Paddle to the Sea

A Teaching Demonstration integrating

Literacy, Social Studies and Technology

Eric J Bentley

Red Cedar Writing Project, Summer, 2007

The Approach

My demonstration is meant to suggest and support my contentions that…

1.  Students will be more apt to learn when they are allowed to contribute their interests and apply their personal histories to learning activities and projects.

2.  Students need to be able to use resources to find answers to their own questions.

3.  Using collaborative opportunities, mentor texts and technology, students can be inspired to create narratives, empowered to incorporate research and engaged by using various modes of technology to validate their writing.

Student Outcomes:

·  Students will work collaboratively in pairs.

·  Student will be able to research information about a Michigan coastal city.

·  Student will choose information about that city that is interesting to him/her and others. Student will use this information and the provided graphic organizer to answer the questions.

·  Student will write a chapter of the book, Paddle to the Sea, where their chapter begins with Paddle arriving at the city and ends w/ Paddle leaving the city.

·  The students’ chapters will be compiled into a collection via technology for all to access.

Demonstration Outline

Materials Needed for the Presentation

Teacher:

·  Whiteboard w/ markers (prompt w/ drawing of pencil)

·  LCD projector

·  Laptop

·  Research Questions Table (paper and electronic) and 4 Square Questions Table (paper and electronic)

·  Teacher Demo in print / Script

Student:

·  scrap paper and pen(cil)

·  laptop w/ computer logged on to http://rcwp.wikispaces.com

·  Research Questions Table (paper and electronic) and 4 Square Questions Table (paper and electronic)

·  Handouts from Angel site

Prompt question:

On a scrap sheet of paper, write what it would be like for you if you lived in a city by a major lake or ocean? What would you like/dislike about it?

Check w/ Troy re: students being able to access and edit http://rcwp.wikispaces.com

Questions:

·  Have you ever been on a boat? What was that like? Have you ever been on a boat for a long time? Overnight?

·  What things would you need to have on your boat?

·  What things would you want to have on your boat?

·  What would you take with you?

·  Make a list of things that you are going to take.

·  What couldn’t you take that you would need/want?

·  How would you get what you need?

·  Make a list of things that you are going to find.

·  Where would you choose to stop on shore?

·  Once there, how would you get what you need?

·  What else might you find there that you didn’t expect?

·  What might you find that would make you not want to leave?

·  What might you find that would make you want to come back?

·  Make a list of things that might happen that would make you want to come back? Or…not come back?

------

Michigan is well-known for its Great Lakes. Many people live in communities on the shores of these Great Lakes. Imagine you dock your boat in one of these communities. What does this community have that is special? unique? different? fun? exciting?

We will be researching many of Michigan’s coastal cities. As we research, we will be looking for the answers to the following questions:

·  What can you find there that will make you enjoy your stop?

·  What can you find there that will make you want to stay?

·  What can you find there that will make you want to leave?

·  What can you find there that will create a memory that you can take with you and stay with you for years to come?

Think about how you feel when reading what your city has to offer.

Students may record their information/research on a computer using the handouts in angel.msu.edu

As information is recorded, also should the web address for keeping track of resources and citations.

Let’s do one together. I’m going to Grand Haven next month and I’ve never been there. I wonder what memories I’ll find.

Open up a web browser and go to http://rcwp.wikispaces.com/

Click on Check out Eric Bentley's Teaching Demonstration

Click on Click here to find my del.icio.us bookmarks for researching Michigan's coastal cities.

The website address is: http://del.icio.us/Erics_rcwp_links/Michigan

Here we’ll find links to websites that provide information about Michigan’s cities.

Do a think-aloud here with finding information about Grand Haven. Use electronic handouts to collect notes.

Notes example for Grand Haven:

Research Questions:

·  What can you find there that will make you enjoy your stop?

·  What can you find there that will make you want to stay?

·  What can you find there that will make you want to leave?

·  What can you find there that will create a memory that you can take with you and stay with you for years to come?

Notes / Source
scenic dunes, channel, waterfront and lighthouse at the State Park / http://www.infomi.com/city/grandhaven/
normal temp range is 80-60 / http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=49417
Grand Haven has a long boardwalk and large marina and a Musical Fountain. / http://www.infomi.com/county/ottawa/
Holiday Inn Grand Haven [Check Availability] [Hotel Overview] [View Map]
940 West Savidge
Welcome to the Grand Haven Waterfront Holiday Inn. The Grand Haven Waterfront Holiday Inn is the Grand Haven area's only full service waterfront hotel. / http://www.infomi.com/dir/bus/business_city.php?city=Grand %20Haven&county
Grand Haven State Park Grand Haven, MI (616) 847-1309
Grand Haven State Park is a 48-acre park with the beautiful sandy shore of Lake Michigan along the west side of the park and the Grand River along the north side of the park. The park consists entirely of beach sand and provides scenic views of Lake Michigan and the Grand Haven pier and lighthouse. / http://www.infomi.com/dir/rec/recreation_city.php?city= Grand%20Haven&county=
A & L Farms
Fresh blueberries during season (July-august). Eat them fresh or freeze for later use. 11901 144th Ave., Grand Haven (616) 842-1987. / http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/ Attractions/Outdoor%20Fun.htm

Craig's Cruisers

Family fun! Open All Year! Go Karts, Batting Cages, Kiddie Karts, Mini Golf, Bumper Boats, and indoor arcade game center. Located at Pontaluna Road and US 31 3 miles north of Grand Haven. (231) 798-4936 / http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/Attractions /Outdoor%20Fun.htm

The Grand Haven Farmer's Market

Garden-fresh seasonal produce, flowers and more. Every Wednesday and Saturday under the bright blue canopy near Chinook Pier starting at 8 a.m. June through October. (616) 842-4910.
/ http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/Attractions /Outdoor%20Fun.htm
Grand Haven Waterfront Stadium
Hosts many summer activities, cinluding the Musical Fountain, Big Band Dances and Worship Services. Other waterfront activities include the Anchorage Cup Sailboat Races, Powerboat Runs, Coast Guard Festival Activities and 2.5 miles of beautiful riverfront Boardwalk. (616) 842-2550.
/ http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/Attractions /Outdoor%20Fun.htm
Harbor Trolley
Harbor Transit offers public transportation services in the Tri-Cities. The Harbor Trolley operates every day from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day and offers a narrated tour of the area. Chinook Pier, Grand Haven (616) 842-3200. / http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/Attractions /Outdoor%20Fun.htm
Kiteboarding & Snowkiting
1 & 2 hour Lessons are available through Mackinaw Kite Company, 106 Washington Ave., Grand Haven. Kite Camp is held on Monday and Tuesday weekly throughout the summer. These 2 day camps are the ideal way to become a kite boarder. 3 hour Snow Kiting lessons are also offered during winter months. Contact (800)-622-4655 ext 1. / http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/Attractions /Outdoor%20Fun.htm
Musical Fountain
A synchronized display of water and lights on the harbor. Every summer evening at dusk. Special performances during Tulip Time and September. Best viewing at the Waterfront Stadium at Washington Street and Harbor Drive, Grand Haven. For Waterfront Stadium Events, call (616) 842-2550. / http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/Attractions /Outdoor%20Fun.htm
Starlite Bowling Lanes
Open bowling, bumper and galactic bowling. Restaurant and lounge. 1305 S. Beacon Blvd., Grand Haven. (616) 846-2820. / http://www.grandhavenchamber.org/At_Play/Attractions /Outdoor%20Fun.htm
Grand haven coast guard festival (too much to cut and paste – see link)
/ http://www.ghcgfest.org/index.php
Houghton/
Hancock / Benton Harbor/St. Joseph
Sault Ste. Marie / Escanaba
Menominee / Petoskey
Manistee / Traverse City
Muskegon / Ludington
South Haven / Holland
Alpena / Bay City
Port Huron / Mt. Clemens
Monroe

What can you find there that will make you enjoy your stop?
·  .
·  .
·  . / What can you find there that will make you want to stay?
·  .
·  .
·  .
What can you find there that will make you want to leave?
·  .
·  .
·  . / What can you find there that will
create a memory
that you can take with you
and stay with you for years to come?
·  .
·  .
·  .


Research Questions:

·  What can you find there that will make you enjoy your stop?

·  What can you find there that will make you want to stay?

·  What can you find there that will make you want to leave?

·  What can you find there that will create a memory that you can take with you and stay with you for years to come?

Notes / Source

Now it’s your turn.

Students will be given partners or they will choose.

Students will be given or select one of the choice cities to research.

These cities are in our Wiki page

Students now research the internet.

Well, now what do we do?

We’ve used our imagination to wonder. We’ve learned about cities that many of us have never been to. We’ve used our thinking skills and research skills to prepare us for a trip that we are unable to take…

or…

can we?

I’d like to share a story of a boy about your age.

He lives north of us, north of the Upper Peninsula.

North of Lake Superior lies Lake Nipigon surrounded by forest covered mountains. He ALSO dreams of traveling, experiencing new places. But as he well knows such a journey is impossible for him.

However, he doesn’t give up his dream of travel.

He finds a way.

Show digital story of Paddle to the Sea

http://www.youtube.com/user/mrebentley

What did the boy do? Why?

We can take what we know and write. We can make a journey in the reader’s mind so real w/o her ever leaving home.

Take what you have learned. Consider what you felt. Write a narrative as if you are Paddle. However, in this case, you are a real person. So that many can experience through your eyes, make no mention of Paddle’s age or gender. To be consistent with fellow authors, write your chapter in the past tense. Your chapter should begin as you approach the city by water in your canoe and end as you leave.

Here is a narrative I have prepared for Paddle’s trip to Grand Haven:

As each day passes, Paddle longed for both new experiences and time to reflect on past adventures.

He approached a harbor where he needed to stop for supplies and hopefully a few new experiences. The sign up ahead read, Grand Haven. Next to that read the following sign, Welcome to the Mouth of the Grand River.

Paddle was excited to see what lay ahead.

He docked in the harbor just south of a long narrow beach. In the distance, he saw sand dunes. He hoped he could find time to climb one. He walked toward the center part of town and realized that there were many, many people wearing white uniforms. He asked a lady standing near. She replied, “Why it’s the annual Coast Guard City celebration….

As Paddle returned to his canoe, he thought of his worst and best parts of the city. His worst part was the commotion of all those people attending the Coast Guard City parade. The best part was finding the Grand Haven Farmers Market where he stocked up on fruits and nuts. He left seeking new adventures in new communities but committed to memory the wonderful celebration the citizens organized to honor our national Coast Guard. With that thought, we disembarked.

Now, it’s your turn.

I suggest you create your draft in Microsoft Word. Once you are content with your final draft, you will be copying your chapter into a wiki page so that all chapters can be combined to create the larger book of adventures. After all authors have completed, we will correlate our chapters geographically and create a Michigan travel log. We will illustrate and publish it on the web and for our classroom.


The following pages were composed to support my choosing of appropriate cities. In one list, they are grouped by how they are shown on the state map on Michigan.gov. The bold-faced cities are larger and will probably have more information about them on the web.

http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9622_11033_11151-65571--,00.html

1. (U.P.)

Ontonagon

*Houghton Hancock

L’Anse

2. (U.P.)

Munising

Manistique

*Escanaba

3. (U.P.)

*Sault Ste. Marie

St. Ignace

3. (L.P./Lake Michigan side)

*Petoskey

Charlevoix

4. (U.P./Lake Michigan side)

*Menominee

4. (L.P./Lake Michigan side)

*Traverse City

*Manistee

*Ludington

*Muskegon

7. (L.P./Lake Michigan side)

*Grand Haven

*Holland

*South Haven

*Benton Harbor/St. Joseph

3. (L.P./Lake Huron side)

Cheboygan

Rogers City

5. (L.P./Lake Huron side)

*Alpena

Tawas City

*Bay City

6. (L.P./Lake Huron side)

Harbor Beach

9. (L.P./Lake Huron side)

*Port Huron

*Mt. Clemens

*Detroit

*Monroe

Bookmarks

http://del.icio.us/Erics_rcwp_links/Michigan

http://www.infomi.com/city/

http://www.michigan.org/travel/

http://www.wowworks.com/wowcity/mi.htm

http://www.roadsideamerica.com/geo/showStateMap.php?state=mi