General Information Project Overview Curriculum Connections Resource Connections Evaluation

  General Information

  Project Overview

This project was originally developed by Heidi Gatherall, Newtown Elementary. Our Grade 4 students study different areas of the world in their Social Studies program and would like to participate in this project. It would be their intent to investigate the average cost of living in the countries they study as compared to our own country.

Each class would be subdivided into 8 - 10 groups. Each group would have the responsibility of finding current information about the cost of living for one country. Obviously there would have to be a considerable amount of preparatory work done with the students. Determining what an average family is and what the basic needs are would be the first consideration. Before any research begins students need to decide what they need to find out, where to find this information, how to record it and finally how to share their findings with others.

It is hoped that by looking at the mathematics of the cost of living in these countries they will develop a better understanding and appreciation of the varying life styles around the world. We would particularly like to connect with another school in these countries. We are hoping that this interaction will make the study a little more personal and encourage students to take a greater interest in world affairs.

  Curriculum Connections

Students will....

• Calculate how much it costs for an "average family" to live for an amount of time.
• Determine what is an average family.
• Identify basic family needs.
• Develop questioning skills related to researching.
• Research based on previously developed questions.
• Use sources to determine costs.
• Use computers to record their findings in the form of charts, graphs and essays.
• Use STEM~Net/Schoolnet/Webb66 to share with others across Canada and the world.
• Compare findings with other researchers using the Internet.

  Resource Connections

People, A/V materials and print materials will be used extensively. Students will use their textbooks, library books, encyclopaedias (books & CD ROMS), atlases, almanacs, videos, Internet and email as sources of information.

  Evaluation

Learning Outcomes...

(Technology)

• Students will demonstrate knowledge of the basic communication principles of encoding/decoding, transmitting/receiving, storing/retrieving.
• Students will employ the language and terminology of communication processes.
• Students will use communication tools to access, evaluate and select appropriate information, and to create, modify and disseminate information.