River Views

My students walk to the river several times a year to document the changes they observe through the seasons. This year, with inclusion, the whole sixth grade has been taking part in these field trips. Our final field trip will involve the students observing the changes of seasons, from the bleakness of winter to the new life of spring. While observing their surroundings, the students will find a particular area that speaks to the inner quiet that everyone has. When they find that area, they are to write a short poem reflecting their inner peace and their surroundings. The students will also have to describe what about the area made it so comforting to them.
If we had the cameras from Digital wish, and the software to assist, the students would be able to take pictures of their area and publish the poem with their inspiration. As it stands, we will have the students try to draw the place of their poem, capturing the essance that surrounds it. Students within the class that have special needs would be able to use portable recorders to help document their ideas since most of my students have trouble getting their ideas from their head to their paper. That is where a break down occurs most often. Trying to get what is in their head to their paper before the idea is gone, or they give up because it is too hard to write their thougths without being able to spell and form letters correctly.

Our final presentation is in front of several other schools within and outside of our district. In the past years, we have created posters that depict what trash has been deposited in the area of our research as well as ideas telling what we could do to improve our area. With the cameras, recorders and software, we would be able to improve our presentation by creating a power point presentation that includes real pictures of our site, our poems, and speaking portions for those who are unable to write.