University of Oregon Videoconference Series

Leslie Opp-Beckman and Cindy Kieffer

Session 9, Focus on Realia and Learning Centers

Creating a Resource-Rich Classroom

Overview

Learning Centers Rationale

  • Individualize learning
  • Offer student choices
  • Integrate skills thematically
  • Motivating…fun!

Learning Centers Management

  • Scheduled rotation
  • Students sign up
  • Open access

Tracking

  • Self-tracking
  • Documentation

For additional information, see the following web sites.

  • Classroom Organizing Tips

    Teaching is often about moving kids toward independence. Here are some ways to set up your classroom—from the entryway to the walls—to achieve this goal.
  • Class Set-Up Tool

    Scroll down the page to “Class Set-Up Tool.” This is a free, easy-to-use, virtual layout tool that helps you design customized and effective classrooms to promote learning. Use this tool to rearrange and set-up mock classrooms, and map out virtual seating charts.

United Nations Environment Programme’s “Clean Up the World Weekend”

You can go to this site and run a search for:

“Clean Up the World Weekend”

September 15-17, 2006

Clean Up the World mobilises over 35 million volunteers from more than 110 countries annually to clean up, fix up and conserve their local environment. You can register for free to get classroom ideas and connect with other schools around the world at:

For more information on other global environmental events, see:

Calendar of Global Environmental Events, from Global Stewards.

Activity#1, Realia: “Bio-rama”

The template example as shown in the demonstration comes from Scholastic’s: “35 Rubrics & Checklists to Assess Reading and Writing.” Free and for-purchase materials are available through Scholastic’s web site:

Task: Make a plan for a “Clean Up the World” diorama using a biospheres theme (e.g. Saharan desert, Oregon rain forest, Amazon rain forest, Arctic Circle).

For examples and support resources, see the following.

  • Spinning the Ecoweb

    A lesson plan for ecosystems and ecoregions (biospheres) with dioramas as one of the suggested activities.
  • Crafts, Dioramas and E-themes

    Examples of dioramas from eMINTS.
  • How to Build a Diorama

    Step-by-step instructions for building a diorama, from eHow.

Realia Rationale

  • Kinesthetic learners
  • Learning by doing
  • Authenticity
  • More interesting (motivating)
  • Process and product-oriented

Realia Examples

  • Dioramas or artwork
  • Clothing, props
  • Creating games, making inventions, repurposing materials
  • How-to activities (cooking, building, inventing, etc.)

Activity #2, “Bio-rama” Song

Using the research/reading from your “bio-rama” (biosphere diorama), write an original song about an animal, plant, place, or other item in your ecoregion. Use the tune for “A-B-C…” or another already familiar tune.

Realia Libraries as Shared Resources

  • Choose thematic areas
  • Build thematic realia collections
  • House in a shared library
  • Add and update over time

Homework for the Final Session

Bring…

  • Resources for the “Swap Shop.”
  • Your classroom examples.

For copies of this and other handouts, see:

©2006 L. Opp-Beckman and C. Kieffer, University of Oregon,

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