Collaborative+Project+(UPT)

We determined that all three units of study presented excellent opportunities for collaboration between the classroom teacher and the library media specialist. Because the classroom teacher was already collaborating with the library media specialist on the Egypt unit and the DBQ project, we decided to focus on the Ancient Greece unit. In the past, the classroom teacher had the students write and design postcards from Odysseus to another character from __The Odyssey__. In order to make this a more authentic and collaborative project, we have decided that "Odysseus" will write a blog about his journey. The details for the project are outlined below in the Universal Planning Tool.
 * Collaborative Project - Ancient Greece Unit - __The Odyssey__ **
 * Universal Planning Tool **
 * Working Title: ** The Journey of Odysseus

The students will… Social Studies (from Connecticut Framework):
 * Content Standards: **
 * 1.3.b - Analyze how specific individuals and their ideas and beliefs influenced world history.
 * 2.3 – Create various forms of written work (e.g. journal, essay, blog, Web page, brochure) to demonstrate an understanding of history and social studies issues.
 * 3.1 – Use evidence to identify, analyze and evaluate historical interpretations.

Information Literacy/Inquiry Standards/21st c. Skills: (from AASL):
 * 1.1.9 - Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding.
 * 2.1.1 – Continue an inquiry-based research process by applying critical-thinking skills (analysis, synthesis, evaluation, organization) to information and knowledge in order to construct new understandings, draw conclusions, and create new knowledge.
 * 3.1.4 - Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and assess.
 * 4.1.7 - Use social networks and information tools to gather and share information.

Students will write a blog in the first-person from the perspective of Odysseus. Each student will document one aspect of his journey, as detailed in __The Odyssey__, in a blog post. Each student’s post will make up a classroom blog detailing __The Odyssey__ and its connection to Ancient Greek culture.
 * Purpose: **

In what ways does Homer's __The Odyssey__ inform what we know about Ancient Greek culture? How does Odysseus change over the course of his journey?
 * Essential Question Connecting Content to Purpose: **

Students will work on:
 * Work Habits: **
 * Attending to details and accuracy
 * Commitment to neatness and presentability
 * Following directions
 * Getting started, persisting, and completing work
 * Thinking creatively
 * Working independently

The students will...
 * Thinking Skills: **
 * Summarize and sequence Odysseus' journey
 * Describe events from __The Odyssey__
 * Justify ways in which __The Odyssey__ teaches us about Ancient Greek culture
 * Support their positions with evidence from the book

Comprehensive blog from the first-person perspective of Odysseus, each student will be responsible for an individual post.
 * Formats of Products and/or Performances: **

Internet-based audience. Other characters from __The Odyssey__.
 * Audience: **

To document the journey of Odysseus from his perspective.
 * Role of learner in task: **

__ x __ individual (for individual blogging) __ x __ small group (for reading from __The Odyssey__ and support of skills) large group __ x __ whole class (for introduction, viewing of movie, and blog instruction)
 * Instructional arrangement(s): **

Resources for __The Odyssey__
 * Technology or resources suggested: **
 * [] - The full version of __The Odyssey__, broken down into books 1-24.
 * [] - MP3 Audio Files for books 1-24 of __The Odyssey__.
 * [] -__The Odyssey__ Movie (1997)
 * [] - A Thinkquest created for __The Odyssey__
 * [] - An interactive map detailing the journey of Odysseus.

Databases and Resources for Research
 * Encyclopedia Britannica - []
 * Grolier Online - []
 * iCONN.org - [|http://rqst-agent.auto-graphics.com/HomePages/CustomerWide/ClassicMiddleSchool.asp?myses=18467260&cuid=rqst&lid=mids&cusrvr=minerva]

Editing and Revising Resources
 * Citation Machine - []
 * EasyBib - http://easybib.com - Provides automatic works cited and bibliography formatting.
 * [|http://www.nwmissouri.edu/library/CITING/MLA.HTM#books] - MLA Style Examples

Creating the Blog
 * EduBlogs - [] - A safe, free, and easy way for teachers and students to manage blogs.
 * ReadWriteThink - [] - Provides an example of features key to blog posts.

Classroom Teacher: Instruct in the reading of __The Odyssey__ and viewing of the movie. Small group work and instruction to check for understanding. Library Media Specialist: Provide computer access for writing blogs, instruct students in using Edublogs, provide model/exemplar blog.
 * Collaborative teaching roles and responsibilities: **

The entire unit will take approximately one month to complete. The students will initially read __The Odyssey__ and watch the movie. Class discussions and small group work will follow. The unit will culminate with the students writing a blog from the perspective of Odysseus. Students will utilize library periods to get instruction on blog-writing skills. The blog project will take approximately two weeks for completion (with class meeting three days a week in the library, and two in the classroom). If additional computer time is needed, the classroom teacher can schedule more time with the Library Media Specialist.
 * Timeline: **