My+Sister+Class

(Resources will vary depending on the age level and types of activities you share with your sister class.) After locating other classes either in different regions of the nation, or even in different countries, teachers could work together to create units for their students to "share" with one another. > > Given those communication tools, any project with any theme would work. Many projects can focus on learning about the other classes region of the country or the world. These sort of comparisons would lend themselves to photographs being posted; videos being recorded, and an exchange of question/responses. Even for non-writers, the teachers could write down questions that the students have and the students could craft a response either in writing, on video, or with pictures. For slightly older students, this could culminate in using Venn Diagrams for comparison.
 * Title: ** My Sister Class
 * Grade Level: ** Any
 * ISTE Standards: ** 2, 6
 * TN Standards: ** Varies depending on activities
 * Resources: **
 * Video-conferencing software ([|www.Skype.com])
 * Web Cam
 * Email
 * Blogs or Wikis ([|www.edublogs.org]) (http://educationalwikis.wikispaces.com)
 * Digital Video Cameras
 * Digital Cameras
 * Scanner
 * Description: **
 * Live video-conferencing can be used (Skype).
 * Digital videos can also be recorded and posted to web sites where the other classes could view them.
 * For students that can write, email exchange or using discussion boards would be an effective way to communicate.
 * For this purpose, any email server could be used, or the teacher could set up a classroom blog in which students have the opportunity to respond to one-another. (EduBlogs)
 * For non-writing students, there would likely be more of a focus on video (either live or recorded), and on scanning and loading images.
 * learn about the area that the other class lives in
 * explore plants or animals from the other's region
 * exchange customs--like meals, types of food, clothing, etc.

Additionally, students could continue to correspond for additional projects that might simply include reading and discussing the same literature, video-taping plays, etc.

Adapt the Flat Stanley project to a digital domain. All the ideas above could be used in conjunction with the traditional Flat Stanley activities. [|http://www.flatstanley.com] ** A good start at finding other schools to communicate with is to start with Department of Defense schools that have been established in many countries around the world. While the students at these schools are American, they do live in other countries and can share in that regard. Additionally, teachers from these schools may be willing to help connect you to local schools and teachers.
 * Alternate Idea: **
 * Finding a Sister Class:

http://www.dodea.edu/datacenter/schools.cfm Area Web Sites>Districts/Schools>All Districts Schools This will link you directly to the web sites of schools all over Europe and the Pacific, as well as within the US.

http://www.us.iearn.org/collaborate/programs/bridge/index.php Global Exchange program

Also check with your colleagues, friends and family. Through various connections you can probably connect to almost any school in the nation, if not the world!