Brief Description Objectives Materials and Resources Activity Description Internet Resources

• Grade Level: Upper Elementary

• Subject Area: Social Studies, Language Arts

Brief Description

     Students create Web-based, multimedia, or text-based documents of their research findings for presentation to the class when their holiday occurs.
Objectives

    Students will:

• Develop writing and critical thinking skills by preparing a presentation for the class based on the research they have conducted on the holiday of their choice.
• Develop public speaking skills by presenting information on the holiday of their choice.

Materials and Resources

    In developing our lessons and activities, we made some assumptions about the hardware and software that would be available in the classroom for teachers who visit the LETSNet Website. We assume that teachers using our Internet-based lessons or activities have a computer (PC or Macintosh) with the necessary hardware components (mouse, keyboard, and monitor) as well as software (operating system, TCP/IP software, networking or dial-up software, e-mail and a World Wide Web client program, preferably Netscape, but perhaps Mosaic or Lynx). In the section below, we specify any "special" hardware or software requirements for a lesson or activity (in addition to those described above) and the level of Internet access required to do the activity.

1. Special hardware requirements: Server space for HTML documents (optional).
2. Special software requirements: Multimedia design application such as ClarisWorks, HyperCard, Hyperstudio, or Director; SoundEdit or other audio editing application; HTML editor; word processing application.
3. Internet access: Medium-speed (28,000 BPS via modem) or High-speed (greater than 1 MBPS via network).

Activity Description

• Have students use a hypermedia design package, an HTML editing package, or a word processor to synthesize their findings about the holiday they have selected. Students may refer to the sites they used to conduct research in Lesson One, as well as the sites listed below related to multimedia design.

• Have students mark on a calendar the day or days on which their holiday falls. Then, throughout the year, allow students to give 10-15 minute presentations on their holidays near the day on which it falls. For example, a student who studied St. Patrick's Day should be allowed to give a presentation on or near March 17. Where appropriate, presentations can include information about and examples of customs, foods, songs, ceremonies, and other manifestations of the holiday.

Internet Resources

• Multimedia Resources
  [http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/authoring/mm.html]
  Comprehensive listing of multimedia sites, including e-mail discussion lists, sites for downloading graphics, glossaries of tools and terms.

• Rob's Multimedia Lab
  [http://www.acm.uiuc.edu/rml/]
  a vast collection of graphics, sound bites, and QuickTime videos.

• DirectorWeb
  [http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/director/]
  An "unofficial" Web site for users of Director. Includes tips, demonstrations, scripting, FAQs, and new products.

• Listservs on Multimedia and Multimedia Authoring
  [http://www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu/authoring/listserv.html]
  These sites allow students to join groups and have their questions answered. They also could be good places for students to request feedback on the design aspects of their projects.

Back to Holiday Explorations Unit