Skyping in 2nd Grade

Fuller Meadow 2nd Graders have been meeting some new friends.

Skype is a way of connecting with other classes through a video feed on line.  Two classrooms arrange to call each other on Skype with the goal of guessing the location of the other classroom by asking strategic questions.  It's a great way to learn geography, languages, history, science...even mathematics.  Mystery Skype is a way of connecting with other classes by making it a game.

In Mrs. Kennedy's class, students visited Hoover, Alabama for a "Mystery Number" Skype with a three-digit number.  Each class alternates in questioning the other class and asks Yes or No questions.  For a Mystery Number Skype, students ask each other questions to determine the numeral for each place value.  They start with the hundred's place, then the ten's place, and finally the one's place.  Questions included mathematical vocabulary such as greater than and less than, odd and even, more or less.

Mrs. Kennedy's 2nd grade class participating in a "Mystery Number" Skype

In Mrs. Mulligan's class, students "traveled" to Indiana for a Mystery Skype.  Students were organized into different groups.  The "Greeters" introduced their class and teacher to the other class.  The "Questioners" stood up and asked the other class Yes or No questions that included questions like "Are you west of the Mississippi River?"  After the question is asked, all students use their US map to cross off the states that are eliminated by the question that was answered.  If the students have additional questions, the "Researchers" have resources such as iPads and a larger map to do more investigation. They share their findings with the class.  The Researchers also share facts about their own state to the other class after the activity is done.  After this is complete, the "Closers" say a final goodbye and both classes wave cheerfully.  All of the students were very organized and enthusiastic.

Check out the video below to witness their journey.


Mystery Skype Mrs. Mulligan's Class from Dierdre Baker on Vimeo.

Global Read Aloud 2015

Global Read Aloud in Middleton, Massachusetts

Every student in Middleton public schools participated in the 2015 Global Read Aloud.  Teachers read the book aloud to their students and planned/implemented projects and activities that align with our reading and writing curriculum.  Students became connected to other students throughout the world using technology.  Programs like Padlet, Twitter and blogging helped students to write to others about their connections and predictions and share with classrooms around the world.  A virtual book club was created using Skype and Google Hangouts and allowed students to meet others in our country and Canada.  We even participated in “Mystery Skypes” where the classes asked yes or no questions using maps to determine where they were from; building great geography skills.

What is the Global Read Aloud?

"The project was created in 2010 with a simple goal in mind; one book to connect the world.  Now with five years under our belt and more than 500,000 connections made in 60 different countries, we realize we are on to something larger than us so we look forward to continuing the global connections.

The premise is simple; we pick a book to read aloud to our students during a set 6-week period and during that time we try to make as many global connections as possible.  Each teacher decides how much time they would like to dedicate and how involved they would like to be.  Some people choose to connect with just one class, while others go for as many as possible.  The scope and depth of the project is up to you.  In the past we have used Twitter, Skype, Edmodo, our wiki, email, regular mail, Kidblog, and any other tools we can think of to make these connections.  Teachers get a community of other educators to do a global project with, hopefully inspiring them to continue these connections through the year." (Source:  globalreadaloud.com and Pernille Ripp.)

Click HERE for video.

The Kindergarten students at Fuller Meadow School are reading six books by Amy Rosenthal. Watch this video:

The 1st-2nd grade students are reading The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes. Watch this video:

The 3rd-6th grade students are reading Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Watch this video:

Mystery Skype with Canada

This week, most of our 6th grade students are on a 3-day overnight field trip to Nature's Classroom in New Hampshire.  Those of us who stayed at school had an adventure all the way to Alberta, Canada.

No, we didn't actually go to Alberta, but we did the next best thing!  We had a Mystery Google Hangout with a class to discuss the Global Read Aloud book, Fish in a Tree.

In a Mystery Google Hangout/Skype students spend the first portion of the session trying to figure out where the other class is from.  Students must ask Yes or No questions similar to the game "20 questions".

At first, we begin with a map of the world, divide up each hemisphere and begin asking questions to get closer to the location.  After each question, the student will color (with an Expo marker) out the area that the other class is NOT in.  This helps them to narrow down the search.  Each class takes turns until both classes guess where the other class is from.

Click HERE for questions to use for finding out where in the WORLD they are located in.

Click HERE for questions to use for finding out where in the United States they are located in.

Once students have figured out where our new friends are from, they participated in a discussion about the book. There were some great text-to-self connections which made us realize how similar we all are.

After the session, our 6th graders made a digital project using the app "Chatterpix" to make a self portrait and tell what we're good at.  Then, they made a movie trailer using the app "iMovie" for another Global Read Aloud book for our Kindergarten students based on the book "Exclamation Mark".  It was certainly a fun day!

Mystery Skype

Fourth graders in Mrs. Deeley's classes had the great opportunity of participating in a "Mystery Skype".  With a connection through the Global Read Aloud and Twitter, students met with students from the Middletons!  Yes, Middleton, Massachusetts met Middleton, Wisconsin.

During a "Mystery Skype", students work together to guess where the other class lives.  They are given a map, markers, paper, and sticky notes to come up with a set of questions based on the map.  Students work together to try to pinpoint where the others are from by asking yes and no questions; similar to the game "20 Questions).

They start out with trying to figure out which hemisphere they are on, then which continent, then which state.  Using geographic features, such as oceans, rivers, lakes, and other countries, students begin to narrow in on the location.  They start big and get smaller with each question.

Each class takes turns asking questions and the fun escalates as they get it right.

Mrs. Deeley's students worked hard to determine that Mrs. Autz's class is from Wisconsin. They cheered extra loudly when they found out that their town is named the same thing!

Here are some pictures from our "visit" -