Global Warming and P.S.173

1. Global Warmingand P.S.173

2. We learned about dream schools • A dream school would be perfect. We believe that a perfect dream school would have: 1. The best food from all around the world. 2. Fabulous teachers that don't yell, give us a little of homework, or give pop quizzes. 3. We could have 2 hour recesses and school would be only 5 hours. 4. Instead of learning, we could play half of the time and learn the other half. 5. NO RULES! 6. We could play what we like during class. 7. We would have a huge gym and a park would be right next to it. 8. The school would be as big as Rhode Island. 9. The school would give us free things that are real expensive. 10.All our food would be free. This would be our idea of a dream school.

3. Dream School from across the world is much like our vision • Stress free environment 2. Many trips during the year 3. Has always something new for all the pupils at the beginning of the school day 4. Matches the pupils’ interests 5. Motivates the pupils 6. Provides all the resources to do projects

4. We learned about eating customs from Syria • Iman Batikha, Moutafaweqeen, Syria, for Mifdal, Eating habits. This is the first time we share the Eating habits project. We will tell u about what u have to do when u want to eat. 1. Before eating, we should wash our hands. 2. Say in the name of Allah at the very beginning. 3. Eat with the right hand. 4. Have a good seat. 5. Eat only if you are hungry. 6. Eat slowly and chew well. 7. We shouldn't say I don't like this and that. 8. We should show that we have enjoyed the meal. 9. Try not to add too much salt and pepper. 10. Don't eat too much or u will get fat. 11. Put in your dish what u can finish eating. 12. Don't speak with ur mouth full of food. 13. Don't look at the others eating on the table. 14. Don't have a drink an hour after the end of the meal. 15. Thank Allah at the end of the meal. 16. Don't forget to thank ur mother for the delicious meal. 17. Take ur plate to the kitchen and wash it when you have done. 18. Don't eat dessert before bedtime. 19. But the most important thing is not to eat junk food. I wish u interest our culture habits. We will send the answers of the questions u write at the other response. Good luck for everyone. Nesreen, Syria

5. Moroccan Eating Habits • Dear friends in New York, Hello.I am Mifdal From Morocco.This is just to clarify some points in the instructions given by Nesreen from Syria.You asked about the identity of ALLAH.ALLAH is the name of the god in Islam,and mentioning the name of Allah before and after eating has the objective to thank God for providing us with food.Eating with the right hand is just a convention ,I am not sure if it is a religious regulation .As for the seat,I think she meant to sit comfortably.To make a comment on food should be positive even not true in order not to offend the cook(mother). I hope you find my answers satisfying and I am sure our collegue Nesreen who wrote those instructions will give better responses. Have a good day. Mifdal from Morocco

6. We are learning about your eating habits • Hi we are students of PS173 in Queens, New York. We notice that in your customs towards eating habits you must confront Allah before and after the meal. May I ask who is Allah? Also why do you have to eat with only your right hand? What about when you are eating meat? What do you mean by saying that you have to have a good seat? Aren't all seats the same? I understand that you must be polite at the table but why cant you comment on your own food? I also am wondering, why can’t you drink an hour after the meal? What happens if your really thirsty? Anyway I thank you for taking your time to share your culture habits with us. Bye and I enjoyed talking to you!

7. How we eat • Hello we are the fifth-graders of PS173 of Queens New York and we also eat in a certain way. Maybe we don't have rules but in a way we have our own customs. Some habits we have are very different or very similar to yours.  1- We set the table for everyone to enjoy and serve themselves.  2- Then prior to the meal we pray to Our Lord, The Father and thank him for this delicious food  3- We enjoy our meal and eat until we cant eat any more!  4- We hydrate our meal with some juice or cola cola.  5-We clean our area then leave the table and enjoy the rest of the day.

8. Global Warming • Global Warming • Teacher Goals – • To learn about global warming • To make children aware of the effects of global warming • To show the positive ways we can prevent it. • To integrate the community into school events

9. Student’s Goals • Global Warming • To learn about different types of global warming • To creates awareness of global warming. • To share with their peers the events that lead up to their findings • To work with their parents and community about saving the earth

10. Assessment of Possible Projects • Class motivation – Discussion answering questions about global warming • Identifying the different problems of different countries. • Read stories to enhance their knowledge and listening skills. • Other schools involved – E-Mail to other countries from I earn • Calendars May 2005 • Other teachers involved – Teachers will participate in gathering materials, organization of theme, and ongoing activities.

11. Background Knowledgeof Global Warming • Database of resources (books, Internet sites, videos, resources, student input) Children will use research software, Wordbook online, encyclopedias, geography maps, interviewing skills, digital pictures • Specific pre-instruction and preparation – Find on a map of New York , physical characteristics, look at the geography, • Find out the causes of global warming. • Which areas have the worst environment? What makes it more polluted? • Prepare questions to be answered by students • Explain what will happen if it isn’t stopped. • Essential questions to investigate • What is global warming? • How does it occur? • Can you locate the area on a map that has the most industry? • What is special about the location of those areas? • How does it affect us? • What is can we do to make the environment better.

12. Week 1 Introduction of topic, preparation of what is expected of them, Explain the organization of the project. Write letters to the parents telling them of the project, making them aware they will be involved in the learning process of global warming. • Reading of stories, Children are asked to make their own literary connections from books. We will discuss global warming and how it is different in different areas. We will talk about prior knowledge of global warming. • Week 2 Children will begin their research on the computer. They will investigate map skills and geography using the computer. • Week 3 Children will begin to use the data into Inspiration; they will collect it and organize the information. Teachers will assist with getting the data organized. • Week 4 Children will prepare to write the data about global warming. They will use the standards to write, edit, revise, rewrite. • Week 5 we will conference with each child to make sure they are on the right track and give suggestions. • Week 6 we will put the information into the computer, using editing and revising techniques. • Week 7 We will continue to work on ways to prevent this occurring • Week 8 Children will be prepared to report. We will also have a celebration of sharing ways to save the earth

13. How to begin the introduction of Global Warming • How will you present this project to your students? I will tell the class the theme of the lesson and how we will approach it, through Iearn and the use of computers. We will discuss how they are to write to each other on the computer. I will work with them to find sites to gather information. • How will you introduce yearn? I will introduce I earn using a computer program that I use to communicate with others. I will explain the purpose of I earn. We will begin to get e-mail to others. • How will you tie it into curriculum standards? • Math- Maps • Social Studies- Research about global warming from their state • Understand how things are affected by global warming . • Geography- Understand the nature and complexity of earth’s global warming and what is happening to the earth • Literacy- Books they will read, computer programs, writing about it on graphic organizers and word. • Language arts- Gather and use information for research purposes • Uses reading skills and strategies to understand and interpret a variety of informational texts.

14. Teaching strategies • Use speaking and listening strategies. • Values-Learning the ways we work together to prevent the earth from deteriorating. • Technology-Use the computer, printer,

15. Skills • Do your students need to learn some basic skills before starting the project? They need to learn interviewing skills, and how to determine which information they will need once they have found the site on the computer. • Will your students need to do research for their project? Yes they will need to research map skills, geography and how it affects where they come from. • How will they be organized to gather information and produce their work? We will use Inspiration with topics that are important for the collection of pollution and how to prevent it. Seeing pollution in the neighborhood shows them the need for not polluting. • Who will be responsible and in charge? I will be responsible and in charge but I will ask parents to review, and respond to the task. To interact with their child about their research of global warming.

16. Evaluation • How will the appropriateness of their work be evaluated? The work will be evaluated through a rubric for literacy, comprehension, presentation, and quality of the information they have gathered. They will have a rubric for organization, it should be clear and able to be used for a final presentation.

17. Conclusion • When does your participation end? The participation will end when the final presentation and celebration for the earth is learned • How will your students draw their project to a conclusion? A conclusion will be drawn with a sharing of the research • What assessment tools will be used? I will use a rubric and the standards to assess their work. • What publications or exhibitions will be created? They will create and publish explanations of their research • Newsletters- News will go home with the students on the progress of the reports. Newsletters will tell the parents how they can help. • Students speaking to other students – Students will have a presentation which families and community members are involved • Cross curricular fields in this project –we use cross curriculum reading, writing, math, social studies, history, technology • Research skills – used from books, interviewing, computer • English language skills-Children will listen and speak to their audience and peers. • Critique skills – Children will be able to answer questions asked by their classmates.

19. Thank you for the collaborationof ideas • Thank you for this opportunity to explore cultures of different areas of the world. • We enjoyed chatting with others We also learned about global warming. Students of P.S.173