_____ 15 pts Spelling/Grammar Punctuation (-1 each up to
max)
_____ 35 pts Assignment criteria met.
TOTAL POINTS out of 100 pts _______________ Final Grade Earned
___________
For more information on how wikis can be used in the classroom:
References:
www.middleweb.com