Transcript Document 7138839

Patti Weeg
Moanalua – Molokai Professional Development
July 31, 2004 - Hawaii
Kidlink
www.kidlink.org
…an online learning community since 1990.
Kidlink’s Goals
1.
2.
3.
To empower youth with free
educational programs
To encourage creativity and
creation of social networks
To encourage collaboration
among youth around the
world, individually or through
their classrooms.
Art by Ileana Surducan, age 15, in Romania.
Who Can Join Kidlink?
Youth – age 17 and younger
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USA
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Peru
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Many adults volunteer their time, expertise and energies to help Kidlink’s youth.
Joy Boehm
USA
Ann Berger
Valente
Brazil
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Australia
Ann-Tove
Norway
Bonnie
Thurber
USA
Isamu Shimizaki
Japan
Ora Baumgarten Epi Sepulveda
Puerto Rico
Israel
Pia Avolio de
Martino, Italy
Doug Cameron
USA
Joining Kidlink
Youth who want to join Kidlink answer the 4
Kidlink questions on the web form.
www.kidlink.org/response
1. Who am I?
2. What do I want to be when I
am grown up?
3. How do I want the world to be
better when I am grown up?
4. What can I do now to make
this happen?
Kidlink Projects For All Ages
www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/projects.html
Step Into KidSpace
…Kidlink’s online learning environment where youth publish their work,
dialogue with each other and reach new insights about their world.
www.kidlink.org/kidspace
Creation and Design of KidSpace
Bonnie Thurber
Bob Davis
Programs and
Professional Development
at the Northwestern
University Collaboratory
Project
Associate Director of
Academic Technologies
for Northwestern
University
Projects in Many Languages
Kidproj-Multi Language Area
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=614
Toolbar Options
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=614
KidSpace Chat
KidSpace Project Tour
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Kidlink Day
Grandmother and Me
Hooked on Books
What’s My Number?
Draw a Story For Me
Peace Projects
Word Weavers
Who Am I?
What Does My First Name
Mean?
• KidArt
Kidlink Day
On the “Kidlink
Day” youth from
around the world
write a journal
from morning until
night. Journals
are posted in
KidSpace for all to
see and enjoy.
Students in grade 6M at Clifton School in Botswana wrote
Kidlink Day journals. See them here:
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14000
Project Resources
Lesson ideas for using Kidlink day journals
Includes suggestions for a group of 5 students working collaboratively
to collect data from journals. Students examine journals to look for
such things as: time of day that students wake up, length of the
school day, how many hours a day kids watch TV, hours a day
students spend on homework and time of night when kids go to bed.
Suggestions for writing Kidlink Day journals
If this is not a school day for you because of a special holiday, please
let us know.
Describe your feelings when you tell us about your classes. Are you
having a good day?
When you tell us you are having a meal, tell us what the food is.
If you are reading a book, tell us the title.
If you are watching TV, tell us the name if the show.
If you go to a movie, tell us the name of the movie.
Use more than one sentence to describe what you are doing at a
particular time. Make your journal interesting by including descriptive
phrases.
Evaluating Student Activities and Journals
a rubric for evaluating Kidlink Day Journals
Evaluating Kidlink Day Activities
My journal included:
Points
Complete sentences
Correct spelling and punctuation
Descriptive words
Extra details explaining my activities such as meals and
TV shows or books read
Weather information for March 6, 2002
Additional Kidlink Day Activities
I read journals posted by other students.
I posted a comment for other participants.
I compared journals and made a graph, table, chart or
Venn Diagram.
I replied to a student who posted a comment for me.
I posted my Kidlink Day journal myself.
Total Points
Points
Journal From Denmark
6:30 I get up and put my clothes on!!!!!
7:00 I get my breakfast. I get cornflakes for my
breakfast!!!!
8:00 I go to Laasby school!!!!!
8:05 I play table tennis with my bat and some evil
enemies. It was funny!!!!!!
8:45 to 13:05 I work on my project I have got about
Ole Lund Kirkegaard. He is a writer!!!!!
13:15 to 16:00 I play computer. The name of the
game I played was championship manager 03-04!!!!!!!
16:19 to 18:30 I play football with my friend Jens. I
was goalkeeper like Iker Cassilias and Jens was
striker like Raul!!!!!!!
18:40 to 19:00 I have dinner. I get spaghetti!!!!!!!!
20:00 I watched television. I saw ?24 hours,? it was
not too good to day!!!!!
21:30 I went to bed and I played game boy until I
fell asleep!!!!!!!!!!
Made of Alexander from Låsby Skole
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=13881
Journal from Botswana
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14571
Chanda, 12 years
Francistown, Botswana
Weather: cold
6:00 I woke up tired wearing my blue
pyjamas and I didn't want to go to school.
6:05 I went to wash my face and brush
my teeth.
6:08 I got dressed in my P.E kit for
school.
6:17 After I got dressed I went to drink
some water.
6:19 When I finished my water I sat
down and waited for my dad.
6:25 I went outside to play while my dad
was getting his work papers.
6:35 My dad got the car out and we
went to school. Our car is a silver Camry.
6:49 I started to go to
school.
6:59 After I arrived at school I
handed in my homework.
7:01 After I finished handing in
my work in I went to play soccer
with my friends.
7:30 I went to cross -country.
We run around the school twice
every Tuesday.
Chanda’s Journal continued
8:00 My class and I went to computers and we were typing. I like
computers because we do fun typing.
8:30 After computers we went to the Library to listen to a woman who
knows all kinds of books. Her name is Mrs Hicthcock and she was very nice
and funny.
9:00 We went back to class and we started to write a diary about what we
did. It was great fun.
9:15 We did maths. The maths that we did was decimals.
9:30 The whole school went to singing in the hall.
10:00 We all went to break. I ate a sandwhich and it was nice.
10:30 We went to water aerobics to do some exercise. It was fun.
11:00 Our class went to French, Setswana and Afrikaans. I do French
because I am from Zambia and only citizens do the local language which is
Setswana.
12:00 We did house points. It's when you collect points for your house.I got
lots this week.
See the rest of his journal here:
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14571
Journal Reflection
“Have you ever noticed that every country you go to you can still find a certain
product? Like for example: I'm in Brazil, but I can find M&M's (which is an
American product), the same thing with programs ("Friends"), channels (Warner),
movies (Robocop), books (Harry Potter) and marketing products (action figures
from Lord of the Rings and videogames). All these things that can be found all
over the world come from something called Globalization.
Globalization gives us the idea of "global". Means that the whole world has
access to a certain thing.
Even though there is the globalization of products, each country still has
their own culture, customs and beliefs. There are some celebrations that are
globalized like Halloween. But there are other dates that can be weird to
globalize like.... Festa Junina (this is a Brazilian date where we get dressed as
hick country people (caipiras) and have a certain dance called quadrilha it's very
fun) but it's a thing that only Brazilian people would understand because it's
something we have here. The same thing happens in other places, I bet you
reader have a celebration in your culture that isn't global. And that's good
because then you have the difference in culture and costumes. Congratulations
to your country for keeping your own traditions!” [by Alex in Brazil]
http://www.edu-continuum.org/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14984
Flora’s Journal Reflection
By Flora
I think it's amazing how people have different
cultures all over the world. Children’s feelings are all
the same, having problems and conflicts that anyone
could have.
As we can see in the journals, some of the
countries like USA and Europe have after school
activities. The government is more concerned about
what the kid is going to do, because that is going to
affect his/her future. Brazil tries to make this kind of
project with disadvantaged families, but the students
and the families aren't very involved.
I noticed the way that children know easily more
than one language; the native language, English and
Spanish. Which is very important so they can learn
different things from other places besides there own
city and country.
http://www.edu-continuum.org/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14957
Comparing
Journal Data
School
Country
School starts
School ends
Instituto Comprensivo
Casalgrande
Italy
7 :45
13 :10
Delmar Elementary
USA
8:30
3:00
Mediabustighera
Italy
8:00
13:00
Yarra Valley Grammer
Australia
8:00
3:25
Clifton School
Botswana
7:00
16:30
http://www.edu-continuum.org/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14821
Comparing Journals
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=2632
What Does My First Name Mean?
From Class 2B in Istituto Comprensivo 2 in Suzzara, Mantua, Italy
Drawing by Flavia, age 12, Italy-2004
My first name is Flavia and it is in Italian. It
is a roman family name which meant
"golden" or "yellow-haired" from latin
Flavus "yellow-golden". Flavius was the
family name of the 1st-centuryroman
emperors Vespasias, Titus and Domitian.
I live in Suzzara, a town in Italy I know one
person with my first name. My first name
doesn't suit my character. I like my first
name because it is short. My first name is
very nice. I love my first name.
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=13029
What Does My First Name Mean?
From Sieff and Marks School in Israel
My first name is Tal. It is in Hebrew.
My name is like rain the the
morning. It means "dew".
I know many people with this name.
I think that my first name suits my
character but I don't have a reason!
I just can't imagine myself with
another name.
I do not want another name.
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=12034
My Name… from Botswana
What is your first name?
Moabi
What language is it in?
Setswana
What does it mean?
Giver
Is there anything interesting or unusual about your
first name ?
no
What city/country do you live in?
Botswana
How many people do you know who have the same
first name as you ?
2
Does the meaning of your first name suit your
character?
yes
Do you like your name?
no
What other name would you choose
Jack
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=15457
From the project moderators…
“What Does My First Name Mean?”
Ora Baumgarten
Israel
Joy Boehm
USA
The project has really been a joy (excuse the pun!). I think that it
has proved to be a truly "multi-culti" one, and it was amazing
when the Americans, Italians, Israeli and South African kids
commented on each others' work.
Please extend my greetings to the participants of the talk. I'll be
happy to continue the project in the coming school year.
Hugs, Ora
My students for the most part were amazed at the thought that
names had any meaning at all. In their minds names were merely
identifiers, and ought to sound nice, but didn't really mean
anything. Then they were surprised when they researched and
discovered the meanings of their names. Very seldom did they find
that the meaning of their name fit them, but their original feelings
about their names did not change with the knowledge. What
intrigued them even more was learning that cultures exist where the
meaning of a name is of great importance, and most people are
aware of the meaning of their name. It caused them to rethink some
of their previous notions. This project touched my students at many
levels and I am grateful to Ora for developing it and bringing it to
KidSpace.
Grandmother and Me
My grandma’ lives in Montevideo. We call her Meca.
She came to Punta del Este in summer. I wear one of
my favourite shorts. One day I was on the beach and
hit against a rock and broke my short. I was very sad
for what had happened, I spent many days without
wearing it. I was very upset and disappointed. One day
my grandma’ got up and out of bed, took my short and
mended it, and although she is very old and her hands
shake, she did very well.
Martín Cortinas
Maldonado, Uruguay
Art by Alejandra Castaneda
at British Peruvian School in
Lima, Peru.
Mi abuela vive en Montevideo. Le decimos Meca. Ella vino en
verano a Punta del Este. Yo uso un short que es uno de los
que más me gustan. Un día, yo estaba en la playa y me
pegué contra una piedra y se me rompió el short. Estaba muy
triste por lo que había sucedido, pasé muchos días sin usarlo.
Yo estaba muy caprichoso. Un día mi abuela se levantó de la
cama, agarró mi short y lo cosió, a pesar de que es muy vieja
y le tiembla la mano, le quedó muy bien.
http://www.kidlink.org/KIDPROJ/grandmother/
Grandmother and Me
From Romania
Art created by Maria
Surducan, age 16, Romania
Grannie tells me that once upon a time there was
an emperor who had a daughter. That daughter
was very beautiful. She had a dog. Its name was
Budy. She loved her dog very much. . One day, the
dog was lost . The girl was very sad and she left
her parents and went to find Budy. She took food
and water with her.. On the road she met a man
who wanted to help her, but he was a thief. Every
crossroad he blackmailed her. If the girl gave him
some food and water he would tell her the way to
her dog. When she gave the man the last food and
water he left her without telling her where Budy
was. She fainted. After two hours the dog felt her
smell and went and found her. They were very
happy and they lived for a long time together.
Cristina Palancan,
6th form, School 10,
Romania
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=1066
Hooked on Books
Ghost Horse by Herb Marlow
reviewed by Olyvia age 10
I read about the Ghost Horse. It was
a great book. The book is about a boy
that saw a horse one night. So he went
to his mom and dad`s room and
banged on the door. So his mom and
dad went to see what was wrong so he
told his mom and dad that he saw a
horse. His mom and dad did not
believe him because they could not see
the Ghost Horse. I would rate this book
to 10 because it is a very good book. I
think 2nd to 5th grade kids would like to
read this book.
Eugene Field Elementary, Missouri, USA
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=11569
What’s My Number?
Perttu’s challenge from Finland…
Try to solve this:
The number of week days
X the number of stars in the USA flag
/ the number of Planets in space
+ the number of moons in Turkeys flag
X the number of stars in the USA flag
-the number of the letters in word
-A L P H A B E T
Please note! In Finland we finish our
school in two weeks! Answer as soon
as possible! ~Perttu
Class 6B at Vallila Elementary School,
Helsinki, Finland
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=10689
Draw a Story For Me
By Sara at Solkan Elementary
School in Slovenia
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=5172
Draw a Story For Me
Ntokozo is 9. Her
picture is of a
hand. In Zulu the
word is -sandla.
John Wesley School,
Pinetown, South Africa
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=5474
Draw a Story For Me
Idade:11 anos.
Sexo:Masculino.
Titulo do desenho:Na aula... (In
the classroom)
Elementos principais:Lousa,
professor, aluno (blackboard,
teacher, student)
Lapis de cor (colored pencils)
Art by: Pedro Ataide deLima
Escola do Sítio, Campinas, Brazil
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=10021
Queremos a Paz
Queremos la Paz
Volem la Pau
We want Peace
"Espero que esta sea la última lágrima" ¿Por qué? ¿Por qué ha muerto tanta
gente? Me gustaría expresar lo que siento en estos momentos. Me siento
impotente, lleno de rabia.A veces sueño que un genio viene a visitarme y que me
concede tres deseos. Me gustaría pedir una consola, tener mucha fuerza y poder
volar. Pero, de repente, mi corazón llora y me hace decir cosas que pìenso
dentro de lo más profundo de mí. Entonces le digo:Primer deseo: "No quiero más
guerra"Segundo deseo: "No más bandas de terroristas"Tercer deseo: ... y
entonces digo: "No sé qué pedir". Hay cosas que no se pueden arreglar. Hay que
asimilar la realidad. Este mundo no es justo. Todos estamos rabiosos y, cuando
alguien nos hace daño, después nosotros queremos devolvérselo. Hay que
decirlo, incluso yo me comporto así. Entonces me despierto y se me cae una
lágrima y después digo. "Espero que esta lágrima sea la última".Ángel Moreno
García 1A (12 años)
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14787
Translation…
"I expect this to be the last tear"
“Why? Why have so many people died? I would like to express what I feel in
these moments. I feel myself impotent, full of rage. Sometimes I dream that a
genie comes to visit me and that grants me three desires. I would like to ask
for a console, to have a lot of force and to be able to fly. But suddenly, my
heart cries and does me to say things that I think in the deepest part of me.
Then I tell to him:
First desire: "I do not want more war"
Second desire: "Not more bands of terrorists"
Third desire: ... and then I say: "I do not know what to ask for." There are
things that can not be arranged. The reality has to be assimilated. This world
is not fair/equitable. We all are rabid and, when somebody does us damage,
afterwards we want to return it to him|her. We must say that; even I behave
like this.
Then I wake up and a tear falls me and I say afterwards. "I expect this tear to
be the last one".
Ángel Moreno García 1A (12 años)
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14787
Question 3: How do I want the world to be better
when I grow up?
I would like to see one big country in which there is
no soldier and disasters. Where people care about
each other as of the relative, and like each other.
The nation which can stand for the planet and
protect it from destruction which occurs now.
Question 4: What can I do now to make this
happen?
I think that to create the world in the future it is
necessary that all nationalities and the countries
have reunited in the unique country. It is necessary
to remove all borders between the countries that
one big and great country has turned out. It is
necessary to make one language that all each other
understood. It is necessary to make one religion. It
is necessary to destroy all weapon, all alcohol and
tobacco. To destroy all factories making these
products. It is necessary to remove all government
that there was no struggle for a throne. It is
necessary to destroy all data on having place wars
that for young generation there was no example of
wars.
http://www.kidlink.org/KIDART/projlist/artworkspeace/works.html
Suren, Armenia Date: 7-Jul-2004
Question 3: How do I
want the world to be better
when I grow up?
I would like the world to
live in peace.
Question 4: What can I
do now to make this
happen?
I'd like to join all the wellwilled people together and
fly in different parts of the
world as Picasso's
pigeons to protect our
Earth planet.
http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=862214&item=144107
After 9/11…
Praying for Peace
with our friend in Pakistan
Dear Mahenaz,
Thank you for praying for us. When I saw that plane crash I cried and
my heart broke. I was very mad. I hope there are no wars. I wish that
no one was killed. I want pace too. I hope none of my family was killed
and none of your family either. Did one person out of your family die?
Your friend,
Chelsea
Dear Chelsea,
I understand that you were sad and also that you were mad at what
happened. You know when I first saw it on TV I just could not believe
it. When I realised that it was true I also cried. I still cry when I think
about it and what might happen. Lets all pray for peace. Are you
working on the Peace Project with Mrs. Weeg? Chelsea, thank you for
your concern. No, my family is safe and no one I know died in the
crash, but I am still very sad for all those who did.
your friend,
mahenaz
http://www.globalclassroom.org/2002/pakistan.html
Drie minuten stilte voor Amerika
Hello Todd, I have read your letter, I found it very sad for all the
people in New York. We have seen on TV a lot of what's happened
there. We all are hoping that the killers will be found and
punished. Everybody's hoping that the terrorists will be found
soon and that there's not started a war. Europe will respect the
meening of America. I hope that America don't need weapons,
that they find the leader of the terrorists and find a solution.
We wish all the peoples a lot of courage at this time, expecially
those who have lost someone because of the attacks.
Your friend,
Ken
http://www.kriebel.olen.be/Foto's/Drieminuten/drieminuten.html
What you can do for peace
Tue, 31 May 1994 08:18:53 +0300
Here is a challenge for people on the list. I hope someone feels it within
his power to take up the challenge.
The Israeli Ministry of Education has made PEACE the topic for
education in the Israeli schools next year. This is appropriate, for we
have also set our sights in this area. We believe that peace between
Israel and its Arab neighbours will never really come about if left to the
politicians. And if it is an enforced peace, it will neither be a strong peace
nor a long-lasting one. We feel that peace will finally emerge if it comes
from within, from the children of these nations.
We desire to communicate with schools in Arab countries. By doing so,
we think that both Arab children and Israeli children will be able to shed
learned stereotypes and view each other with understanding, and know
that they are all children at heart, despite so-called separations of
culture, language, religion and history. The children can carry the
message to the adults. They can mount the campaign for peace
together.
It is not in our power to establish such contacts by ourselves, because
of the embargo on any communication with Israel by the Arab countries.
If we do manage to write to an Arab school, we are not sure that we will
receive a response. Therefore we ask those who may be able to set up
such contacts to please act as an intermediary. We do not mind writing
through a third school or organization at first, with the hope that an Arab
school and ours, (and soon after other schools in our country and
theirs), will be able to correspond directly. I don't know how you view
this situation. I think it is much harder than most of you think. Let's try to
do it for the children. If we can do it here, we can do it everywhere.
David Lloyd and Hannah Sivan
Sde-Boker, ISRAEL
Hi, My name is Reut Granot. First of all I would like to tell you how
happy I am to finally have the chance to correspond with a student in
an Arab speaking country. I feel that it's very important that we can
communicate because I think that if we want to live in peace with one
another, the first thing both of us must do is to get rid of the prejudice
we have about each other and the best way to do this is by a closer
look at each other's way of life, thoughts, opinions and so on, besides I
think that it's nice communicating with children my age from all over the
world and it doesn’t where exactly they are from. I find it very
interesting to know how a person me age lives, thinks, and feels. So,
after this long opening I'll introduce my self better. As I said before my
name is Reut Granot. I live in a place called Ben Guryoun College, it's
a little place in the Negev which is a desert in the south of Israel.
…
I have an older sister and a younger brother. My older sister will go to
the army soon because in our country every young man and woman
have to join the army when they tearn 18 years old.I certainly hope that
until i'll get there there will be no need for any army in the world at all.
Bye, REUT
http://listserv.nodak.edu/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind9410B&L=kidleader&P=R1488
Gujarat Earthquake
2001
This is how I began - I formed a circle of kids and asked how would one kid
of the circle join hands with the opposite kid. And then how would all the kids
join hands with all the other kids. I stood in the middle of circle, and told
them to join hands with me, and thus forming a `link'. This is how I
introduced Kidlink, - the link which will join hands with the kids of the rest of
the countries…
My next move was - taking out a big chart paper, which I had prepared in
advance with colorful writing of `Kidlink' and `Who-Am-I? ' program. All
writing was in crayons so as to attract them. I gave them the paper, and told
them to write their names on it, so that we can pin it up at the camp, along
with their paintings, etc.
Suddenly all of them jumped on to grab crayons and the chart...oh I was so
inexperienced to handle the situation. Anyway, a teacher came to my
rescue, and lined up everybody and we finished the thing.
http://www.kidlink.org/gujarati/equake/volunter.htm
Gujarat Earthquake 2001
Visamo Camp
http://www.kidlink.org/gujarati/equake/volunter.htm
http://gbgmumc.org/umcor/emergency/southasiaph
otos.stm
Dealing With Loss
Art by Pali, who lost her parents in an earthquake
Discussion questions from the “Who Am I?” program…
http://www.kidlink.org/kie/nls/english/friends/lesson3.html
Word Weavers
AIRBUS TRIPLE X OR A 380
With amazing grace
Carrying more than five hundred
And tons of cargo.
BOEING 17 FLYING
FORTRESS
The flying castle
Carrying bold men and
explosives
Releasing them on towns.
David, age 13, in Botswana
David
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14750
1.
2.
3.
4.
"Who Am I?" is an educational program for youth.
It supports curriculum standards
It is student centered.
It offers support for teachers.
Kidlink's “Who Am I?” Program Modules
Who Am I?
Where Do I
Live?
What Are My
Rights?
My Friends
and Family
What Are My
Roots?
Virtual
Vacation
Who Am I?
Drawing by Tatiana Isabel
González Saavedra, from
Pillanlelbún, Chile.
"My nickname is Taty. I like
playing Basketball and
Listening to music. I m 12
years old."
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=165
Gina’s site…
http://pd.mohs.k12.hi.us/Teachers/nakaharag/wai/index-wai.html
Where Do I Live?
My village is Thailand. Thailand is
where my parent came
from. People who live in Thailand
are all very nice upset for the bad
one. In Thailand we have a lot of
mountain all around us. Some
part of my village is small, lake
some parts are big and some
parts are small. In Thailand we
have all four season.
Art by Matthew, age 15, at Fresno
High School, California, USA
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=12757
What Are My Rights?
By Antonella M. - age 11 - Italy
I have chosen the right to go to school because some children can't to go
to school and are used for hard working. That isn't fair!
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=1849
My Family and Friends
from Leman, age: 15
Country: Azerbaijan
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=14213
"Novruz" holiday (novruz is translated as "a new day") is the most ancient
and cherished holiday of a New Year and spring. It is celebrated on the day
of vernal equinox - March 21-22.
Novruz is the symbol of nature renewal and fertility. Agrarian peoples of
Middle East have been celebrating Novruz since ancient times.
Preparations for Novruz start long before the holiday. People do house
cleaning, plant trees, make new dresses, paint eggs, make national pastries
such as shakarbura, pakhlava and a great variety of national cuisine. Wheat
is fried with kishmish (raisins) and nuts (govurga).
It is essential for every house to have "semeni" - sprouts of wheat. As a
tribute to fire-worshiping every Tuesday during four weeks before the holiday
kids jump over small bonfires and candles are lit. On the holiday eve the
graves of relatives are visited and tended.
Novruz is a family holiday. In the evening before the holiday the whole family
gathers around the holiday table laid with various dishes to make the New
Year rich. The holiday goes on for several days and ends with festive public
dancing and other entertainment of folk bands, contests of national sports.
Looking Back in Times
part of an IRC KidSpace chat
Thu Mar 18 07:52:45 2004
<A-EpiS> Ok Lucas Can you tell us about your grandparents?
<Lucas > sure
<A-EpiS> Where did they live
<Lucas> My grandparents were in Poland during WW2.
<Lucas> My grandmother's mother died when she was 4.
<A-EpiS> How was life for them, do you know?
<Lucas> she was taken away by the Nazis
<Lucas> and my grandfather had parents till later age
<Lucas> but his 2 brothers died at war. 1 was killed when he was defusing mines.
<A-EpiS> But your grandmother survived life with the nazis
<Lucas> and the other died when he was throwing a granade at the * Nazis
<Lucas> they had a hard life
<Lucas> sorry about the last bad word
<Lucas> I just feel sad for my grandparent, he lost his two brothers when he was young.
Lucas
Julie
It was hard for him
<Lucas> My grandparents ended their education at 4th grade
<_Beatriz> why so early lucas?
Katty
<Lucas> It was very hard to attend school when you have little money.
<_Julie >How come education had to be paid for?
<Lucas> When you have little money, you have to go to work at young age by doing farm work.
<A-EpiS> They lived on a farm?
<Lucas> Yes.
<katty > My father also worked at a very young age and couldn't go to school.
http://www.kidlink.org/english/general/k/chat/log180304.html
Virtual Vacation
Hello, we are L1 (9 Grade) students. Glad to meet everyone. We are
interested in visiting different countries. We also like to meet friends. We
invite you to our beautiful town Azov (Russia). See you!
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=13517
An IRC chat: http://www.kidlink.org/english/general/k/chat/log130504.html
KidArt
Photo by: Sveinmar Stefánsson, Iceland
Iceland
“This is a very sensitive portrait
of your friend. I think the contrast
between the dark background on
the left and the light background
on the right is very important to
the feeling of the image. It
suggests that Heiddi has both a
dark side and a light side.. It also
keeps the compostition from
being to symmetrical and static. I
think the filter you used was
appropriate. It allows the
character of your subject to come
through while removing
unnecessary detail. But I
wondered what the straight
photograph looked like. Keep up
the good work.”
--DanW
Þessi mynd er af Heidda. Sveinmar tók þessa mynd.Heiddi er skólabróðir minn
My name is Sveinmar and my school is Síðuskóli. This picture is of Heiddi.
Heiddi is my classmate. Sveinmar Stefánsson
Iceland
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=4500
Self Portrait - KidArt
New York, USA Portrait by Maddelena in New
York. This activity was created to expand the
"Describe/Draw" project. Drawing a person
while only taking into consideration the physical
appearance of an individual was not enough to
interest and involve older students in the
project. Older students have developed some
good tools to draw a face; moreover their
personality becomes more outlined.
We proposed to our students to build a
psychological self-portrait:
to think about the mental image that each teenager
has of himself
to translate his own image without taking the
physical features too much into consideration
and using colors, graphic signs and techniques
as they prefer in a free way.
http://65.42.153.210/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=3173
Psychological Self Portrait
In this project youth are asked to build
a psychological self-portrait:
1. to think about the mental image
that each teenager has of himself
2. to translate his own image without
taking the physical features too much
into consideration and using
colors, graphic signs and techniques
as they prefer in a free way.
This can be a way to check the power
of the graphic message and the skill to
communicate through the language of
Art.
Art by Francesca in
New York
http://kidspace.kidlink.org/kidspace/start.cfm?HoldNode=3174
KidArt
Art by Federica from Italy, Age 12
This picture represents two dancing people, dance is my favourite sport.
There are two girls that dance in the gym. One girl is classic, the other is
funky. They represent two kinds of dance.
http://www.kidlink.org/gallery/showcase
KidSpace: a User Friendly
Environment
Hints for Using KidSpace
How to Administer Students’ Pages
Login Procedure
Teachers: Write to Patti [email protected] or project moderator for teacher
account.
Students: Answer the 4 Kidlink questions to register and get a Kidlink login
and password.
Add a New Page
Add a Comment
Add or Edit Picture
Edit a Page
The Beginning… not the End 
We hope you will join us in Kidlink’s
KidSpace and become a part of the online
global community of learners!