Connecting and Communicating –Video Cal

My class enjoyed our first Skype call with our Mystery Skype class. We look forward to learning more clues to figure out where they are located (Iowa). This project ties in nicely with our social studies curriculum. We study the regions of the United States. Therefore, we will be able to use our knowledge of the different regions to help us figure out where our Mystery Skype class is from.

In the past, we have Skyped with a student’s father who was on a deployment in Kuwait. This was not only exciting for the soldier’s child, since our whole class looked forward to our Skype dates.

I can also Skype or Hangout with my colleagues from home so I can collaborate and discuss lessons or ideas.

I plan to incorporate Skype of Hangouts more in my classroom this year. Here are a few ideas I have so far:

• -          We have kindergarten book buddies, so we could try to Skype or Hangout with them in our room instead of always visiting their class.  
• -          We will soon be teaming up with another fourth grade class from Dearborn to become pen pals. I hope that we will be able to share our writing pieces with for them to give us feedback.