New Starts
The start of the school year has once again been a whirlwind of activity. There's always a handful of urgent tech "fires" that need to be put out in those first few days. This year, we are also working with a new online reading series so we're all working to migrate what we've loved to use in the past with what we're really liking about this new program (namely the texts themselves).In 8th grade our first unit focused on the Essential Question "Does technology improve or control our lives?" They've varied the texts to demonstrate some pros and cons, although I think most of the work tips in favor of improves. Which let's be honest most of us agree with--even though the latter can also definitely be true.
Balancing it all out: Incorporating the old with the new
I've been able to integrate some of our favorite standby resources into this unit as well. We've used a variety of articles from Newsela that relate to technology. It's shown us several concrete current examples of ways technology has both improved and controlled our lives in the past few years. We've looked at posts on social media, self-driving cars/trucks, robotics, health, and the environment. We used these articles to reinforce the main idea and supporting details skills focus in our first textbook unit and also to look for additional viewpoints on our Essential Question. We area also tying in an SEL lesson from Common Sense Media on dealing with digital drama and online behavior. I HIGHLY recommend the Common Sense Media website for so many things. They are a great parent resource.We're wrapping up the unit this week with what I hope will be a quick, fun activity on Smart Appliances for the home. I shared an article with students about smart toasters that were automatically turning on in the middle of the night in people's homes. I also shared how in my house, we are constantly fighting our "smart" thermostat to keep the temperature where we want it. It's a nearly direct comparison to a story we read called "The Brave Little Toaster." I challenged students to find the most interesting smart appliance they would like to have. We're making a common Slides presentation to share our finds. My contribution was inspired my neighbor: a combo camera/treat feeder for your pets. Pet owners can log into the app, watch their pets remotely and feed them treats by pressing a button on the screen. You've got to love life in the 21st century!
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| picture from needpix.com |
