Technology+Readiness+Activity

__PowerPoint Presentation—Physical/Human Characteristics of Regions__ Students will meet in the computer lab and conduct a pre-assessment “think-aloud” on physical/human characteristics of regions. This will allow students to exhibit their depth of knowledge, readiness, interests, and learning styles by talking about it in a group setting. If students have questions about creating a new slide, inserting text/images/data, they will be able to talk about what they are interested in learning. Examples will include physical (i.e., climate, mountains, rivers) and human (i.e., interstate highways, railroads, airports) characteristics of regions and how these can create advantages/disadvantages for a society. Students will research some form of physical/human characteristic of a region (i.e., United States Highways, Hindu Kush Mountain range of Afghanistan, Swiss Alps, New Orleans Superdome) and will rationalize as to how these characteristics can serve as advantages/disadvantages to a society. Students will create a PowerPoint presentation about their research answering questions such as location, characteristics/facts, attributes, and an example of when the characteristic served in a time of crisis.

Text-only slides Title Slide No use of graphics/charts/links PowerPoint
 * __STAGE I__:** (Create a simple PowerPoint Presentation)

Use of images/graphics/charts Use of animations Well-organized & Creative PowerPoint
 * __STAGE II__**: (Create a complex PowerPoint Presentation)

Use of links from outside sources Use of technology activity options (i.e., [|www.prezi.com], [|www.xtranormal.com] , [|www.jing.com] ) Use of Media Clips Recorded narration
 * __STAGE III__**: (Create a Prezi using PowerPoint, produce a movie on [|www.xtranormal.com] and insert into PowerPoint, create a PowerPoint using [|www.jing.com] to enhance slides)

__ Materials __ Color Printer Scanner Microsoft PowerPoint

__ Technology Tools __ Computer Lab w/ Internet access for each computer LCD Projector __ Web Resources __ [|www.xtranormal.com] [|http://www.worldwar2database.com] [|www.prezi.com] [|www.jing.com] [|www.fhwa.dot.gov] [] __ Lesson Activities __  1. Pre-Assessment/Discussion/”Think-Aloud” about regions. Followed by a discussion about physical/human characteristics of regions and how these characteristics can serve as advantages/disadvantages for a society. Students select a characteristic they wish to investigate by using tools such as brainstorming, interest inventories/maps, and journaling or discussion questions or both.  2. Using print/Internet resources, students research facts about their physical/human characteristic. Prior to beginning their research, assist students by modeling how to create a PowerPoint presentation. In addition, share rubrics and other tools that will be used to evaluate students’ final products.  3. Students create a PowerPoint presentation 10-12 slides long, including title and Works Cited slide.  4. Students present their presentations to the class.

__ Technology Activity Options __  1. Use of technology tools such as [|www.xtranormal.com,] [|www.jing.com], [|www.prezi.com]  2. Scan an image/text and insert into PowerPoint.  3. Insert a video, link, graphic outside of PowerPoint.

__Differentiation/Extension__ · More capable students can create more detailed products using a variety of applications. · Less capable students may need scaffolding on using animations, inserting graphics/charts/images, etc. Products may be less detail oriented. __ Assessment __  1. Use rubrics to evaluate students on PowerPoint components and research.  2. Use a journal or other product for student self-reflection.