Community Connections

Students will:

• Be able to develop interview questions to ask a community member.
• Be able to describe how local government affects the lives of its citizens.
• Be able to effectively engage in a video conference / virtual interview.
• Be able to ask for clarification and further explanation as needed about the topics and texts under discussion.
• Be able to compile key ideas from the video conference / virtual interview into a digital poster.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Video Conference: A video conference is communicating with other participants in different locations in such a way that you can hear and see them.

2. Virtual Interview: A virtual interview is asking another individual a series of questions through a video conference connection.

To prepare for this lesson:

• The students will need prior experience working within Google Slides or PowerPoint. 

• The teacher will arrange for a time to connect virtually with a local government official.

• The teacher will need to be familiar with the collaboration tool they choose to have students use (e.g., Google Meet, Zoom, Skype).

• The teacher will need to schedule video-conferences with several individuals affected by bullying (e.g., parents, victims of bullying, school principals, reformed bullies, etc.).

• Optional: Download the Poster Template 8.5”x11”. Make copies of the template for the students to be able to edit it. (Go to File>Make a Copy)

Note:

1. Children should be monitored by an adult whenever engaging in a video-conference. Teachers should check with their district technology leader prior to engaging in a video-conference.

• See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

• Students who need extra support may be instructed to use the following template. 

Directions for this activity:

1. The teacher will inform the students about the approaching video conference / virtual interview.  

2. Students will work in small groups to brainstorm a list of potential interview questions to ask the guest.

3. As a whole group, the class will develop a master list of interview questions.

4. Students will volunteer to ask the guest a specific question.

5. During the video conference / virtual interview, students will keep track of the guest’s answers.

6. After the interview, students will create a poster showcasing the position/role/job of the individual interviewed using Google Slides or another presentation tool. Share the copied versions of the Poster Template 8.5”x11” for the students to edit. 

Optional:

1. These posters may be virtually shared with the guest.
2. Students will share their posters with the class and/or a small group.
3. Rather than having every student involved in one single video conference / virtual interview, small groups might be assigned specific community members (each group would interview a different community member).

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• Students will be informally assessed during the interview on the following:
  • Be able to develop interview questions to ask a community member.
  • Actively participated  in a video conference / virtual interview (good listening skills)
  • Students posters will be assessed using the following criteria:
    • The student compiled key ideas from the video conference / virtual interview into a digital poster.
    • The student described how local government affects the lives of its citizens
    • The student demonstrated creativity and care when creating the poster.