The Great Race

We pounced out of bed this morning with great anticipation of what the day would bring. I had already prepared my game plan of what I would attend and soak up. Little did I know with a conference this size that I would have to be a flexible 1st timer. My first stop on my learning adventure was none other than the “The Great Race”. Two teachers with vision shared their story of taking a lesson plan of creating a cross country great race to the next level with fifth grade students. They started small, just using their own classes and then they kicked it up a notch. And that is an understatement.

The Great Race: A Virtual Race Across America
presented by Katrina Moore and Kathy Mohr

They shared how they coordinated the work of 40 classes from Ohio to Texas virtually to see which class could get from Jamestown in Virginia to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. The winning class was chosen by spending the least amount of money, in the quickest time and at the same time hitting the most states. The students walked away with many real-life applications. On their virtual journey the students found out a watermelon in Alaska costs $35.00. That's real life.

This dynamic duo used the site moodle to document their trip using journals, upload video and store tons of teacher resources.
http://ohioportal.org/moodle/course/view.php?id=18
Don’t neglect looking at their site. I challenge you.

I couldn’t help thinking about how our own work at Chets has been similar taking just a small idea and creating something really big.

I am anxious to see how many of our teachers check the information out and use it in their own classroom. The mission of the presenters was accomplished as I left with ideas and questions of how we can make an idea like this work at Chets Creek. The interactive video-conference piece was really what had pulled me in but I left with more ideas of how students can virtually cross the country and even the world.