by Debbie Rosenberg

Grade Level: 4-6

Content Area: Cross-Curricular

• Students will learn about the selected social issue.
• Students will raise the awareness of others regarding the issue.
• Students will develop strategies for solving this problem.
• Students will work collaboratively with others.
• Students will use handheld computers to gather, record, illustrate and analyze information.
• Students will use the Six Traits to write a report.

Other Materials

• Keyboards for handhelds
• Computer with Internet

Procedures

1. To introduce students to the plight of gorillas, students will meet Koko, the
   gorilla. The main resource will be her website: www.koko.org.
2. Students should discuss what they already know, or think they know, about gorillas. The students will use iKWL to record their thoughts about gorillas.
   During a group discussion, students will share their thoughts.
3. Computer Lab Activity:
   Visit Koko’s website: www.koko.org
   Divide the students into groups of two or three and assign each group one of the pages from Koko’s website. They must use LiteNotes to record and illustrate the important information from the page.
4. Each group will share what they have learned about Koko and gorillas. During the information sharing, be sure to address the Discussion Questions handout.
5. Discuss the need for educating people about the plight of gorillas. How can the students help educate people about this important cause? How do you know what people already know or what misinformation they might have? Discuss the need to measure what others in the school already know. How can this be determined? Discuss ways to gather information from others.
6. Students will write questions for the survey. See the Sample Quizzler Questions handout.
7. Enter the questions into Quizzler on one handheld computer. Beam the completed quiz to each student’s handheld computer.
8. Have the students visit each of the intermediate classes. Using their handhelds, they should each have one or two students use Quizzler.
9. Have the students analyze the data.
10. Discuss the results. What misinformation is out there? What information
    needs to be shared? How can this be accomplished? Discuss a variety of methods to do this.
    • Examples:
      • create a brochure
      • put on a skit or play
      • make an iMovie
      • invite a guest speaker from the zoo
11. Use one or more of these ideas to share information with the intermediate
    classes to increase their awareness and knowledge of the issue.
12. Repeat steps 8 and 9.
13. Compare the results of the two surveys. Did anything change? If so, what?
    Why do you think there was change? Was the change adequate? If not, what can be done?
14. Using a word processor, each student will write a report describing this project. Include a comparison of the survey results plus two or three suggestions for further educating people about this issue. Students should also discuss how their own level of knowledge has changed during this project. Use Six Traits to evaluate this writing assignment.

Extension Activities

• Students can work collaboratively to write a story about gorillas using BookShare 2.1.
• Students can write letters to politicians urging them to support legislation that protects endangered species.


Comments

• I had planned to use Social Survey 2 v 2.0 but found it to be a bit too complicated for most elementary students, so I replaced it with Quizzler.
• I have had difficulty using LiteNotes. The drawing does not save, and that area of the screen appears to be damaged.
• There are many social issues from which to choose. While using a handheld computer is part of the motivation, the study of the issue can be equally motivating for students.

Sample Quizzler Questions

1. Where do gorillas live?
a. South America
b. Africa
c. Asia
d. India

2. Which of the following is NOT a type of gorilla?
a. Mountain gorilla
b. Western Lowland gorilla
c. Desert gorilla
d. Eastern Lowland gorilla

3. Which type of gorilla is endangered?
a. Desert gorilla
b. Eastern Lowland gorilla
c. Western Lowland gorilla
d. Mountain gorilla

4. Which of the following is the main threat to gorillas?
a. Lions
b. Bears
c. Humans
d. Elephants

5. What is the average lifespan of gorillas?
a. 15 years
b. 25 years
c. 40 years
d. 50 years

6. Which of these terms best describes gorilla behavior?
a. Aggressive
b. Shy and peaceful
c. Fearful
d. Angry

7. What do gorillas eat?
a. small mammals
b. birds
c. plants and insects
d. humans

8. How do gorillas communicate with each other?
a. gestures
b. body posture
c. chest slaps
d. all of these

9. Which of the following is NOT true of gorillas?
a. They are killers.
b. They are intelligent.
c. They show emotions.
d. They cry with sounds, not tears.

10. Which of the following is NOT true of gorillas?
a. They live in family units.
b. They are the largest of the primates.
c. They are unable to stand upright.
d. They are hunted for meat.

Discussion Questions

1. Why are gorillas endangered?

2. Why do people kill gorillas?

3. What can be done to stop the killing of gorillas?

4. Can legislation really help?

5. What is the lifespan of gorillas?

6. How does the stereotype of gorillas compare with the truth?

7. How does Project Koko help the plight of gorillas?