Virtual Pen Pals- Assignment Part A

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qPxU7PSP1HjNpap88aa43Z9UARQauJGLmACL8ynagLY/edit?usp=sharing

Lesson Plan

I was looking at what is due for next week and I am hoping to start on my lesson plan today. After looking at our concept map does anyone have an issue if I write mine about why growing vegetables is healthier? Let me know. :)

Map to Nigeria

Our map shows the path you could travel to get from Kalamazoo to Logos, Nigeria in Africa through Detroit.  It includes the distances between locations so we could give our students an idea of how far the other class they're working with is.

Virtual Penpals and Google Maps Assignment

Okay so I did some editing to part A, I have never used Google docs but I just hit share when I was done. Please let me know that you got it and what you think.  I saved it on my computer just in case.

I tried to organize it by the bullet points in the instructions given for the assignment to make sure we covered each one in detail.  I used pretty much everything in your original document but rearranged some of it to fit the criteria.

The only thing I took out pretty much completely was the parts about hand-made tools, and hoses and what not.  They are from a part of Africa that has access to internet, so the chances of them being a more developed part of the region is pretty high.  They may have access to a lot of the same tools we do, so I figured it was better to leave that part out and leave it more open to what the kids could discover with each other.

I am about to work on the map, should have it to you either tonight or sometime tomorrow (hopefully before 4pm) depending on how long it takes.  I figured I would try to look up a path that a shipment would go to get to the place in Africa the other class and use that for our map.  That is if that is possible.  Otherwise I guess I'll just make one up?

Map Idea

I thought for our map idea, if you agree with Part A, would be to plot the path the mailed seeds would take to Africa.  For instance, we would mail them from K-zoo, or where ever you live, the seeds would travel to the Chicago Airport to be flown to Africa.  There are several airports in Nigeria- Port Harcourt, Calabar, Enugu, Lagos...just a few examples.  What do you guys think?

Assignment Part A

I have started Part A.  You should have gotten an email inviting you to the paper.  Please let me know if you haven't gotten it.  I put you as able to edit so, you should be able to make changes as you see fit.  I'm not sure how long it is supposed to be either.  Thanks!

Assignment

I think we need to have a "penpal" in a country that has a different climate than ours.  I was thinking Africa?  We could have the kids compare what type of fruits and veggies they grow.  Where they grow them, and how they take care of them.  Any ideas?  I work every weekend and will need to get working on this soon.  I know everyone is busy.. I just want to make sure I do my share.  Thanks!

Revised Concept Map

I think we are going to need websites that focus on gardening with kids, what types of vegetables to grow in Michigan, how to grow a garden, maybe some composting ideas?  I like the idea of growing a vegetable soup garden.  What do you guys think?  We could grow the vegetables and then have a "festival" at the school where families can come and enjoy the vegetable soup that was grown by their children. 

Here are three sites I will be reviewing:  www.kidsgrowingstrong.org
                                                                 www.kidsgardening.org
                                                                 www.migarden.msu.edu

Thanks!

Vegetable Garden

Do you guys think we should do a vegetable garden?  I think it might be the easiest to do.  That is my suggestion.  I will post a new concept map with my ideas in the next few days.  Please let me know if you have any ideas.  Thanks!

Concept Map

Concept Map

Ideas???

Do either of you have any ideas for the concept map?  I was thinking maybe a vegetable garden for an elementary school.  The school could then use the vegetables for the lunch program.  It could also be a themed garden.  You could have the rabbit garden with carrots etc.  Also, a butterfly flower garden is an idea.