(Pictured Above: Team Independence teachers delivered special prizes to their students at their houses!)
Sixth grade students at NSIS were asked to write clear directions to their homes in Social Studies class. The students had to use absolute and relative directions as well as transitional words. Team Independence teachers awarded a student from each homeroom with a winner.
Using Google Maps, students had to map out the route they would take to get from the school to their house by car. They had to decide which way was the easiest. Students used the map as a guide to list directions for this route. They checked their route with their teacher and peers. Then they wrote a paragraph or more that informed their reader how to travel from the school to their house. Following the writing process they created a final copy for assessment.
The students' paragraph requirements required: an introductory statement of their goal, a clear and concise sequential list of directions and a concluding statement. TWO absolute locations and TWO relative locations were also required. Students were required to use transitional words appropriately and correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation and proper grammatical conventions.
Earlier this week Team Independence teachers revealed the winners in a surprise visit to their house with gifts (pictured); Sixth Grade English Teacher Mrs. Haddox says they even went live on their Instagram account,
"We emailed the parents ahead of time and asked when the students would be home, but begged them in the email not to tell their children. Team Indy Instagram Lived the entire trip- the students were on the live interacting with us as we traveled. When we arrived, we made an effort to video the student and their reaction. The next day, school was all a buzz. The students were congratulating the winners and retelling their experiences watching the feed."
Congratulations to all of the winners shown in the album below and to Team Independence on this great hands-on and interactive activity!