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Postcard from Abroad


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Keywords: post cards, photography, world landmarks, blue screen, magnetic lasso
Subject(s): Technology, Geography, Photography, English/Language Arts, History
Grades 5 through 12
School: Gladstone Elementary School, Kansas City, MO
Planned By: Deborah Heffley
Original Author: Deborah Heffley, Kansas City
Lesson Title: Famous World Landmark Postcards via Blue Screen

Subject Area & Grade Level: Technology; Social Studies; CA (postcard writing); 6th grade

Objective of lesson (goals or outcomes):
- Use a software program for productivity.
- Show knowledge of using the Internet for research.
- Use writing skills in a postcard format including research found.

Description of Activities (tasks):
Students will works in small groups or pairs. Each member will either be responsible for tasks A or tasks B. All members may assist on all tasks.
- Task A1: Students will use the Internet to search for and capture a picture of a world famous landmark.
- Task B1: Students will take pictures of each other against a blue tarp backdrop & download.
- Task A2: Students will research the city and country the landmark is in, as well as 3 facts about it.
- Task B2: Students will open both pictures, (landmark and student picture) in Adobe Photoshop Elements and use magnetic lasso to cut, copy, and paste themselves into the landmark picture.
- Task A3: Students will pretend to be traveling abroad, and sending a postcard home. Given a Word template created by the teacher, that looks like a post card, students will correctly write an address on the left, and a letter home on the right that will include the city and country, location of the landmark, and three facts about it.
- Task B3: Students will compress the double images into a single picture and print using CYMB for best color results.

Activities Student will be Engaged in on the Internet
- Searching for world famous landmarks
- Searching for the location of a particular landmark
- Searching for the history or other facts about the landmark

Internet Sites Used in Lesson:
- http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/most_famous_landmarks.htm
- http://famouswonders.com/
- http://www.kidport.com/RefLib/SocialStudies/Landmarks/Landmarks.htm
-
http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0933602.html
- http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0001328.html

Project or Assignment the Student will Complete:
- Students will overlay a picture of themselves onto a picture of a world famous landmark.
- Students will write a postcard style letter home about the landmark including the city and country it is in as well as three facts about it.
- Students will print the “postcard”.

Brief Description of How Students are Assessed:
- Finished photo of student in front of a world landmark
- Printed postcard style document telling where the landmark is and three facts about it as if the student were actually there.
- Complete tasks and finished pictures.
- Active participation
Comments
These cameras will be used for many project-based learning activities.
Cross-Curriculum Ideas
Math activities to include a spreadsheet of expenses for such a trip. Creating a collage or photo album of other things to see in that country as students delve into the culture of the country they are visiting (remotely of course).
Follow-Up
Posting of postcards on a wall map with yarn pointing to the locations. Presenting a multimedia presentation of their travel log, including video messages from abroad that they would have video-taped with the cameras. Film a brief news story about politics or science or art in that country. Students should base the news on actual stories gleaned from television, radio, online news, or newspapers/magazines.
Links: "Link to Nations Online - Most Famous Landmarks in the World"
"Link to Famous Wonders - Top 100 Wonders"
"Link to Fact Monster - National Landmarks"
"Link to Info Please - Famous Buildings and Structures"
Materials: Point and Shoot, Camera Bags, Flash/USB Drives, Batteries, Memory Cards, Keyboarding
Other Items: 5 Point and Shoot Cameras, $200.00 each, total of $1000.00
5 Camera Bags, $15.00 each, total of $75.00
5 Flash/USB Drives - USB Memory card readers, $20.00 each, total of $100.00
5 Batteries - rechargeable sets, $40.00 each, total of $200.00
5 Memory Cards - 256 mb, $25.00 each, total of $125.00
5 4 yr. service plan, $40.00 each, total of $200.00