Caci S

Caci S

This accomplishment was significant because it brought literature to life and provided hands on authentic learning experiences to my 5/6th grade urban students. For example, it all started when the literacy circle that consists of a fourth grade reading level group selected to read Stone Fox. Many questions were generated by the students about dogsledding and the way of life in rural Alaska. This began our class on a quest that led us to the Last Great Race. We studied the culture of dogsledding, the communities that rely on this form of transportation, the bond between musher and dog, the history of the Iditarod, and the geography/weather associated with Alaska. We then compared this cultural belief system to the eastern hemisphere – for example, the bond of the mahout and elephant in India. We created learning stations and invited guest students from across grade levels to participate: fourth grade students listening to an audio book of Balto and creating an informational banner on sled dogs, fifth grade students crafting biography posters of Iditarod Champions, sixth graders creating a life size banner of the state of Alaska with the historical Iditarod trail, and a technology station of a web-quest that produced graphics and information for the other learning stations. My students collaborated, discussed, and facilitated their learning while sharing it with their peers across grade levels. As a culminating event, Avalanche Kennels was a guest speaker and came in with artifacts such as: a dog sled, dog equipment, musher clothing, and a team of dogs for the students to pet and harness. This included Avalanche Kennels participating in our community meeting. At this time our class presented our posters, banners, and Respect Video that featured the intergenerational across level learning.

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