Nicole+Myers



=Unit Title: International Pen Pal Writing Project=

Mrs. Allred http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/ http://www.epals.com/
 * Name:** Nikki Myers
 * Inspired by:**

Urban Students
 * Grade Level:** 6-8th grade
 * Length of lesson:** Eight 50 minute lessons

This assignment will be a way for students to reach out to other parts of the world in order to find common grounds with other cultures. The students will be expected to research a selected country, and find out about their customs and beliefs. The students are to use computers in order to research their countries, and in order to communicate to the pen pals. As well as computers, the students may also use the library in order to get literature on specific countries.
 * Overview:**

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/09/g68/index.html
 * From Theory to Practice:**

Having students write to pen pals creates a fun way for the students to interact with international students. By having the students write pen pals, it shows them how to write a proper letter, encourages them to use correct grammar and spelling. The idea of having international pen pals also teaches students about different cultures and geographical information. This assignment benefits the students by giving them the tools to writing a letter, and is a fun and interesting way for students to interact with students from another culture they have never thought of learning about.

-Research culture customs- learn how to research information on the Internet and the library -Learn proper letter format -Use correct grammar -Use correct spelling -Use correct punctuation -Drafting the letter with peer edits -Learn how to communicate with different language speakers -Personalize with different cultures -Write a reflection on what they have learned
 * Students Objectives:**

CE 1.1.3 CE 1.1.6 CE 1.1.7 CE 1.1.8 CE 1.3.1 || CE 1.3.5 CE 1.3.6 CE 1.4.1 CE 1.4.7 CE 1.5.3 CE 1.5.4 ||
 * [|Michigan ELA CONTENT:]**
 * CE 1.1.1


 * Instructional Plan:**


 * Resources:**
 * Computer access
 * Library research
 * Pen pals website links: http://www.epals.com/ http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/
 * Pen, Paper

The teacher needs to facilitate communication with the online correspondences, and set up pen pals for each student in the class. One way of doing this is searching for a classroom on the website http://www.epals.com/. This way the teacher can be sure that there are enough students available. The teacher then needs to make a list of all the nationalities that are available for the students to research. There are also many other pen pal websites out there, but be sure they are safe and appropriate. Assignment sheet:
 * Teacher Preparation:**


 * Lesson Plans:**

__Session one:__ Students are to research a chosen country outside of class over the weekend. They are to create a 1 to 2 minute presentation about the customs of this country. Some ideas are to research the different sports, clothes, family life, food, hobbies, movies, and music.

__Session two:__ Have each student present to the class what they have found out about their country. Then have each student chose one of his/her classmates to write a letter to the presenter about the country. They are to ask questions about the presentation, and what they found interesting.

__Session three:__ The students will work on their letters using this letter generator online: http://readwritethink.org/materials/letter_generator/ Their letters are to be printed at the end of the class period.

__Session four:__ Grammar Mini Lesson on using correct grammar in emails. This lesson will be teaching the students not to use “chat speak,” to use compete sentences, and to always proof read messages before sending. Have the students break off into groups of four. Have the students either google, or list as many “chat speak” words they possible. Then have the students write as many of the different “chat speak” words as possible on the board. Finally as a contest have the groups figure out as many of these words as possible. The group with the most wins a prize. The importance of this mini lesson is for the students to realize that all the different words used in “chat speak” are hard for outsiders to understand, and are only appropriate when chatting informally to friends.

__Session five:__ Students will be brainstorming in groups what they would like to ask their pen pals, and what they would like their pen pal to know about themselves. Some idea questions for the students could be: What kind of sports do you play? What do you like to eat? What kind of music do you like? Who is your favorite musician? What is your favorite movie? Then during the second half of class the students will start their formal email.

__Session six:__Students will peer review in small groups. Students should be looking for complete sentences, correct grammar, no chat speak, and that the voice of the letter sounds friendly. After the peer reviewing they are to fix their mistakes and hand in the letter at the end of class. __Session seven:__ Students will revise their letters and email them to their pen pals.

__Session eight (__cannot be done until response emails are received): Students will be writing a reflection paper on what they have learned through out the project from the beginning research to the end letter back from their pen pal. Reflection paper rubric: