 Getting Started
Tips On How To Use The Minnesota-China Connection Web Site
Who are you?
I am a teacher who wants to explore a wide range of features on this site.
Explore the Minnesota-China Connection site with your students.
Read together and discuss some of the Additional
Resources. When you find a
topic interesting, search for more information in Additional
Resources or Electronic
Library of Minnesota (ELM) in
your school library media center. Complete some Learning
Activities that best fit within your existing curriculum. When the
mission begins in November, read the daily updates in the Student
Journals.
I am a teacher whose students only have about 20 minutes a day to spend on this project.
Create some context for student learning by completing a few Learning
Activities that fit well with your existing curriculum. During the mission, follow the daily reports.
I am a teacher whose students do a daily current-events activity.
Have students read and view the Student
Journals and respond to questions. Have students focus on news articles
related to Governor Tim Pawlenty’s mission to China. Explore Additional
Resources to find answers to questions that arise from the news article.
I am a teacher whose students are studying Minnesota.
Many of the Learning Activities have
students compare geographical or cultural elements of China with Minnesota.
Use the Student Journals, Additional
Resources, and Learning
Activities to give students a context for studying Minnesota.
I am a teacher whose students are studying China.
You just struck gold. Use the many features of this Web site to enhance your curriculum.
I am a teacher whose students are studying geography skills.
Focus on Learning Activities that support the Social Studies subject area.
I am a teacher whose students need practice on reading nonfiction.
Have students learn and apply nonfiction-reading strategies
when reading and viewing the Student
Journals, Additional
Resources, news articles
and other materials. Select Learning
Activities that support the Language Arts subject area. Have your
school library media specialist assist you in finding more online text resources
using ELM.
I am a teacher whose students need practice applying writing skills.
See Learning Activities that support the Language Arts subject area. Have students keep an ongoing journal of information, ideas and questions that arise throughout the project.
I am a teacher whose students need practice applying math skills in real contexts.
See Learning
Activities that support work in the Mathematics subject area.
I have students that have special needs (special education or gifted and talented).
See the Accommodations section at the end of each Learning Activity for ideas on how to adapt the activity to accommodate students with different needs, knowledge and skills. See the Extensions section at the end of every Learning Activity for ideas on how to expand the activity and make it more challenging for students.
I am a teacher looking for activities that are appropriate for a particular grade level or subject area.
See the list of Learning
Activities organized by content area for activities that may be appropriate
for your students.
I am an interested user or parent.
Use the Web site to enhance your own understanding of China.
Start with Additional Resources.
For more extensive research visit your public library and have the librarian
assist you with finding more print and on-line resources. Check back for daily
updates to the Student
Journals section of the site. If you are interested in seeing how
educators might use these resources with students, browse the Learning
Activities in the For Teachers section.
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