5A1+Group+D+separate+wiki+page

RETURN TO 5A1 Group D Directions: On a separate wiki page, as a group: (Wiki Rubric).
 * Describe your reasons for selecting this particular recording. Explain why you believe this recording could be effective with students.
 * Describe at least 5 ways the recording you selected could be used in the classroom. Try to expand ideas for different subject areas and/or grade levels. For each lesson idea, include a brief description of how this activity could help promote critical thinking skills in students.

A. __**Why pick this piece?**__ I guess I feel everyone loves Santa, and that he creates such imagery, both visual in the bright red/white outfit, and also auditory with his "HO, HO, HO!" I think students relate well to Santa as a popular figure, and are certainly familiar with various aspects of Santa from the media, thus the broadcast would be effective with students. SN

​I liked this selection, too. Especially in elementary school, it's a concept with which all students can identify, regardless whether or not their families actually celebrate Christmas. The old-fashioned way in which Santa directly addresses children is very endearing and charming. It would make a lovely link to Christmases past. DL

In social studies, students often learn about customs of other countries. This would be a great way to discuss how students used to "watch" Christmas specials on television. Additionally, it gives some insight to the availability of electronic resources during the period. Who doesn't love Santa? BW

Like most have already mentioned, Santa is an icon in this country. Santa plays such a huge role in the culture of our country, even for those who don't "celebrate" Christmas. In addition, from my experience, kids at all levels get excited when talking about Santa Claus so this is an excellent resource that should easily engage all students. MF

B. **__Ways to use //Santa Claus Hides in Your Phonograph//:__**

1. Art connections: Have students create a visual poster or flip book as they listen to the broadcast. If done at Christmas time, these items could serve as class decorations or promote a school wide art contest to vote on! Students would have to possess a keen ear and think critically to incorporate details, like the soot on Santa, and the fact that he's crammed in a box, or how rumpled Santa might on emerging. SN

2. History/Technology: Have students research the early phonograph and compare/contrast with today's communication devices. This would be for high school age students. They could create replicas of the early phonograph also (that perhaps would work?), and teach other students how the device functioned. Creating a model promotes students' critical thinking skills by pushing them from abstract to concrete. The research aspect could promote a variety of questions that students respond to, again using critical thinking. SN

3. English Language extension: Because of the rhyme patter, this broadcast could be compared and contrasted with "The Night Before Christmas" piece. Students could extend their thinking by researching the dates each was written/broadcast.

4. Social Studies: I could see using this as an introduction to our fifth grade holiday project, as a way to help students understand the historical nature of traditions. Not all of them select Christmas as their holiday tradition, but they all know about it because they live in the U.S., so it would help them see a link between current and past holiday practices. Critical thinking skills would include compare/contrast. DL

5. Language arts: I might use this with my third grade biography book report project, connecting it to a read aloud biography of Thomas Edison, such as __Young Thomas Edison__ by Michael Dooling. Critical thinking skills at this age level would be enhanced with the use of a KWL chart or two-column notes (CRISS strategy: meta cognition) before and after reading this book. Or, we could do a simple Think-Pair-Share activity and document our discussions using the Smartboard. DL

6. Middle School: I teach a unit on mythology and this would be a perfect myth to introduce. Students can relate because enough are familiar with Santa to have background knowledge, and deciphering why people created Santa Claus would nurture their critical thinking skills. Students would be able to identify all the parts of a myth with inference. Additionally, students will see how modern day myths relate to those of their Roman/Greek counterparts. Students could use a Venn Diagram to compare the two. Sounds like a fun unit!

7. Math: Graph prices of early, and perhaps later, phonographs with information about wages of a typical family. Draw inferences re: affordability. Students could think critically about the value of this device, compare/contrast with today's devices and costs.

8. Historical Culture Research: Where did the family normally listen to a broacast? Design the room, complete with furniture from that era, wall paper, other room accents of that time period. (could be done wiht a drawing, model, or technology.) Art expansion--draw a scene of the typical family, complete with age/time period clothing. Raises much potential critical thinking about various cultural aspects of a society--i.e. was there a rating system in place? was there ever something "inappropriate" broadcast? How did/would people react?

9. Science: What did these devices look like? What component parts would be necessary to build one? Could anyone build this kind of device? Promotes deductive and inductive types of thinking, depending on how approached. For example, pretend you want to create a sound device: how would you do it? Or, here is an image of the device, dissect the components you see.

10. Science or History: Inventions. Who created the first recording devices? as the research question. What size were these items? Was the invention unique to America? What other scientist built from this idea's foundation, and what other inventions were created? These kind of investigations get students thinking critically about the role of inventors in a society. What if the phonograph is NOT invented-how would we be different?

11. Social Studies/World Cultures: This could be an interesting introductory activity in which students listen to the physical description of Santa Claus and then research other countries representation of Santa Claus. There are many different names for Santa Claus throughout the world so it would be interesting to compare and contrast the appearance of Santa in the United States with other countries. Each student could be given a specific geographical region and create a Santa "Profile" for each country in that region. This would include a brief description as well as an illustration of Santa