The Dust Bowl Collaboration Blows In Again!

We have been privileged to host a Dust Bowl collaboration with 8th grade English classes for the past 4 years. If you want to read about how this started, go here. The program is designed to help students understand Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. Our 8th grade science teachers asked if they could join in the collaboration by adding science experiments to the program last year. In addition, the Chartwells food service catering manager also wanted to include a food station last year so learners could get a taste of the Dust Bowl era. Luckily it went so well that these additions were kept for the 2015-2016 school year! As an added bonus we used a 1934 painting in our two day program to illustrate how art can be a primary source. We want to share about the setup and reception of this library collaboration.

The program took place over two days. Day 1 consisted of four learning stations with a general focus on the era. Day 2 consisted of three learning stations with a focus on the science and food of the era. We began planning about four weeks prior to the event. 

We met before school to plan the stations

Day 1:

Station 1- The Dust Bowl Blues music video.

Students listened to the Dust Bowl Blues by Woody Guthrie

Station 2- An introduction to the Dust Bowl from a PBS television series.

Station 3- Ploughing it Under by Thomas Hart Benton.

This painting is from 1934. The digital file was provided by Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. We used this as an example of how an art object can be a primary source.

Station 4- President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's Dust Bowl speech.

Day 2:

Station 1- Static electricity.

We used the following video to introduce lightning to the students. I used Final Cut Pro to make the video. The presenter is Mrs. Linda Self, one of our science teachers at Lakeside High School. After watching the video, students would transition to a presentation area in the library led by LHS science teacher, Mr. Matthew Balcom.

Station 2- Water purification.

Students experimented with cotton, paper, sand, and cloth to see which was the most effective water filter. This was led by LHS science teacher, Mrs. Mary French.

Station 3- Dust Bowl "seconds".

Students got to taste cabbage and ham, buttermilk, rice with tomato gravy, and apple pan dowdy for dessert. This station was provided by Mr. Robert Miller of Chartwells. Our school outsources to Chartwells for all food services.

Many thanks to Mr. Darin Landry (LHS Principal), Mrs. Mari Simmons (8th grade English), Mrs. Meg Parker (8th grade English), Mr. Robert Miller (Chartwells), and our library staff (Mrs.Misti Bell, Mrs. Peggy Schaeffer, and Mr. Ray Borel) for making this possible! We are so glad to see how our stakeholders are continually improving this wonderful collaboration. Stay tuned to see how our other programs develop this school year.

Read about our Crucible Collaboration here!

Read how we improved our 9/11 Collaboration here!

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The Dust Bowl Collaborative Event (8th Grade)

One of our big collaborative project events during the first semester is centered around the Dust Bowl Era. 8th Grade English classes read Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse. To help make this period come to life for students, we started this as a one day project in 2012 and continued it in 2013 (as a two day event). We had a table with dishes set up in the library with dirt all over the top. We also had signs and posters from the period (Coca-Cola, Grapette, other various advertisements).

Pictured from left to right: Stony Evans (LMS), Ray Borel (Library Assistant), Mari Simmons (8th English), Shea Gregory (8th English).

As a change for 2013, we decided to create an introductory skit using iMovie. We dressed and acted as characters (farmers) from the book. Here is the video:

If you can't see the video link above try this: http://goo.gl/L1E3hg

We also dressed as these characters for the first day of the event. We had 5 different learning "stations" set up in the library media center. Students rotated through the stations in timed sessions and recorded their thoughts/ reflections and answered questions.

Station 1: Dust Bowl Blues- Song by Woody Guthrie with a video playing on the screen. The video featured pictures from the Dust Bowl.

Station 2: iPad Video of film footage from the 1930's. 

Station 3: President Franklin Delano Roosevelt's speech after his tour of the Dust Bowl region. This was delivered on a computer, but we set up a mock up of a radio from the 1930's so students could get a glimpse of technology from the period.

Station 4: Slide Show of various images from the era.

Station 5: A Dust Bowl "wind tunnel" was created with sound and visual effects for students to travel through on their way to the computer lab connected to the library. Once in the lab, students had a Webquest about the Dust Bowl. The Webquest was linked to Edmodo for easy access.

As a follow-up to the Dust Bowl event, students completed a brief evaluation that was added as a link to Edmodo. The evaluation was a Google Form. It was easy for the teachers and library media specialists to analyze the feedback to improve future projects.

Go here to see how we improved this collaboration by adding food and science!

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