Activity types, Technology options, Affordances, and Constraints

Civil War – Virtual Field Trip

Google Earth Travel the world without leaving home, see real-life things, more exciting and interactive than a textbook
Not current because it is history, not always a really clear view

Webquests Assesses Internet skills, learn about more than they intended to
May run into inappropriate content on the web, may be difficult for students to research



Civil War- Experience the reality
Video cameras Fun and exciting for the students, personal, get to see themselves, can replay it later
Kids may get rowdy, takes time, students may be too shy or feel left out
Television They can see themselves or they can watch a TV Time-consuming
Sound effects Makes it more real Too distracting, loud, scary


Civil War- Role play diaries/scrapbook

Photo Story
Fun way to display the pictures and information all in one place, utilizes creativity May be too difficult, may turn into a very time-consuming project
Add music Makes it more interesting, can make it more presentable to perhaps parents May take too long to find, copyright issues


Activity Type Possible Technologies Used for this content/With these kids
Affordances Constraints


Civil War- Experience the Battles
YouTube videos Makes it very real for students May be too disturbing, graphic, emotional

Movies Usually give students an even better perspective and usually tell a story May be too disturbing, graphic, emotional




Civil War- Chronology of Events
SmartBoard Students can learn how to put the events in chronological order in a fun, visual, and interactive way Students may get too rowdy and competitive

Buzzers Makes the game more fun for students to buzz when they have put the events in order May be too competitive




Civil War- Pros and Cons of the North VS the South – Study for Jeopardy with Voice Thread
Voice Thread This makes the students use their oral and auditory skills- they can also learn to share information with their classmates and to study auditively and they can also feel like an expert in their area that they shared information about. Good review and preparation for the game show. More fun way to study, unique homework assignment. This may be too complicated for fifth graders, may be difficult for visual learners, may not be the most effective study method for students

Powerpoint Jeopardy on a powerpoint makes the game more exciting than simply on a whiteboard- you can use sound effects as well to simulate a gameshow Game may get too competitive, may not be the best way to simulate Jeopardy.