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iTour, iShare

Elementary Social Studies/Language Arts/Math Lesson Idea

Project Overview 

 Duration: 2:06
In this project, students study a local business, such as a recycling center. During a tour of the business, students use an iPod, a voice recorder, and a digital camera to record interviews and observations and to take photos. To share their learning, some groups of students combine their digital media in a Keynote presentation about the business. Other groups use Pages to create a brochure about the business that incorporates text, photos, charts, and graphs.
 

Project Steps 



  1. During a tour of a local business, have students use an iPod and a voice recorder to record their questions and the responses as well as their observations of what they see, hear, and smell. The students should also use a digital camera to take photos during their tour.

  2. Have students work in small groups to download their photos into iPhoto and their audio recordings into iTunes. They should edit and title their photos and listen to and name their audio clips.

  3. Have each group use Kidspiration or Inspiration software to plan their presentation or brochure.

  4. Have each student group review its plan and make any needed changes. Students should then use Pages to create any text and charts or graphs they will use in their project.

  5. The students should create their Keynote presentation or their Pages brochure using the templates available in the software. Have them include photos, charts or graphs, text, and audio (if using Keynote).

  6. When their projects are complete, have students share them with the rest of the class. Keynote presentations can be shown on the group’s computer or projected on a large screen. Pages brochures can be printed for viewing.


 

Outcomes 

After completing this project, students will be able to:

  • Use technology to create a presentation demonstrating what they have learned

  • Have developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills that will help them manage and use information

  • Work cooperatively in small groups

  • Compose a report to describe and provide information about a person, object, or situation

  • Organize data in charts


 

Sample File 

Click on the image above to download the brochure sample (PDF)

 

Technology Skills 

After completing this project, students will be able to:

  • Use a digital camera to take photos

  • Import photos into iPhoto

  • Use an iPod and a voice recorder to interview people and to record observations

  • Import audio clips into iTunes

  • Use Keynote to create a presentation that includes audio, photos, and graphs or charts

  • Use Pages to create a brochure that includes text, photos, and graphs or charts


 

Preparation and Duration 


  • Before beginning the project, you should make arrangements with a local business for a tour, set up transportation, and get all necessary permission forms signed.

  • In addition to the trip, this project will take two to three class periods to create the presentations and brochures. One more class period will be needed for sharing the projects.


 

Assessment Suggestions 


  • Students can assess each other’s presentation or brochure by applying a teachercreated rubric.

  • PDF versions of the Keynote presentations and the Pages brochures can be added to the students’ electronic portfolios.


 

Tools and Resources 

Internet

Tools

Macintosh computers, digital camera, iPod, iPod voice recorder, printer, Pages, Keynote, iPhoto, iTunes, Kidspiration or Inspiration

Note: A voice recorder can be used with all iPod models that have a Dock Connector, except for the iPod mini. (The iPod shuffle does not have a Dock Connector.) For more information, see your iPod User’s Guide.
 

Prerequisite Skills 

Before beginning the project, students should have the following skills:

  • Using a digital camera

  • Using an iPod and a voice recorder to record audio

  • Using iPhoto to import, organize, and edit photos

  • Importing audio files into iTunes

  • Using Kidspiration or Inspiration to create a planning document

  • Using Keynote to create a presentation or Pages to create a document


 

Facilitation Tips 

A signup sheet for using Keynote or Pages is useful for allowing students to choose what application they want to use to share their learning. Use this signup sheet to determine the makeup of groups. Ideally, groups would have four to five students.
 

Technology Tips 


  • If students are using the same photos and audio, the media needs to be downloaded onto all of the computers that are being used. If the computers are on a network, you can turn on sharing in iTunes and iPhoto so students can easily access each other’s photos and audio.

  • When taking digital photos, students need to have the wrist strap on and hold the camera carefully.

  • Holding their breath when taking the picture may help the students to take clearer photos.

  • Depending on the grade level and skills of the students, assistance may be needed with typing their text and other computer skills.

  • At least two computers will be needed for this project. Ideally, there would be one computer for each group of students.


 
 

First published on Jan 23, 2007.