Teacher Information Page

Teacher Information Page

Welcome to the Update the Playground iAdventure, which is designed for students working in pairs in grades 4 through 5. This iAdventure is a web based integrated math and writing learning activity. Students working in pairs are presented with a series of dilemmas to solve. The primary focus of an iAdventure is to develop problem solving skills using the internet. This iAdventure focuses on solving a real life problem.

The teacher should plan on spending two weeks on this iAdventure. Students will work four to five class periods in the computer lab. At least 2 forty-five to sixty minute class periods will be spent working on a student survey and projects in class. Time spent on the final projects can be shortened or expanded to meet student needs and teacher expectations.

In "Update the Playground" students working in pairs are told they are needed to help update the school playground so recess can be fun everyday. They will come up with a solution from information gathered from a student survey and from preselected web sites. They will collect data on elements of a good playground, types of playground installations, types of playground surfaces, and prices of playground equipment. Students will draw a scale drawing of their playground design based upon the shape and size of their current school playground. They will write a persuasive letter to the PTA complete with a simple budget for their playground design. To complete this learning activity, students will make oral presentations of their playground designs.

Site Map

Below you will find the site map to the entire Update the Playground iAdventure. Simply click on the page that you would like to see. Click on the back button to return to this page.

Teacher Page
(You are here!)
Update the Playground
Title Page

Opening Story Page
(with Introduction)

Let's Go Professional

Let's Involve the Community

Great Plan
Super Plan
Terrific Plan
Fantastic Plan

Create Projects
Conclusion

Curriculum Standards

This iAdventure contains activities that meet the following goals and objectives of the Missouri Show-Me Standards.

Goal 1:2 Conduct research to answer questions and evaluate information and ideas.

Goal 1:4 Use technological tools and other resources to locate, select and organize information.

Goal 1:6 Discover and evaluate patterns and relationships in information, ideas and structures.

Goal 1:8 Organize data, information and ideas into useful forms (including charts, graphs, outlines) for analysis or presentation.

Goal 2:1 Plan and make written, oral and visual presentations for a variety of purposes and audiences.

Goal 2:2 Review and revise communications to improve accuracy and clarity.

Goal 2:3 Exchange information, questions and ideas while recognizing the perspectives of others.

Goal 3:7 Evaluate the extent to which a strategy addresses the problem.

Goal 3:8 Assess costs, benefits and other consequences of proposed solutions.

Goal 4:1 Explain reasoning and identify information used to support decisions.

CA:1 Speaking and writing standard English (including grammar, usage, punctuation, spelling, capitalization).

CA:3 Reading and evaluating nonfiction works and material.

CA:4 Writing formally and informally.

M:1 Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; other number sense, including numeration and estimation; and the application of these operations and concepts in the workplace and other situations.

M:2 Geometric and spatial sense involving measurement.

Resources Needed

One computer with internet access for every two students
Copy of survey sheet for each student
Copy of data sheet for each student
One inch grid (graphing) paper
School stationary or other stationary
Colored pencils or markers
Copy of scoring guide for each student

Survey Sheet

Below is an example of the survey sheet.
Click here to get a printable version of the survey sheet in a separate window. Click on the back button to return to this page.

Data Sheet

Below is an example of the data sheet.
Click here to get a printable version of the data sheet in a separate window. Click on the back button to return to this page.

Assessment and Student Products

The culminating event or task of an iAdventure is when students create the conclusion or product, as described in the "Create a Conclusion" page. In the Update the Playground iAdventure, students will produce a scale drawing and a persuasive letter. The teacher will decide how much support the students need in this section of the iAdventure. Depending upon the prior knowledge and skills of the students, the teacher may choose to present lessons on how to make a scale drawing, do persuasive writing, and/or write business letters. At the end of the learning adventure, students will make oral presentations explaining their playground design. As each classroom varies widely on how presentations are made, each teacher will provide the students with guidelines on making the presentations.

Students will be scored on:

*Data collection (survey sheet and data sheet)
*Scale drawing
*Letter to the PTA
*Class Presentation
*Teamwork

The following scoring guide is also located at the conclusion of the iAdventures for the students. The scoring guide provides details on how the work of the students will be assessed.

Update the Playground Scoring Guide

Student's Name__________________________

Beginning
1
Developing
2
Accomplished
3
Exemplary
4
Score

Survey Sheet

Research, Gather Information
Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.
Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.
Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.
Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.

Data Sheet

Research, Gather Information
Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.
Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.
Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.
Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.

Scale Drawing

Content
Does not contain the items required.
Contains one of the items required.
Contains two of the items required.
Contains three or more of the items required.

Accuracy
No attempt at drawing to scale and to size.
Three or more errors in drawing to scale and to size.
Two errors in drawing to scale and to size.
One or two errors in drawing to scale and to size.

Appearance
None of the items are colored. Paper is wrinkled, contains sloppy drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are not erased.
Some of the items are colored. Paper is wrinkled, may contain sloppy drawings & handwriting, and/or mistakes are not erased.
Most of the items are colored. Paper is generally wrinkle free, easy to read, and mistakes are erased.
Items are colored. Paper is wrinkle free, contains neat drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are erased.

Letter

Content
Does not contain the items required. Contains one of the items required. Contains two of the items required. Contains three or more of the items required.

Mechanics
Does not use correct letter form. Numerous grammatical & mechanical errors are made.
Uses letter form with many errors. Many grammatical & mechanical errors made.
Uses letter form with very few errors. Few grammatical or mechanical errors made.
Uses correct letter form with no grammatical or mechanical errors made.

Appearance
Paper is wrinkled, contains sloppy drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are not erased. Paper is wrinkled, may contain sloppy drawings & handwriting, and/or mistakes are not erased. Paper is generally wrinkle free, easy to read, and mistakes are erased. Paper is wrinkle free, contains neat drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are erased

Presentation

Presentation
Does not speak during the playground design presentation.
Either gives too little information or information which is irrelevant to playground design.
Offers some information--most is relevant to playground design.
Offers a fair amount of important information--all is relevant to playground design.

Teamwork

Listen to Other Teammates
Is always talking--never allows anyone else to speak.
Usually doing most of the talking--rarely allows others to speak.
Listens, but sometimes talks too much.
Listens and speaks a fair amount.

Cooperate with Teammates
Usually argues with teammates.
Sometimes argues.
Rarely argues.
Never argues with teammates.

Make Fair Decisions
Usually wants to have things their way.
Often sides with friends instead of considering all views.
Usually considers all views.
Always helps team to reach a fair decision.

Total

Acknowledgements

The digital images used in this iAdventure came from free clip art web sites, such as Animation Factory, Barrys Clip Art Server, Clip Art Connection, Clip Art Warehouse, and Yahoo Picture Gallery.

Animation Factory
http://www.animfactory.com

Barrys Clip Art Server
http://www.barrysclipart.com/clipart/

ClipArt Connection
http://www.clipartconnection.com/

Clip Art Warehouse
http://www.clipart.co.uk/html/anim.shtml

Yahoo Picture Gallery
http://gallery.yahoo.com/

Special thanks to Stan Smith, the instructor, for his patience and computer expertise. Thanks to Darci Taylor, the intern, for her advice. Thanks to the computer station teammates for their ever present support: Christa Collins, Donald Novak, Jim Ebers, and Sheryl Lazenby.

This iAdventure was created by Kathryn L. Marshall, learning disabilities teacher, in the Sedalia 200 School District, in Sedalia, MO.

This iAdventure was created in the iAdventure graduate college class, offered by Central Missouri State University, in Warrensburg, Missouri. The initial iAdventure concept was developed in the Warrensburg, MO school district, as part of the "Learning with iAdventures" program created by Stan Smith. This program was funded by a Competitive Technology grant from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

For more information on iAdventures, visit the iAdventure Home Page.

Teacher Page (You are here!)	Update the Playground Title Page
	Opening Story Page (with Introduction)
	Let's Go Professional	Let's Involve the Community
Great Plan	Super Plan	Terrific Plan	Fantastic Plan
	Create Projects Conclusion

	Beginning 1	Developing 2	Accomplished 3	Exemplary 4	Score
*Survey Sheet*
Research, Gather Information	Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.	Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.	Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
*Data Sheet*
Research, Gather Information	Does not collect any information that relates to the topic.	Collects very little information--some relates to the topic.	Collects some basic information--most relates to the topic.	Collects a great deal of information--all relates to the topic.
*Scale Drawing*
Content	Does not contain the items required.	Contains one of the items required.	Contains two of the items required.	Contains three or more of the items required.
Accuracy	No attempt at drawing to scale and to size.	Three or more errors in drawing to scale and to size.	Two errors in drawing to scale and to size.	One or two errors in drawing to scale and to size.
Appearance	None of the items are colored. Paper is wrinkled, contains sloppy drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are not erased.	Some of the items are colored. Paper is wrinkled, may contain sloppy drawings & handwriting, and/or mistakes are not erased.	Most of the items are colored. Paper is generally wrinkle free, easy to read, and mistakes are erased.	Items are colored. Paper is wrinkle free, contains neat drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are erased.
*Letter*
Content	Does not contain the items required.	Contains one of the items required.	Contains two of the items required.	Contains three or more of the items required.
Mechanics	Does not use correct letter form. Numerous grammatical & mechanical errors are made.	Uses letter form with many errors. Many grammatical & mechanical errors made.	Uses letter form with very few errors. Few grammatical or mechanical errors made.	Uses correct letter form with no grammatical or mechanical errors made.
Appearance	Paper is wrinkled, contains sloppy drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are not erased.	Paper is wrinkled, may contain sloppy drawings & handwriting, and/or mistakes are not erased.	Paper is generally wrinkle free, easy to read, and mistakes are erased.	Paper is wrinkle free, contains neat drawings & handwriting, and mistakes are erased
*Presentation*
Presentation	Does not speak during the playground design presentation.	Either gives too little information or information which is irrelevant to playground design.	Offers some information--most is relevant to playground design.	Offers a fair amount of important information--all is relevant to playground design.
*Teamwork*
Listen to Other Teammates	Is always talking--never allows anyone else to speak.	Usually doing most of the talking--rarely allows others to speak.	Listens, but sometimes talks too much.	Listens and speaks a fair amount.
Cooperate with Teammates	Usually argues with teammates.	Sometimes argues.	Rarely argues.	Never argues with teammates.
Make Fair Decisions	Usually wants to have things their way.	Often sides with friends instead of considering all views.	Usually considers all views.	Always helps team to reach a fair decision.
				*Total*