Content Area(s): Social Studies, Language Arts
Grade(s): 1, 2

Invitation
How can we introduce the students to the concept of community? How can we motivate them to observe and investigate the community around them? How can we give them the opportunity to respond in written composition to the purpose/audience of a given topic?

Tools
Computer, printer, word processing software, Internet access; color scanner; art supplies

Situations
The students work in the classroom on their research and outside the classroom as interviewers; they create their cardboard cards at home.

Interactions
Students brainstorm ideas as a whole class, research and create their artwork as individuals, and review and collaborate in small groups.

Task
Students research information about community members; they use electronic mail at school; they write letters to community members; they design slide show "cards" of community member's experiences; they use the scan to digitize their cards into a slide show.

Standards
Use ideas and information from sources other than personal experience. Write for a variety of purposes and audiences. Use formal and informal language. Use technology tools to express and present information.

Assessment
The teacher assess the student' s written communications and cards on the basis of the quality of writing and creativity.