Technologies+to+Incorporate

__**Animoto Slideshow:**__ We have created a slideshow of pictures featuring Tian Tian and his family. Tian Tian is currently living at the Smithsonian Zoo. media type="custom" key="5290911" //Why: we chose to include this Animoto slideshow in order to show students what panda bears and their habitats look like. Since this is a first grade class, there is most likely students in the class who have never even seen a picture of a panda bear before.//

__**E-pals**__: A way to safely connect, collaborate and learn using leading protected e-mail and blogs for schools. Students will connect with a classroom in China. We have located a classroom directed by a technology facilitator Ann Martin. Ann's class is located in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. Ann has agreed to allow our students to connect with hers. Ann's students will be discussing the importance of Panda Bears to their culture and country with our students. [|Click to visit Ann's class!]

//Why: E-pals is great tool to use in order to connect students around the world. Students in different countries have the ability to tell about things they know and want to know. In this lesson, the students in our first grade class may have never seen a panda bear or have never learned much about them. Therefore, the students in Ann's class in China can talk to our students about pandas.//

In addition to being connected with Ann's Class through E-pals, we also plan on skyping with Ann and her class to talk face to face with our friends over seas.
 * __Skype:__**

//Why: Skype is also a great way to connect people around the world. Skype is very effective for students of all ages because the students can put a face to the name of the foreign student they are connecting with. Children in first grade who may have not been exposed to much technology in the past will be amazed by what they are able to see and learn through Skype.//

__**Panda-Cam**:__ We will be showing our students actual live footage of a panda bear currently at the Smithsonian Zoo. This panda will be leaving soon for China! [|Live Panda-Cam!]

//Why: We chose to incorporate the PandaCam into our lesson in order to give our students the chance to see a real, live panda bear. We were amazed that we have the ability to watch every move a panda bear makes in its habitat. This is a chance for our students to experience seeing panda bears as if they were at the zoo. It is as if the panda bear is right in front of them.//

__**YouTube Video**:__ media type="youtube" key="WYvpe5NezTA" height="340" width="560" This video shows the newest Panda at the San Diego Zoo. 20-week old Zhen Zhen made his debut.

//Why: We wanted to connect our lesson with the world that our students are living in today. A new baby panda has just made its debut, and we want our students to be able to see it in action!//