// Langwitches Portfolio

One of our first grade classes read the book Flat Stanley by Jim Brown. They sent paper Flat Stanleys to relatives and friends around the country and received images and stories back.
Then, inspired by the “worldwide” success” of the “other first grade class’” podcast episode of the Magic Tree House, the six year olds wanted [...]

Science and history fairs have been held across the United States (and maybe other countries?) for years. Having grown up in Germany and Argentina, the first time I encountered these events was with my oldest daughter at her elementary school in the 1990s. According to Wikipedia, Science fairs have been held across the USA [...]

CSI- Crime Scene Investigation at school!
Third graders find unidentified skeleton on school campus.
What is one to do, when you find such a specimen on school grounds? Students across grade levels took a mini fieldtrip to the pond on campus to examine the skeleton. The BIG question for everyone, including teachers was: WHAT kind of [...]

If you have not thought of podcasting with your younger elementary school students, I encourage you to think again.
The first graders at my school had listened to the second grade podcast about animals, and had really enjoyed their story.They were especially thrilled that the second graders had received so many comments from teachers around the [...]

Chatrooms have acquired a bad reputation. Children are being warned that entering a chatroom will get them kidnapped, abused and possibly killed.
As with everything, if you use scare tactics and simply tell children “not to do it” , they will automatically been drawn to whatever you are trying to keep them away from.
My philosophy, instead [...]

Students are participating in a Jewish History Fair. Their topic is “Jewish Communities Around the World.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24707395@N02/ / CC BY 2.0
In the old days… students would have been given a specific topic, sent home, to the computer lab or the library to “look up” information. They would then have to write a report, print out images, [...]