Activity 3C
C&I 335
Summer, 1998
Janeen McCarthy
Ridgely Elementary School
Springfield, Illinois
CU-SeeMe Lesson Plan
Language Arts & Technology 
Integrated Lesson Plans 
Kindergarten
Language Arts/Technology
This lesson will take 45 to 60 minutes.

Introductory Activity:

The class will watch their video "I Like...". Viewing the video will help the students remember what they said on the slideshow and give them an idea of what they will say during the videoconferencing.

Concept:

CU-SeeMe videoconferencing - Meeting and sharing things with another Kindergarten class that is somewhere else in the country.
 
Objective:
The students will use the videoconferencing technology to meet with another kindergarten class on the Internet, they will share two of their class projects ("I Like... slideshow and class book ABC and You) with them.
The students will take turns talking with their new Kindergarten friends.  
The students will be able to say their name and tell at least one thing that they like.
 
Ideas for thematic integration:
We will visit several Kindergarten site on the Internet and talk about the different places and things that are found. The class will locate these places on our classroom map, and they will also mark them on the school map in the computer lab. The following are sites that will be tried:
Birch Kindergarten http://www.nocs.leeca.esu.k12.oh.us/birch/index.htm
Kindergarten Connection http://www.kconnect.com/ A list of other Kindergarten classes that are online can be found at the following web site http://www.kconnect.com/kc-links.html.
The teacher will also put an email on the ListServ to find a class that has the needed materials to take part in the videoconferencing. The teacher will find the class that is being videoconferencing with well in advance, so that both classes are ready and know what they will share.

Technology focus:

Searching the Internet to find Kindergarten Classes that are online.
Using the QuickCam and doing a CU-SeeMe videoconferencing with another Kindergarten somewhere!  
 
Materials:
"I Like..." slideshow video
ABC and You class book
TV and the VCR Portable Pro
A Kindergarten Class somewhere that can do the videoconferencing
TV and a VCR
Both classes needs the following to receive video:
Both classes need the following to send video:
The only digitizer they've had a chance to test recently is IXMicro's excellent TurboTV card which is supported in the final Cornell release of the software.
 
Procedures:
  1. 1. The class will watch their slideshow on the TV in our classroom.
  2. 2. The students will take turns practicing what they will say for the videoconferencing. (Name and something he/she likes)
  3. 3. The class will go to several Kindergarten sites on the Internet - The class will locate these places on our classroom map, and they will also later mark them on the school map in the computer lab. This will help remind the students that they are going to be communicating with a class that is far away!
  4. 4. The class will then meet their new Kindergarten friends via CU-SeeMe. The teachers will do a whole group introduction and read their class book ABC and You (the class will help her read it and the QuickCam will be moved around so that the class viewing will be able to observe the class as a whole while listening to the story.
  5. 5. The students will each have a turn to talk. (It would be helpful to have used the QuickCam previously so that the students aren't surprised when they see their picture on the screen. The students will see who they are talking to on the screen and see their picture in a little window at the same time.) Both classes will be sharing projects and letting the students have individual time online.
  6. 6. Once all of the students have had a turn speaking, the QuickCam will then be positioned to show our class project - the "I Like..." slideshow video from our TV.
  7. 7. The students will then listen and watch the other class share their projects with us.
Evaluation:
The students will be evaluated on their effort during both the practice and the videoconferencing part of this lesson.
 
Note: When doing these activities we must keep in mind that these are new experiences for the students. All of the students should be given the opportunity to participate, but will do so only when they feel comfortable with it - for some it may even take several times before they will actively participate. Practicing with the students before putting them online will help.

Extension: The students will write in their journals about their new experience with videoconferencing. The student will also write an email thank you note to their new Kindergarten friends.