Project summary:
Study seasonal changes around the world! Students around the globe will observe, share and compare the changing seasons for five consecutive weeks with other classes.

Each week, students:

• Observe the new signs of seasonal change outside.
  
• Discuss what they have seen.
  
• Write descriptions, draw illustrations or take photographs for online publication

Using their published observations in our weekly Internet observation journal (example from previous session), students:

• Analyze the season's progress in their hemisphere,
  
• Compare seasonal changes in other longitudes and latitudes to their own.

Project repeats in March and October. Participants are invited to join one or both sessions. Observation journal remains posted for 12 months.


Project parameters
Open to grade levels: Any.
Locations: Global community.
Session: Five weeks. (project schedule)
Commitment:

Participant/group profile - due Week 1.
Weekly observations - due Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5.
Weather Day data - due Week 3
Summary and conclusion - due Week 5.

*NOTE: A class on break/holiday during one of the reporting weeks will submit a seasonal poem or drawing in advance for posting that week.

Time involved: 60-90 minutes weekly
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Hardware and software
Basic: Internet browser and email.
Advanced:
Graphics software for creating pictures.
Scanner to digitize hand-drawn pictures.
Digital camera for photographs. Software to convert graphics to GIF or JPEG format.
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Objectives
Skills encouraged:

Science
• Observe and identify events in nature
• Identify seasonal progression changes
• Describe observations orally and in writing
  
• Compare and discuss seasonal changes due to location
  
• Compile scientific data
  
  Language arts
• Represent visual observations in written description
  
• Read and interpret observations from other groups
  
  Social studies
• Locate participating classes
  
• Identify differences due to location and culture
  
• Exchange information and ideas with others globally
  
  Art
• Represent observations in pictoral form
  
  Technology
• Use word processing software to write observations
• Use graphic software to create pictures
• Use e-mail to exchange information with other classes
• Use the Internet to research and present information

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Evaluation
At the end of the project:
Each student or team will have a portfolio of weekly observation sheets, descriptive writings and drawings. These creations may used to evaluate completion of the project objectives.

Each class will have a complete online observation journal, which may be linked to your web site, or printed.

Authors:

Nancy Schubert, Telecollaborate! project coordinator, and Angie Bader, elementary school teacher.


Direct inquiries to info@telecollaborate.net

http://telecollaborate.net/education/ssf/