How did you modify this unit for use in your own classroom?: -Instead of having the students create a WebQuest, I had the students type essays and enhance them with images that they took during the community walk. - Since “Neighborhood Map Machine” was not accessible on our school computers, I had the students visit maps.google.com to see a map of their community. On this website, they were able to add descriptive text and draw lines to different places in their neighborhood.

List your primary instructional objectives for your students.

What role did technology play in this curriculum unit?: - students used the Internet for research and to locate images - students used Microsoft Word to type essay about places in their community. - students took digital pictures of places in their community - students accessed maps.google.com to locate map of the community and to add descriptive text.

How did you assess and evaluate student performance?: 1) Students were assessed through observation of their work and verbal contributions. 2) Students had to demonstrate they had an understanding of the different elements of their community. Students needed to know how to call in an emergency into the fire department, how to use the Yellow Pages, and the locations of banks, supermarkets, courthouse, Yankee Stadium and libraries. 3) Formal evaluation was conducted after students completed their final products. Students had to label the establishments in their drawings accurately. Students essays about a special place in their neighborhood had to contain: -complete sentences -sentences in logical order -topics organized in paragraphs

Please tell us briefly about your background & teaching experience: I have been in the teaching profession for 22 years. I spent five of these years as a UFT teacher center specialist and a literacy coach. Missing the interaction with children brought me back to the classroom. So, this year I am second grade classroom teacher. I enjoy seeing the children develop throughout the year.

What are your recommendations for other teachers interested in adapting this unit?: Make sure that you can access the various web sites on your school computers. If not, find another source that will provide a similar experience.

Samples of Student Projects

	Drawing: Places in my community
	NewmanSample1.pdf
	Photographs of important neighborhood structures & essays
	Newman_Sample1.pdf
	Inserting descriptive text to map on map.googles.com
	NewmanSample2.pdf
	Newman_Sample2.pdf
	NewmanSample3.pdf
	Newman_Sample3.pdf