Cajun Critters

The students will create bookmarks about Louisiana animals using graphic design and productivity software.

1. The class will use a circle thinking map to brainstorm a list of Louisiana animals.
2. The teacher will select appropriate reading material and Internet links to support the students' research.
3. Each student will select a different Louisiana animal to research.
4. Students will compile specific information about their animals (type of animal, habitat, and diet), as well as one or two interesting facts.
5. Students will use the KidPix for Schools software and Wacom Bamboo Fun Student Tablet to create a picture of their animal in its habitat. These pictures will be saved in a shared folder.
6. Students will use Word or another word processing program to type an informative paragraph about their animal based on the research they compiled. These documents will also be saved to the shared folder.
7. The teacher will assist the students in combining their pictures with their text in a bookmark template. They will duplicate each bookmark four times on a single page.
8. After all students have completed their bookmark pages, the teacher will print out enough color copies to provide one of each bookmark to every student.
9. The students will cut their bookmarks and sign their name on each one.
10. The students will gather together and share their bookmarks with the class by reading the information and sharing their pictures. Students will then pass out a copy of their bookmark to each classmate.
11. The teacher may also want to print extra copies to give to the school's librarian for use in the library.