Multisensory approach to authentic alphabetic identification and recognition via student created ABC Charts, books or power points.

Materials Needed: a digital camera and case,
memory cards or flash drives
batteries
RW Cd for each student
photo paper,
color or photo cardriges
Lesson Objective: This is a multisensory approach to
alphabetic recognition and
identification.Each student will record
objects that are significant or interesting to them. They will have to identify which alphabet the item relates to and catalog the items alphabetically. (Students could use the cameras while at school or check them out for home use as well).
After finding as many objects as possible, the students will present their abc chart,alphabet book or powerpoint presentation to the class. Each child will also "publish" his or her book or abc chart, thus creating new books or center activities for the class to make connections to as well. We will then incorporate their book,chart or powerpoint into our daily phonics and alphabetic recognition exercises.
The abc charts, books or powerpoints can be thematic, seasonal or by student selected interest. This will expose the students to more than the traditional abc charts,books or powerpoints and aid in abc retention. I feel that it would also spark an interest to "catalog" everything that they encounter, thus making alphabetic recognition more tangible and authentic. I also feel that this project can be diffrentiated based on student levels.
More advanced students could look for word families and catalog a chart,book or powerpoint presentation of alphabetic items.
As we progress, we can "publish" our creations on our class web page. I would like to keep a copy of each students work or have a copy on cd, as well as to allow each student to take all of their works home with them at the end of the year. At the end of the year we can compile all of the works and send it home on a cd as a reference tool.