Two Lives Changed I Will Always Write Back

Two Lives Changed: I Will Always Write Back 1. Question & Research Task SLIDE NAVIGATION 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Have you ever written to a pen pal? Or interacted with someone who lives in a different country? Think about what you are able to learn about people and the world when you form a relationship with someone from a different culture. The book I Will Always Write Back is an autobiographical account written by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda that tells the story of how they began an unlikely pen pal friendship that has spanned oceans and decades. At the beginning of their friendship, Caitlin lived in Pennsylvania while Martin lived in Zimbabwe. How were they able to maintain their friendship with such different backgrounds? How did they find common ground? Your teacher/librarian can select the image above to show or provide access to a book trailer. (You. Tube video) In this Slam Dunk, you will conduct brief, focused research to respond to the inquiry question: How are Zimbabwean and American cultures both similar and different?

2. Information Sources You will use information sources linked here to complete the Student Activity on Slide 3. Keep the inquiry question in mind as you research: SLIDE NAVIGATION 1 2 3 4 5 How are Zimbabwean and American cultures both similar and different? Start with Culture. Grams country/state profiles and World Book encyclopedia articles: Culture. Grams: Zimbabwe | Pennsylvania World Book Student: Zimbabwe | Pennsylavania Then, use at least one more resource for each location: Zimbabwe: Introduction Geography of Zimbabwe Net. Trekker: CIA World Factbook: Zimbabwe Net. Trekker: Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - Discover Pennsylvania History. com: Pennsylvania Travel Guide (You. Tube video) To search for more resources, try SIRS Discoverer or GALE Research in Context from the BCPS Digital Content Page Image Source: Worldbook 6 Next

3. Student Activity SLIDE NAVIGATION 1 2 3 Use the information sources on Slide 2 to gather notes on a T-chart listing differences and similarities between Pennsylvania and Zimbabwe. As you investigate, think about these factors: q History q Economics q Social interactions q Traditions q People q Food q Additional interesting facts of your choice You will use your notes to complete the Assessment Activity on Slide 4. Image Source: Bing. com/images 4 5 6 Next

4. Assessment Activity SLIDE NAVIGATION 1 2 3 4 5 How are Zimbabwean and American cultures both similar and different? Use the information you gathered about Pennsylvania and Zimbabwe to create an infographic showing the similarities and differences between these two places and cultures. You can use one of the following tools to create your infographic: Power. Point (use How to create Infographics in Power. Point template) Discovery Education Board Builder Wixie Cite your information sources using a citation tool like Noodle. Tools and include a Works Cited list on your infographic. See your school librarians for help using Noodle. Tools Note: Articles, etc. from BCPS Digital Content databases include pre-formatted citations. Refer to success criteria on the Infographic Rubric as you create. Image Source: UNICEF/UN 050424/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi 6 Next

5. Enrichment Activities SLIDE NAVIGATION 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next “Kindness is Contagious. ” – Caitlin Alifirenka Simple acts of kindness can sometimes bond strangers. Simply by writing letters to one another, Caitlin and Martin formed a friendship and learned interesting details about each other’s families, schools, and cultures. At one point, Caitlin and her family helped Martin visit the United States. Martin Ganda and Caitlin Alifirenka Image Source: Bing. com/images Select the image above to view the news clip, Pen Pals Forge Life-Altering Connection. There are several ways that your teacher/librarian could have you correspond with students in other countries to share information about your cultures or reading books. Ask your teacher or librarian about these options: International School Library Month (ISLM) events: Share your culture and love of reading and books with students around the world! Skype Project or Digital Bookmark Exchange Project Mystery Skype: Play a game of Mystery Skype with a class in country to guess where they are located. It's fun way to learn about other cultures and enhance your critical thinking and communication skills.

6. Teacher Resources Learning Standards Alignment Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy CCSS. ELA-LITERACY. RI. 6. 1 Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. CCSS. ELA-LITERACY. RI. 6. 2 Determine a central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments. CCSS. ELA-LITERACY. RI. 6. 7 Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e. g. , visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue. CCSS. ELA-LITERACY. W. 6. 7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and refocusing the inquiry when appropriate. CCSS. ELA-LITERACY. W. 6. 8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources; assess the credibility of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and providing basic bibliographic information for sources. AASL Standards Framework for Learners Inquire: Build new knowledge by inquiring, thinking critically, identifying problems, and developing strategies for solving problems. Think: Learners display curiosity and initiative by: I. A. 2 Recalling prior and background knowledge as context for new meaning. Create: Learners engage with new knowledge by following a process that includes: I. B. 1 Using evidence to investigate questions. I. B. 3 Generating products that illustrate learning. Share: Learners adapt, communicate, and exchange learning products with others in a cycle that includes: I. C. 1 Interacting with content presented by others. Grow: Learners participate in an ongoing inquiry-based process by: I. D. 2 Engaging in sustained inquiry. SLIDE NAVIGATION 1 2 3 4 5 6 Content Area: Grade 6 GT ELA Unit 3: Choose Your Own Destiny Objective: Students will analyze information from multiple sources in order to compare and contrast Zimbabwean and American cultures. Time Frame: 3 class periods of 45 minutes each Differentiation strategies for this lesson: Have students use learning supports provided in any BCPS-licensed Digital Content included in this lesson. Refer to Digital Content Snapshots & Support resources for guidance as needed. Notes to the teacher: Collaborate with your school library media specialist to plan and implement this lesson. Students may need to authenticate by clicking the database icon on the BCPS One Digital Content tile before selecting direct links to Culture. Grams, World Book Student, or Net. Trekker on Slide 2. This Slam Dunk Lesson includes links to You. Tube videos. Teacher/librarian may screen videos for the class or can provide student access via Safari or Voice. Thread. See: Safari Montage and You Tube Integration | Sharing You. Tube Videos with Safari Montage | Voice. Thread and You. Tube Last updated: August 2020 Report broken links to BCPS Library Media Programs & Digital Resources 443 -809 -4035 BCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2019, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. This lesson may be used for educational, non-profit school use only. All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Dr. Jamie Mc. Kenzie’s Slam Dunk Digital Lesson model.