8.25.2016

Happy Birthday National Park Service!




We are HUGE fans of our National Parks and are not ashamed to admit we love the Junior Ranger Program as well. We are on a continuous mission to #FindYourPark and share it with our students. Over the past several years we have shared multiple resources for teaching about our National Parks with students.

We recently had students learn about a park and share it with their families and school. Their wonderful artwork will be shared with the wider digital community on the #FindYourPark hashtag and #StepInYourPark. Take a look at what they have learned.

We encourage you to share the Centennial Anniversary of "America's Best Idea" and join us in wishing our favorite places happy birthday! 

For resources and links created to study our National Parks, Preservation 50, and historic places check out:

10 Ways to Teach About Your National Parks: 

Junior Ranger:
Check out one of our most popular blogs on the program:
http://twogeekyteachers.blogspot.com/2013/09/you-may-be-geeky-teacher-if-you-are.html?m=1

Preservation 50 in the Classroom: 
http://twogeekyteachers.blogspot.com/2016/02/preservation50-yes-it-belonogs-in.html

Teaching About Historic Places: 
http://twogeekyteachers.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-power-researching-place-in.html

Honoring Ludlow National Historic Site: 
http://twogeekyteachers.blogspot.com/2014/08/honoring-labor-ludlow-national-historic.html

Maps Photos and the HABS Collection: 
http://twogeekyteachers.blogspot.com/2013/11/you-may-be-geeky-teacher-if-you-cant.html

Researching PLACE in the Classroom: 
http://twogeekyteachers.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-power-researching-place-in.html


Here is PROOF we practice what we teach !

 #FindYourPark














8.06.2016

KIVA For Financial Literacy, Global Citizenship, Geography and 21st Century Learning Skills


Kiva is an amazing organization working to make a difference in the lives of people living in poverty all over the world.  It is not a hand out but rather an hand up.  KIVA makes micro loans and recipients have to pay the money back over time.  Small loans change lives and move people and communities out of poverty!  We received a grant through Citibank and KIVA to enable our students to loan $25 to a recipient of their choice.

Our students worked in teams to choose loan recipients after working through the lesson plans and learning more about poverty and people in countries they are studying in Social Studies Classes.  They were assigned to create a presentation about their country and why they chose the person or group as their final grade for this unit.

KIVA Classroom Implementation Steps:
1.  Introduce with balloons and a big umbrella representing the Big 5 of poverty that is always hanging over people.  Job, Shelter, Education, Water, Medical, Food
2. Work through the KIVA Lesson Plans making sure to embed your standards in the lessons
3. Introduce the KIVA site to the students and show them how to look for the information they will need.



4.  Play the KIVA-U Global Impact Game to understand the loan process.
5. Share the Research for Entrepreneurs document with your partner and complete the research.
6. Complete the Persuasive Power-Point Planning Sheet with your partner.
7. Use the Student Presentation Template to create your finial presentation















A Few Hints:
Look for people who are 70% or lower to loan
Take screen shots immediately so you don't lose the loan as they turn over quickly
Use a Google Form to have students fill out to keep track of their information

8.  Create a Symbaloo for easy tracking of loans.  Students can return next Fall and will be able to easily see if their loans have been repaid or the progress that has been made.  Check out our Symbaloo: