Blogging Buddies

This week I'll be starting a new blogging project with third graders.  I currently blog with 4th and 5th grade students, but have been considering introducing the third graders to blogging for quite some time now.  I decided to put a spin on a class activity that I did with second graders a number of years ago.  We had a class teddy bear that would travel to each student's house.  "Buddy Bear" would go home in a tote bag along with a spiral notebook.  Students and family members could journal about Buddy's adventures.  It was a great way for students to be able to share more about their family activities and traditions.  I was always so impressed with how even my most reluctant writers would be motivated about reading and writing in Buddy's journal.

I'll be modifying this so that students will be able to create a blog for our stuffed animal friend.  Students will be able to blog and upload digital pictures to tell about our friends' adventures.  I teach 4 third grade classes, so I've put together 4 tote bags - each with a stuffed friend, spiral notebook, pen and digital camera.  I posted a request on Facebook to anyone who would be willing to donate a digital camera for this project.  Within an hour I had more than enough volunteers who were willing to donate - thank you Facebook friends!