This project is intended to tie in technology with ELA Unit 5:  It’s a Matter of Change.  It will focus on the cause and effect portion of the unit. This project can be completed at any point during the cause and effect portion, however it is suggested that it be completed after fiction, non-fiction, and feelings are introduced.

Overview:  Children will work in pairs. Each pair will be given a cause and collaboratively brainstorm an appropriate effect to that cause.  All work should be done on paper prior to producing in the Computer Lab. After filling out the organizer, the children will illustrate and type the cause or effect on KidPix. They will then be recording what they wrote on Photo Story or another program that allows students to narrate a picture.  This can be done in the computer lab with the help of the computer facilitator.  The final Photo Story will be published on the district website.

Common Core Standards: 

• W.1.6:  With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers. 
• Add drawings or other visuals displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings. 

Directions:

1. Give each pair a cause from the List of Causes. (attached). Two groups can have the same cause to see various effects the students can create.
2. Students will brainstorm possible effects and then choose one.
3. One student will use the Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer to sketch out and write the cause, while the other uses his/her own organizer to sketch out and write the effect. (Organizer attached.)
4. When complete, students go the computer lab with their organizer and use the KidPix program to replicate their organizer. Students should sit side by side so they can discuss and collaborate with their partner.
5. Students save their work.

Technology facilitator will save all of the KidPix documents and assemble into a program that will allow the student to pull up the picture and narrate.  Students will be called upon to record their writing. 

Final project will be published digitally on the district website.

Teachers can link from this page to their own website.

An example is shown below: