Story Time: A Collaborative Learning Project

1. Story Time: A Collaborative Learning Project By Kristen Hains and Sarah Whittemore Ed 200 Fall 05 Trinity College

2. A project for learners of different ages • Our curriculum project is designed for an elementary school similar to M.D. Fox • Our project involves Kindergartners and 5th grade students working together in groups

3. Objectives • Students will develop interpersonal skills through collaborative activities with students of different ages. • Students will develop creative thinking skills. • Students will improve writing and grammar skills. • Students will learn to identify morals in stories, how to write their own moral story, and explain the moral theme to other students in the class. • Students will use artistic expression to portray the ethnic diversity in their group.

4. JUSTIFICATION • The CT State Framework (2005-2006) curricular goals and standards name using the arts for “expressing and illuminating human experiences, beliefs and values” and for students to be able to “reflect upon, describe, analyze, interpret and evaluate their own and others’ work.” • Bloom’s Taxonomy (1956) • Gardner’s Theory Multiple Intelligences (1983) • Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development

5. Class schedule

6. DAY 3 • Teachers will give a brief demonstration on how to construct a book out of various art supplies. • Students will then work in their groups to create their own book. • Teachers will provide groups with a directions sheet and students will have to assign tasks to make sure all steps are completed.

7. DAY 4 • Students will write the text of their story into the book they have built. • Kindergarteners will be expected to write the text for at least one page of the book so they can practice their letter formation. • Students will work together to illustrate their book.

8. EVALUATION For evaluation of this curriculum project we do not want teachers to assign grades. We believe that letter grades are not appropriate for Kindergartners, especially because students will be working together in groups composed of different abilities. Instead, teachers will reinforce the intrinsic value of learning through comments based on the following criteria.

9. EVALUATION Teachers will evaluate students based on: • Their ability to work together in groups • Produce a final book • Explain the moral of their story to other students • Improve their writing and grammar skills