Deserts: Arizona/Alaska - Compare and Contrast

Via video conferencing using Skype, the two classes will pick and perform an experiment relating to their geographical environments. The classroom in Arizona will perform an experiment relating to the desert environment or Arizona animal environment. The classroom in Alaska will perform an experiment relating to the Alaskan environment or Alaskan animal environment. Each class will do the experiment while the other class will watch the experiment on Skype. The classes will work through the scientific method of the 5 E's together:

1. Engage (get the students interested in what you are going to do. This could be a warm up.)

2. Explore (students should spend time looking at, asking questions about, making predictions and or participating with instruments, manipulatives, specimens, objects...)

3. Explain (this is a time of discussion; it may involve students with students, students with the teacher, students with the internet, students with writing,)

4. Elaborate (at this stage you want your students to take the information they have gained and use it in another way; they may create an illustration, a project, or a connection to self, the world, other subjects)

5. Evaluate (this can be done by the teacher with discussions, in test or quiz format, using rubrics to analyze understanding; it may be in portfolio format, or production.

The lesson will be dependent on the teacher's decisions and collaboration with the teacher in the other classroom.