Online Collaborative Reading Lesson Plan

The Iditarod Trail

www.ultimateiditarod.com
www.adn.com/iditarod
www.epals.com/scholastic
www.teacher.scholastic.com/activities/iditarod

Curriculum Connection:
reading selections in Harcourt Anthology (county-wide)* *This is a reorganization of an activity that I have used with individual students to be more closely aligned with a PBL using a cooperative/collaborative format based on teams of 4.

Materials Needed:
Computer lab or classroom computer, reading selections –Iditarod Dream and Woodsong , Stone Fox could also be used as a trade book selection or extended reading, bookmarked Iditarod sites, teacher created webpage

Classroom Collaboration:
Prearranged classroom teams of 4 with assigned roles

Online Collaboration:
Interactive sites, teacher created email exchange with teachers/students who are also doing research on the Iditarod through prearranged “Class port” account on Scholastic website.

Lesson:

1. Students read literary selections on the Iditarod as part of current reading program.
2. Arrange students in cooperative/collaborative groups of four. Students assume one of four roles: Team Leader (Editor), Journalist (word processor on classroom computer), Art Director (keeps drawings and graphics for brochure) and, Researcher (keeps all research in a folder)
3. Students work in teams in the classroom and computer lab to create an informative brochure on a specific topic related to the Iditarod readings. These could include: the geography of the race, Alaska, the race from the dog’s perspective, the Mushers, history of the race, etc. Students may contact other classes (through Class Port) also doing research on the Iditarod, to discuss related findings and/or literary works.
4. Students may create the brochure using any available software. Brochures may be multimedia on the computer or cut and paste on art paper.
5. Brochures may be posted on the class website at Scholastic.com. Website brochures could be shared with collaborative online class through Classport.

Evaluation:
Completed brochure graded with a teacher prepared rubric of expected contents. These may include the following percentage points: research (20%), writing (30%), cooperation (20%)*, artwork (10%), publication (15%) and presentation (5%) *Cooperation judged by collaborative work rubric downloaded from this course at Rubistar.com

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