Book Discussion Skype

To wrap up Global Read Aloud, our ELA class 3/4 Skyped with our blogging partners in Ms. Pinnigar's class.  Students skyped in small groups, and took turns asking each other questions about the book One for the Murphy's.

Students worked together to create the questions they wanted to discuss. Here's some highlights of the questions they came up with:

• How did you feel about the ending?
• What do you think would have happened if.....?
• How do you think the story would have been different if Carley had been a boy?
• How do you think Mrs. Murphy feels about Carley's mother?

I was impressed with how deeply the students were thinking about the book.  It was great to see how invested they were in the plot and the characters!

Here's some more photos from the Skype:

The other class had to go a bit early, so we will be finishing up this Skype sometime next week.  A blogging partner Skype for ELA 5/6 will be coming up next week as well!

Google Hangout with Author Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Friday Nov. 14th, we participated in a Live Google Hangout with Lynda Mullaly Hunt.  Students from around the world sent in questions to Pernille Ripp, the creator of Global Read Aloud, and Mrs. Ripp asked Hunt the questions.  We learned everything from what motivated Hunt to write the book (Starwars!  We couldn't believe it!) to how she got the inspiration for Carly (Hunt was in foster homes growing up too!)  

It was so interesting to hear more about Hunt's writing process, and how she makes the characters come alive.  My favorite part of the Hangout was when Hunt told us the epilogue to the book....we got to find out what happened with Carley years in the future!

For the full interview, check out the video below.  To learn more, visit Hunt's blog or website.

Hunt's next book, Fish in a Tree, comes out February 5, 2015.  We can't wait to read it!  It's already on the list for book contenders for Global Read Aloud 2015!!

Geographer Skype

The class gathers on the carpet to Skype with Ms. Raimann

Yesterday and today, we had our geographer Skype!  We Skyped with Margaret Raimann, a geographer and cartographer from XNR Productions.   To prep for the Skype, students looked through Margaret's personal website as well as the XNR website.  Then, each class brainstormed a list of questions, and students volunteered to ask the questions.  Click here to see our question sheet.

Here's some of the highlights of what the students wrote they learned:

"You can make a map of anything, not just locations." 

"Most maps she makes are made with software on the computer!"

"You don't have to know all the countries and capitals to be a map maker"

"You can use photoshop on maps!"

"Editors have to look over every map to see if there is a mistake."

"People actually order different types of maps"

"There are many steps to making a map"

"Blueprints are maps"

Some other interesting topics Margaret highlighted is that most maps are made on computers now, so computer programming is a valuable skill in cartography.  She also said that if she could meet any cartographer, she would want to meet Arthur H. Robinson, the man who created the Robinson Projection.  He was a cartographer and he worked for the CIA.  We studied the Robinson Projection in class, so it was cool to make that real-life connection to that!

Take a look at our experience below:

10th Hour Skype

Tuesday, 2:25-2:45

The class engaged in the Skype.

Students go up one by one to the laptop to ask Ms. Raimann questions.
Here we see Chris asking a question.

View of the class. You can see students sitting on the carpet listening.
In the back, we see Riley asking a question and Leah "on deck."

9th Hour Skype

Wednesday, 1:35-2:05

Class gathers on the carpet for the Geographer Skype.

Class engaged in the Skype.

View of the Skype.  In the background we can see Gavin asking the question and Wren "on deck."

Wren asks Ms. Raimann a question.

Mackenzie asks Ms. Raimann a question.

Ms. Raimann let us know that we can create our own maps using Google Maps Engine.  Most of us thought that was pretty cool!  She'll be sending us some more resources in the next couple of days, so I will be sure to share! 

Thanks Ms. Raimann!  We really appreciate the time you took to talk with us! :)