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In many districts, students still get their first introduction to computer science and coding in middle school or high school. That timing, argues John Pearce, is all wrong.

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Digital citizenship is more important than ever, but with the pressures of teaching, we know that it can be difficult to find time for full digital citizenship lessons.

To address this, we've pulled together a collection of short digital citizenship activities that students can complete independently, or with parents or caregivers. All of the videos and games below emphasize the importance of digital citizenship as a foundation for digital learning.

Watch-and-reflect videos: 15-minute activities

Students absolutely love our videos, which include songs, poems, whimsical animations, and our fun characters, the Digital Citizens! Use the quick activity guides below, which include links to our videos, along with reflection questions you can send to students.

For grades K-2, you can send the videos and discussion guides to students, then discuss the questions briefly during class time. Alternatively, you can have students use our Meet the Digital Citizens coloring book (also available in Spanish) to simply watch the videos and engage with the characters. For grades 3-5, we've included handouts students can use to answer the discussion questions independently and/or discuss briefly during class. Note: All videos are available in Spanish.

Kindergarten

First Grade

Second Grade

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Get more ideas for quick integration of digital citizenship and SEL!

Digital Passport™: 10-minute games

Digital Passport is our award-winning suite of games for students in grades 3-5 that address key issues they face in today's digital world. Students can complete each game online and independently -- they don't need to download an app or register. If you have time to discuss these topics with your students, use the reflection questions in the Module Guides for each game, found in the Educator Guide. Although Digital Passport is appropriate for anyone in grades 3-5, we've provided some recommended activities below. See the FAQ for more information.

Third Grade

Fourth Grade

Fifth Grade

Make sure all students can access what digital citizenship lessons have to offer.

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Quick Digital Citizenship Activities for K-5 | Common Sense Education

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Use these short, self-guided digital citizenship activities and create a positive culture around digital learning.

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One of the best ways to get started coding is to learn to code unplugged! By taking coding offline, it's easy to focus on the basic concepts of coding, which are fundamental to learning to code.

Did you know you can learn basic coding skills with a simple deck of cards? We've created a wide variety of creative unplugged coding activities to get your kids learning to code screen-free. Most of our activities require little prep and use simple household items you already have.

Here at teach your kids code, we believe in the importance of learning to code at a young age. Not only is programming a valued skill in the workforce, coding also teaches computational thinking skills that have many benefits beyond the computer.

It's easy to get started with offline coding. Check out our most popular unplugged coding activities below.

What is unplugged coding?

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Unplugged Coding - Teach Your Kids Code [2023 ]

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One of the best ways to get started coding is to learn to code unplugged! By taking coding offline, it's easy to focus on the basic concepts of coding, which are fundamental to learning to

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Free set of elementary curricula that introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world.

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Learn computer science. Change the world.

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Every student in every school deserves the opportunity to study computer science.

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Each team will be given the mission of designing a roller coaster that will carry their ping pong ball a distance of 1 foot, ending with a glorious land in a cup. Keep increasing this distance or require multiple turns as they figure it out! In STEM activities, we start with a specific goal for all students to feel success, but we keep the challenge open-ended to allow for differentiation based on student ability.

This is a great time to split into teams. The ideal size is three students per team. We recommend no more than four to a team, as someone will be left out.

Before building, show students available materials and have them brainstorm designs for their roller coaster. Our guide includes suggestions on amount per group, but this will be dictated by your time constraints and student level.

Supplies You'll Need:

Don't show any examples to sway their thinking! After an initial idea, provide materials for building. Our Roller Coaster STEM guide includes student handouts to walk them through each step of the engineering design process.

Helpful hints during building:

Don't provide examples in the beginning. Allow students to explore the materials and struggle with the initial design.

Keep challenging student teams to build taller rides with more twists.

Remind students to test out the track to make sure it's wide enough for the

ping pong ball.

Does the ball fly off the track? Try adding a ledge to keep it on the track or decrease the slope of the track to slow it down.

Does the ball stop? Try increasing the slope of the track.

An optional design constraint is having a minimum-height requirement for the start of the track, such as 8 inches off the ground.

A STEM challenge should always end in reflection and the sharing of designs. Some great questions to ask:

What were a few challenges in working in teams?

What did you learn about communication?

What materials worked best for your design?

For older students, roller coasters are a great way to discuss potential and kinetic energy. Here is a brief background: As riders travel up the first hill, a motorized chain pulls their cart to the top (that's the click-click sound you hear at your feet). The first hill is usually the tallest and has the most potential energy, or the amount of energy stored, due to the object's height. The amount of energy stored from falling down the first hill will be enough to carry riders all the way to the end of the ride! The taller the first hill, the farther that gravity can pull riders downward. As riders scream while falling down the hill, gravity takes over. All the built-up potential (stored) energy now changes to moving or kinetic energy. The further down the hill, the faster you go! As riders go up and down hills, the energy changes from potential to kinetic and back at each hill.
During the STEM activity, have students point out potential and kinetic energy on their own roller coaster designs!

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Thrilling STEM Activities for Kids: Roller Coaster Challenge - Vivify STEM

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Let's talk about roller coasters! Make the stimulating challenge of creating a roller coaster part of your next STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) project. By using the engineering design process , student teams are tasked with creating a thrilling ride! Students learn about the sci

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Art and design are integral to the STEM industry and it's important not to exclude them from the conversation.

When we talk about STEM, we are of course referring to science, technology, engineering and maths. But it's important not to forget to occasionally extend it to STEAM and remember the importance of art.

While each element of STEM is largely logical, art and design are what help the industry evolve beyond what is simply possible and add some much-needed creativity to user experience (UX) and STEM innovations.

Brenda Delaney is the director of design at Fidelity Investments Ireland. She currently leads a team of UX designers, UX developers, UX researchers and content strategists in the company's Dublin and North Carolina offices.

Delaney said the team supports Fidelity's workplace investment business, creating digital experiences for client employers and employees, as well as for internal Fidelity employees.

Her journey to a STEAM career started in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD). "When I graduated from NCAD, I started a course in internet systems development at DIT. It was quite a change from NCAD, with students from a diverse range of undergraduate courses," she said.

"Together, we learned how to create web applications from start to finish, and I discovered that I could couple my interest in design with technology to solve problems. I've never looked back."

Putting the A back in STEAM

Delaney believes that art and design are essential to help STEM move beyond what's logical and technically feasible, into experiences that are useful, engaging and meaningful. "Good design is about understanding the real problem by identifying our users' needs and wants," she said. "When design and technology work together effectively, we can create compelling user experiences that fulfil a real user and commercial need."

Delaney also makes the point that in recent years, design has become a clear differentiator in the STEM market. "Many successful companies are now recognised as design-led and it's acknowledged that traditional companies need to be more customer-obsessed to survive."

Additionally, the rapid changes within the tech industry mean that customer expectations increase and change all the time. But still, the role of design remains the same amid all this change. "It's about working with others to determine what we can create to add value," said Delaney.

And yet, Delaney fears that art and design have been excluded from the STEM industry, which shouldn't be the case. "STEAM should be incorporated in primary and secondary education to connect art and design with technology and business in schools. If we can merge art and design into STEM earlier, our graduates will be more creative, innovative and user-focused," she said.

"While things are changing, there are many tech companies that primarily associate design with 'look and feel'. If we pivot the perception that design is only about a palette of colours, then we can leverage artists and designers for the real value they bring to the process, which is shaping great user experiences."

Want to work in UX design?

As the director of design at Fidelity, Delaney is part of a global team of more than 200 designers who "share a goal to create the best customer experience in the financial industry".

She said her favourite part of her job is the discovery process. "I enjoy absorbing a request from a partner and then peeling it back to uncover the 'real' problem we are trying to solve. I love brainstorming with others, thinking about problems from different angles and coming up with a myriad of solutions. In my job, there is a lot of scope to offer creative solutions," she said.

When asked what someone needs to know to enter the world of UX design, Delaney said an accessible, digital portfolio is essential. Your portfolio should showcase a range of skills as well as your thought process. She also advised that you ensure it's not blocked by a firewall.

"You need the ability to communicate a story. When presenting your designs to your partners or clients, you need to be able to explain your decision-making and back up your recommendations with evidence."

She said a genuine interest in the business and customers you are supporting is critical. You will also need to be open-minded, a team player, and able to give and receive feedback gracefully.

"Take advantage of low-cost opportunities to build up your network, like meet-ups," she added. "Be patient. Experience counts and you need to work it up. You may not get your dream job straight off, but you will get there. It's best to get a range of experience from different industries to broaden your experience before specialising."

Delaney said she wishes she knew early on in her career that it's not always worth looking for perfection before getting feedback from actual users. "We have a tendency in design to sweat over details but there is no one right answer. It's often subjective and the way to de-risk it is to put it out there for feedback," she said.

"Better influencing skills would have been helpful, too! You need to be able to manage the whirl of opinions. That is something that will stand to you."

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Why art and design are essential to the STEM industry

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Art and design are integral to the STEM industry and it's important not to exclude them from the conversation. When we talk about STEM, we are of course referring to science, technology, engineering and maths. But it's important not to forget to occasionally extend it to STEAM and remember the importance of art.

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explore - create - tinker - invent
It's time to bring out those egg cartons and toilet paper rolls!

Do you have a pile of cardboard boxes saved for a rainy day?

Do you collect cool recycled materials and then wonder what to do with them?

Do you want to inspire your children's creative exploration without spending a ton on art supplies?

If you're nodding yes, yes, and yes, then my NEW Book, Cardboard Creations is for you!

Children who are exposed to ART are more RESOURCEFUL and ADAPTABLE

You and I both know that art is really important in the life of a child. I mean, I'm an art teacher, and you're here reading this page. So, we know. But until recently, there is something I actually didn't know. Or hadn't fully been aware of.

It turns out that there is this thing called creative literacy, which is the understanding and ability to use the skills learned through creative process to make connections, solve problems, and communicate meaning. Skills like inventiveness, focus, perseverance, and collaboration.

Wow! When my kids were little, I knew that the messy art room made them happy and helped them express their feelings, but I never realized that the skills they were learning then would give them such a huge advantage in the "real world".

It appears that heavily investing in your children's creative literacy will likely give them a better chance at finding work and fulfillment in the future. Being resourceful and adaptable leads to discovery and innovation. As more and more of the things humans are good at are being outsourced to computers, robots, and even apps (think driverless Uber), artists are emerging on top.

At a time when most of our abilities are becoming irrelevant (bye-bye skilled labor, hello 3D printer), creativity is our one remaining power that can't be outsourced.

Cardboard has never looked so good! In a world that's bombarded with boxes, this gorgeous book from Bar Rucci couldn't have come at a better time. For anyone with a soft spot for the environment, Cardboard Creations is brimming with process-driven art projects that will delight and educate children on how to become resourceful makers.

Rachelle Doorley, Tinkerlab

There are so many goodies to discover inside the 58 pages of my new book!

Make art accessible. It's that easy.

You don't need to know about Cubism, or even be able to "draw a straight line" in order to surround your children with a creative life. Creativity is not about recognizing famous paintings or making something pretty, it's about shaping and preparing young minds to use all of their senses and be open to every possibility that they can imagine.

Giving your children a dedicated space, a shelf or two of supplies that are open and accessible, and the freedom to explore their ideas is all they need to spark their artistic process.

Every once in a while, set up an art project for them so that they can build up their practical skill set - like using scissors, squeezing dots of glue, pulling off pieces of tape, stringing beads, learning the elements of the face, printmaking, still-life drawing. They will use these skills down the road when exploring their own ideas.
Bar shows us that it's not important whether your child makes a beautiful piece of art, it's their experience during the process of creating that really shapes and influences their young minds.
Jennifer Bryant, Small Hands Big Art

My own kids grew up with creative freedom. And it shows.

I get it. Setting up art projects for your children can be challenging. It takes time, it's messy, the kids sometimes aren't into it, and clean-up is no fun. Living a creative life is work.

But let me share with you my greatest bit of older-mom wisdom: It really is all worth it.

My children spent much of their childhood making as big of a mess as possible. Wherever they went, they'd wreak havoc. Piles of dress-up clothes, boxes of worms and dirt, makeshift forts using all the pillows, and always the art table covered with snips of paper, tape, paint, and glue. They would travel around the house creating elaborate games and make-believe worlds, using their imagination as a compass.

Now that they are teenagers, I can see how that creative freedom of early childhood has helped shape the way they think and their outlook on life. They remain playful and flexible in their thinking, they collaborate well within a group (whether on the stage or on the ice), they are resilient and able to think on their feet, and most important of all, they always make me the most beautiful handmade cards.

I'm not saying my kids are perfect. I only share this with you as encouragement to keep setting out those art supplies and letting your kids explore their imagination. If they practice thinking creatively, it will come naturally to them for a lifetime.

And yes, creativity is messy. But it's worth it!

Meet the author

Hi! My name is Barbara Rucci, but people call me Bar. I started my blog, Art Bar, in 2012, as a journal for my children. Today I have over 100,000 unique visitors each month, and my blog has grown into a place where I share my love of child-led art experiences with a community of parents, teachers, and fellow bloggers.

My first book, Art Workshop for Children (Quarry 2016), has sold more than 10,000 copies worldwide and has been published in French, German, and Italian. My greatest joy is seeing projects from my book and blog being recreated in homes and classrooms across the globe. With over 35k followers on Instagram, I'm able to reach and inspire moms, dads, grandparents, and childhood educators from Singapore to the Bahamas.

I'm a mother of three and live in Connecticut where the winters are long and the summers are hot, but it's all worth it when October comes around and I spend the month watching the leaves turn the most exquisite colors, and taking walks to collect as many as I can for art class.

You can find me on Instagram @artbarblog and on my new account @100daysofArtBar where I share simple daily art prompts for you and your child.

Order Cardboard Creations today so you can use all that stuff you've been collecting!

Do you have questions about this product? Email me at hello@artbarstudio.com and I'll be happy to answer them!

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explore - create - tinker - invent It's time to bring out those egg cartons and toilet paper rolls! Do you have a pile of cardboard boxes saved for a rainy day? Do you collect cool recycled materials and then wonder what to do with them?

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We're here to help. Using the simple search filters below you'll find easy, step-by-step guides and tutorials on Google's Geo Tools, inspirational stories, plus lesson plans, product information, and much more.

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We're here to help. Using the simple search filters below you'll find easy, step-by-step guides and tutorials on Google's Geo Tools, inspirational stories, plus lesson plans, product information, and much more.

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If you aren't using Google Earth in the classroom, we need to talk. The free (ahem) resource from Google is probably an obvious choice for social studies teachers. But did you know there are Google Earth activities for kids to use in your ELAR and science lessons and even in math class?

From literature tours to virtual field trips to some seriously fun games, let's dive into our favorite Google Earth activities for kids!

Google Earth Activities for Kids

Play Where in World is Carmen Sandiego

The fedora-wearing super thief has been teaching kids geography since the '80s (yes, it really is that long), and these days your class can track her right on Google Earth, tracing her across the globe to foil her plot to steal the crown jewels.

Take a Google Lit Trip

Exploring literature may not jump out at you as the obvious usage of Google Earth in the classroom, but thanks to Google Lit Trips, that's changing. The free service turns students into virtual traveling companions for the characters in the stories they are reading. The trips available cover grades K-12 with everything from primary favorite Make Way for Ducklings to Lois Lowry's Number the Stars.

Learn About Climate Change

What did your hometown look like thousands of years ago? How about the Arctic Circle? Google Earth's timelapse function lets you jump back in time and springboard into discussions of everything from erosion and weathering to climate types.

Make a Biography Come to Life with Google Earth

Are you studying someone famous and completing a biography? Take note of relevant spots on the globe, such as where they grew up, which school they attended, which university they went to, and any other significant areas in that person's lifetime.

Your students can take screenshots of these areas to include in their biography.

Teach Starter Teacher Tip: Encourage students to ask a grandparent or another older person who is important to them about their life and significant places of interest and let them explore these places together on Google Earth, taking screenshots to show their friends in a speaking task!
These resources can help:
[resource:3840854][resource:4725811][resource:3848214][resource:2216050]

Math Concepts with Google Earth

Put away the math textbooks, and fall down a rabbit hole of real-world math activities and experiences with Google Earth.

Measure distances between two different destinations (e.g. school and home).

Measure and compare the roof area of houses (students compare their roof area with a friend).

Informal measurement - students take a screenshot of a familiar place in their neighborhood - like a local park. They take a screenshot on their iPad and then use emojis to measure the area of the park.

Explore location and general mapping skills including compass directions (north, south, east, and west).

Discuss positional language with younger students. Go to street view and use positional language such as above, below, in-between, beside, etc.

Explore time zones around the world.

These resources can help:
[resource:2653478][resource:46524][resource:4266122]

Explore Latitude and Longitude with Google Earth

Use Google Earth to explore and grow your students' knowledge of latitude and longitude using a variety of activities.

Students can go on a scavenger hunt, finding the coordinates of their school, the closest park, the closest train station, or the closest library and write down the geographical coordinates of these places.
These resources can help:
[resource:2654694][resource:2654690][resource:3175382][resource:65387]

Take a Virtual Field Trip

A flight to Antarctica with your class probably isn't in the cards - no matter what the voters decide in the next school budget vote - but that doesn't mean you can't plan a virtual trip to the southernmost continent on Google Earth. Visit anywhere on Earth - literally - right from your classroom! Speaking of...

Discover Famous Landmarks with Google Earth

Across the world, there is a multitude of different landmarks (man-made and natural) for students to explore. In small groups, provide students with a particular landmark, and get them to really discover this landmark by 'visiting' it in Google Earth.

Instruct students to note the coordinates or even get them to plan out a virtual tour of their chosen landmark. They can also write out some interesting facts about this landmark and present their findings to the class.

Explore natural landscapes and features of your very own country with Google Earth. Students can research a particular natural landmark and report back to the class.
These resources can help:
[resource:170489][resource:46204][resource:46440]

Brain Break Activities with Google Earth

Really get your students thinking with this fun brain break idea for the classroom: Play a game of 'where are we today?'

Open up Google Earth, and pick a place of interest. Make sure there are some clues within the chosen image. The students then have to ask 20 questions to figure out where they are. This is a great problem-solving task to get their brains warmed up!

Use Voyager by Google Earth

This feature is truly fascinating. Be careful, this is a rabbit hole that you could get lost in yourself! Go on a storytelling journey with your students through a variety of subject areas. Explore the world in an interactive educational experience like no other!

Explore classrooms from around the world and compare and contrast your own classroom with others.

Experience interactive stories from around the world for an after-lunch cool-down activity.

Fly through landmarks from around the world.

Follow six bold navigators as they open the globe to exploration and claim territory for European empires.

How do you use Google Earth in your classroom?

Banner image via shutterstock/Davide Zanin Photography

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10 Google Earth Activities for Students That Bring the Wow Factor to Your Lessons

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Using Google Earth in the classroom? Try these Google Earth activities kids love!

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Upper Elementary-Google Earth Creation Tool

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Upper Elementary-Google Earth Creation Tool

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Google Earth calls itself "the world's most detailed globe."

It's true! Zoom in to anywhere in the world. Tilt to see the elevation and buildings pop out of the ground. Click on locations to gather details.

For years, Google Earth (google.com/earth) has been a fantastic CONSUMPTION tool. Consume visuals and info about the world.

Now, students don't have to just consume with Google Earth.

They can CREATE.

Meet Google Earth creation tools

Google recently added the ability to create Google Earth projects. In these projects, your students can stick pins to the globe, add rich media and detailed information, then present it step-by-step like a story.

Use the new "Projects" button in the left sidebar of Google Earth (the pin on map icon). Here's what you can do:

Placemarks

Click search to add and then "Add to project" in the knowledge card. Add to new project or an existing project. Click "Save." You can also drop a placemark by dropping directly on Google Earth.

Lines and shapes

To create lines: Click draw line/shape button in toolbar. Then, click the globe to draw line with series of points. Press Enter. Give it a title to save to project.

To create shapes: Click draw line/shape to draw a shape too. Then, click on the toolbar and click globe to draw. Add several points to draw the shape. Close the shape by clicking on the first point. Give it a title and save to project.

Street View

Click the yellow pegman to see where Street View is available. Find a line or dot to see Street View and click. Set up the view you want. Click "Capture Street View" to add it to your project.

Slides

Add a full screen slide as an introduction, section break or ending. Click "Add to project" in sidebar and choose "Fullscreen slide". Add a title, description, background color and/or background image.
To see a video on adding features to a map, click here.
Editing a place on the map

Hover over a place in the sidebar and click the pencil to edit. (You can also click "edit" when you create a new place instead of clicking "save".) In the edit menu, you can edit the following for your place ...

images and videos (upload, image search, YouTube, Google Drive, your photos or URL)

title

description (including links, text alignment, bold, italics, lists and more)

type of info box (small, large or none)

placemark icon

view (set how the place appears on the screen manually with altitude, tilt and more; also, set it the way you want on the screen and click "Capture this view")

line width and color

shape color and transparency

To see a video on styling the places in your project, click here.
Reorder

Move the items in your Google Earth presentation around by clicking and dragging them into order in the sidebar.

Present

Click the "Present" button to display the project in full screen. Use the arrow buttons to move forward or backward through your project. You'll fly back and forth to the spots in your project.

Using Google Earth in the classroom

These Google Earth creation tools let students tell powerful stories -- and share useful information -- visually on the map.

But what would that look like in the classroom?

Check out the video below to see how a family shared memories, a biologist made a tour of the Hudson River, and a class of students studied how a local lake had been abused.

10 ways to use Google Earth creation tools in the classroom

Want to put the power of these tools in your students' hands? Here are some ideas ...

1. Identify important locations in a story/history

Are you studying a story that has real locations in the real world? Have students drop placemarks in those locations and write descriptions of why they're significant to the story or history.

2. Show the timeline of a person's life

Pick a person from history. A character from a story. Someone a student knows in real life. Plot the 10 most important places in that person's life on a map -- and describe why they're important.

3. Relive a trip

If a student has visited someplace meaningful, have that student drop markers on the most important places and describe them. Add personal photos and videos to make it more vivid. This doesn't rule out students who don't travel, though. They can pick a place they'd like to visit and describe where they'd go!

4. Do a "Day in the Life" project

Through an interview -- or by shadowing them -- students can document the normal day-to-day happenings of someone in their community -- or beyond! Students drop pins where that person goes and describes it in the description. If the person shares photos or videos of their day-to-day activities, add them to make it more vivid!

5. Tell a fictional story

Put students' creative capacities to the test! Each placemark in their Google Earth project can be a page in a story. Upload student-created images (scanned, photos, created with digital tools, etc.). Then present them full-screen and tell the story!

6. Do place-based math problems

Geometry. Distance, rate, time. Ratios and proportions. Any of these can come to life when put on a map and connected to real places. Have students crunch the numbers and share them on their own Google Earth projects. Or take it to the next level and ...

7. Do a collaborative class map

Each student can create a placemark on a class map, adding rich details, images, videos and more to their pins. When each student dives deep into his/her own pin, a collaborative "crowd sourced" map becomes very detailed very quickly!

8. Create a supplement to the school newspaper or yearbook

Where did the sports teams compete -- and how did they do? Where have students worked or done internships? Where have students traveled? The newspaper or yearbook staff can create a Google Earth project with those details. Share it in the newspaper or yearbook for others to see!

9. Create a school/district resource about other schools

Provide a map with addresses, important information, events and more for parents and community members. They can use it to see where events are and gather valuable information. Plus, it's a great visual aid to see how far the school's activities reach.

10. Create a "Where are they now?" map

A "Where are they now?" map is great for school alumni to see what they're doing and how far they've gone from home. It can also be used in the classroom to show where people in current events are and what they're doing.

Even more ideas for Google Earth creation tools
Question: How could you use Google Earth's new creation tools? How have you used MyMaps in ways that could cross over to these new Google Earth tools? Leave your ideas in a comment below!

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Creating with Google Earth: 10 activities to try

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Google Earth's new creation tools let students demonstrate their learning on a map. Tell stories. Share information. Then share it with class!Google Earth

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Google Earth Scavenger Hunt Worksheets & Teaching Resources | TpT

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Browse google earth scavenger hunt resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources.

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It's time for my students to make a guess: Where is the class they are meeting for the first time via Skype?

"Is it North Carolina?"

There is silence in the classroom as my fifth graders crane their necks toward the screen.

"No!" shouts a voice from the computer speakers, and my students scramble back together. A buzz of "What could it be then?" envelops them.

This is what it sounds like when 23 students engage in what is known as Mystery Skype. The idea is incredibly simple, but how it unfolds can be downright magical. When else can you see students using all of their background knowledge, communication skills and common sense to figure out where someone is in the world?

The investigation begins

I first learned of Mystery Skype when I saw a discussion about it on Twitter. I was lucky enough to be included in a group run by Caren MacConnell, a New Jersey teacher and technology coach. I fell in love with just how much content this idea covers, and yet it requires very little work. And because it progresses like a scavenger hunt, it's easy to lure my students in.

The concept is simple:

Connect with another classroom. Just search for "Mystery Skype" on the internet or check out Skype in the Classroom and you'll find plenty of eager participants.

Pick a date and a time.

Get your webcam and microphone ready. Don't forget to do a test call to make sure your technology is working. If Skype is blocked at your school, try using Google Hangouts instead.

Explain the game to your students by saying something like: "We are on a mission. We have to find out where this mystery class is calling us from. It can be from anywhere in the world, but we can only ask yes or no questions. They, in turn, are trying to figure out where we are."

Finally, delegate specific roles to students before the call.

Assemble the team

Assigning roles or jobs during the call is vital because it spreads out the responsibility and gives all students a sense of involvement and purpose. As you do more of these calls, the jobs will rotate and students will get the hang of it, which will make everything run more smoothly.

Here's our list of jobs, but don't be afraid to get creative and come up with your own:

Greeters. They say hello to the other class and offer some cool facts about their own class without giving away the location.

Inquirers. They ask the questions and are the voice of the classroom.

Answerers. They answer the questions. These students need to know their state facts and geography pretty well.

Think tanks. They sit in a group and figure out the clues based on the information. Our $2 whiteboards came in handy for this.

Question keepers. They type all of the questions and answers for us to review later.

Mappers. They use maps to study the geography and piece together clues.

Atlas mappers. They use atlases and our pull-down map to decipher clues.

Clue keepers. They work closely with answerers and inquirers to help guide them in their questioning.

Runners. They run from group to group relaying information.

Photographers. They take pictures during the call.

Videographers. They record the event.

Clue markers. Working with puzzles shaped like the United States, they remove any states that were eliminated by the clues.

Problem solvers. They help students with any issues they may encounter during the call.

Closers. They end the call in a nice manner.

It's important to prepare the students at least a few days in advance so they can gather materials, such as maps and atlases, or ask questions about their responsibilities.

The big event

During the call, teachers have to do something that may not come naturally: Stand back and let the students do their jobs, communicate and work as a team. Teamwork is going to get them to the right questions. Experience helps with this as well.

Encourage students to collaborate before guessing, and set ground rules for how quickly they can guess the state so it doesn't degenerate into " "Is it this state?" " over and over. Watch them hone their geography skills as they use landmarks, weather information and cardinal directions to figure it out.

Watch the excitement build as they eliminate states or countries and crescendo as they make their guess. Help them get back on track if needed, particularly if their guess was incorrect. Keep going until both classrooms have figured it out, and then be ready to ask other questions to get to know each other.

Once the call is complete, give students time to reflect on what worked and what didn't. Again, step back and let them discuss. You can offer gentle suggestions, but the students should make the ultimate decisions.

And, finally, wait for that moment when that one child looks at you and asks, "When can we do it again?"

Geography taught, history covered, global collaboration created, communication skills honed - all in one Skype call.
Pernille Ripp is a teacher, speaker, author, blogger, and passionate advocate for education. In 2010, Pernille founded The Global Read Aloud, a global literacy initiative that has grown to connect more than 4 million students in more than 80 countries. She has published four books and is a Skype Master Teacher; recipient of the 2015 WEMTA Making IT Happen Award; and the 2015 ISTE Award for Innovation in Global Collaboration.Follow her on Twitter This is an updated version of a post originally published on October 21, 2014. @PernilleRipp and read her .

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Mystery Skype: Where in the world are they?

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It's time for my students to make a guess: Where is the class they are meeting for the first time via Skype? "Is it North Carolina?" There is silence in the classroom as my fifth graders crane their necks toward the screen. "No!" shouts a voice from the computer speakers, and my students scramble back together.

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Kids will LOVE these independent Desert Survival STEM / STEAM Building Challenge Task Cards based on a loose storyline of survival in the desert. Pair these problem solving cards with the no-prep STEAM / STEM worksheets, include them in your Makerspace, morning tubs, centers, as a reward, or as an activity for early finishers. Perfect for classrooms, homeschool, and even parents looking for fun, adventure filled activities for their children.
What's included in the FREE 14 page download:

Instructions

Terms of Use

2 Pages of 12 Unique Full Color Challenge Task Cards

Full Color STEAM / STEM Worksheet

Credits/TOU

Black and White Challenge Task Cards and STEM / STEAM Worksheet

How can you use these task cards?
Why do I think you will love this product, and what makes my challenge set unique? I love silly stories that bring humor and adventure to life for kids, but that also force them to use their imaginations in fun and exciting ways. This challenge task set does exactly that through the loose wacky stories where they are the main character. Silly scenarios, adventure and disaster, problem solving, and learning, are all part of the experience when completing these challenges. The only rule is to HAVE FUN and allow those imaginations to soar! **Please note that while the intent is for these to be independent, early readers may need some assistance in reading the cards.** Related Products:
⭐Build all the task cards in one sitting. This typically takes 1 - 2 hours to complete the set.

⭐Have the task cards available in makerspaces, centers, tubs, busy boxes, morning baskets, or available for early finishers to complete using any available materials. Students can even draw their creations instead of building them!

⭐Use one card a day during morning time. Have students fill out a STEAM / STEM worksheet with some of the challenges that require more problem solving and creativity.

⭐Use them for public speaking practice. Allow students to build as many cards as predetermined, and then show and tell with the class or their parents. They can discuss what they made, liked, what they would improve, and how it solved the problem on the task cards. They can practice speaking and listening skills, using loud and clear voices, and giving full attention to the speaker. Encourage students to ask questions to their classmates.

⭐ Adventure STEM Building Challenge Task Cards BUNDLE for Elementary Students

⭐ BUNDLE of 90 Days Silly STEM and STEAM Challenges Distance Learning and PDF

⭐ The Wild Robot Building Brick Challenge Task Cards

⭐ STEM Building Challenge Scuba Diving with Sharks Task Cards for Elementary
⭐⭐⭐TPT CREDITS!!!⭐⭐⭐
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Don't forget to leave a review to get your TPT credits! Whenever you give feedback on a purchased product, you receive credits that go towards future purchases on TPT. For every $1 spent, you receive 1 credit. 20 credits equals $1 towards future purchases! Believe me, THEY ADD UP!!!

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DESERT SURVIVAL STEM | STEAM Building Challenge Task Cards Makerspaces

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Kids will LOVE these independent Desert Survival STEM / STEAM Building Challenge Task Cards based on a loose storyline of survival in the desert. Pair these problem solving cards with the no-prep STEAM / STEM worksheets, include them in your Makerspace, morning tubs, centers, as a reward, or as an a...