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 * Great job Group B! I am impressed with your variety of ideas! Jeanine **

We have a wide variety of ideas! Great work! Kerri

Wow, great job guys. This looks really good and we can always leave the extras, more is better than less!! Christy

I added ideas #4 and #5. Just wanted to share them. If anyone has others, add them and then we can go from there. Kerri

Group B - Santa Claus Hides in your Phonograph

Describe your reasons for selecting this particular recording. Explain why you believe this recording could be effective with students.

This selection is something that would capture the interest and imagination of students at a variety of levels. Elementary students who still believe would enjoy listening to the story while older high schoolers could appreciate the importance in helping children hold on to the belief that Santa is real for as long as possible. The recording is short enough to hold students' interest and very clear and easy to listen to. I think that this recording could lend to a wealth of fun pre-holiday break activities / lessons, when we are all struggling to hold students' attention as Christmas draws closer and closer... (Christy)

​ The use of this recording is great because it allows students of all ages to use their imaginations. You don't have a picture or a book to look at, but you must use your brain and it enables you to think critically. This also is great for use over the holidays. I can remember in my history class in middle school, when our teacher taught us the history of Santa Claus and what other countries call Santa Claus as well as how they celebrate other holidays. Why fight the celebration of the holidays when it could be a learning experience for the kids. (Brett)

Students could analyze mathematical and scientific equations to determine the possibility of covering the entire Earth in one evening, and calculate speeds and probabilities at a higher level, such as in high school physics classes and physical science courses in the middle schools. (Shelly)

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.

1. High School English Class - students in a high school English class could listen to this recording and complete a NARA worksheet similar to the way we did it. They would think critically about the context of the recording and the reason it was created - a story to help children believe in Santa for as long as they can. They could also read a story like "The Polar Express" for a story with a similar idea. Once they have analyzed the broadcast and read the story, they could then create their own short story that would help lead children to believe that Santa is real. This part of the process would also require critical thinking because students would have to think about what elements would be important to helping students believe in Santa Claus. (Christy)

2. Elementary Art Class - have the students listen to the broadcast, then have them draw a picture that would go along with the recording. They could draw a picture of Santa with dirt on his face, they could draw a picture of Santa going down a chimney, they could even draw Santa playing his chimes... This activity also promotes some level of critical thinking because students are being asked to listen to the broadcast and draw and accurate picture using details from the broadcast. (Christy)

3. High School Social Studies Class - students could listen to the broadcast and complete an SEA method form to go along with it. Have them listen once as their "scan," then listen at will to examine (individual computers would be helpful for this). In the analysis portion, you can guide them to think about the purpose of the piece and the historical context. This activity in itself promotes critical thinking skills. After they have a complete understanding of the piece, have them research how Santa Claus has been portrayed in the United States through the decades - they could select three decades (depending on your historical focus - for late US history it could be from 1900 - 2000). They could come up with pictures, stories, and ways kids were helped to believe over time. I believe that there is a lot of critical thinking skills being asked in such an activity. (Christy)

4. Elementary Language Arts - Students can make a list of all the rhyming words they hear throughout the story. Then pick a pair or two of words (or use new rhyming words) and come up with their own rhyming sentences about Santa Clause.

5. Elementary Language Arts - Santa talks about getting dirty when he goes down the chimney. Did he ever get stuck? Have students write a story about Santa Clause getting stuck in a chimney and how he managed to get out.

6. Health Class (Elementary school)- Students could listen to the recording, talk about Santa Claus and what he looks like and give reasons why he looks like he does. Could it be from the cookies and milk that people in the US leave him, or is it from the chocolate that he eats from Holland? The kids would then be able to come up with ideas of other things to leave for Santa or even eat themselves that would be better choices.over the holidays. (Brett)

7. Physical Education Class (Elementary school)- Students could listen to this recording as an introduction to a game in PE around the holidays. This would enable them to use their imagination to create in their head what Santa's sleigh would be like. Students could then have relay races in the class by pulling each other on sleds! (Brett)

8. Science Class: I have included some great websites that I found to ponder the question of whether Santa is a reality. The website provides details and information about the possibility of flying reindeer, as we know there are numerous species that still have yet to be identified. It also takes into consideration the timing of Santa and his travels and the amount of time that he would be able to spend at each home. Students could prove using the scientific method that Santa may or may not exist, depending on the research path they hope to take. I would only suggest this for use in the middle and high school, and allow students to make calculations, infer, graph their data, and analyze the possibilities of predicting whether or not a Santa exists. Students will utilize higher levels of learning such as analysis, reasoning, and hopefully determine whether or not, he could possibly exist, and what the odds are. This would also utilize math skills at higher cognitive levels. - Tools: Internet, Scientific Method, NARA sheet, as well as calculations and predictions.

WEBSITE IS [|Science of Santa] and [|Santa and Science]

(SHELLY)