Update

So since we last spoke, Our Lady Liberty made an appearance! I love this one personally because my almost 3 year old contributed a line :) Check it out and I hope your students learn lots!

So this week is Constitution Week so in my own classroom I have been using Happy Birthday Constitution this week. The kids are working hard and sometimes I see smoke coming out of their little ears but they are determined to do well! lol Here is the lesson that I did with this podcast.

* Monday: As a class they listened to the podcast while following along with the modified transcript. I only have 45 minutes in my Reading class (unfortunately) so the modified was the "quicker" way to go and also I teach 5th graders whose research skills are still very "new" and a little weak so modified is what I went with. Then I described three projects that would be accompanying this week's What's the Truth George podcast. They were to choose one after I put them into History Detective groups. The options were 1. an illustrated timeline (nice and concrete, provided the scholastic constitution timeline, my lower kids really grabbed this one). 2. A level higher by doing a comic strip (my higher lower and higher students liked this one). 3. A unique song created to teach the information (my high kids are loving this. Even have a student bring in his guitar.) THe only requirements were that they spent the time allotted on it, must be well thought out and neatly created, and MUST be educational and teach the story of the constitution that we learned from the podcast.

Tuesday: Half the group went onto a computer to research the highlighted errors and find the correct information for the team. The other stayed at their group area and worked on the project they chose.

Wednesday: They will continue to find error corrections and work on projects.

Thursday: Finish error correction and projects.

Friday: Quick Check Quiz on Happy Birthday Constitution, present projects and turn in for grade.

The kids are loving it and producing some great stuff! Keep an eye on www.whatsthetruthgeorge.com in the project photos area for their pictures!



In my homeroom class we have completed Mayflower Mayhem, Pilgrim's Plight, and now the Project Podcast: Children of the Mayflower. The journals turned out amazing!! Keep an eye for pictures as well!



Some changes will be coming up in the following weeks and months ahead. What's the Truth George is getting closer to having final products and then podcast packages will go on sale. There will be discounts and promotions when it all happens so keep an eye out! Also, there will be promotions through the newsletter (mailing list) so please sign up as well as here so keep reading!

Until next time, happy history hunting :)

Ocean Blue in 1492

New podcast released today! Christopher Columbus! Get it now!

Hope that the podcasts are working well in your classroom! I know my kiddos are loving them! They are difficult and make the kids really think. I have found that internet research is a problem. They are weak in turning the information they need to find into a question. I recommend covering internet research skills before tackling the project! Otherwise, the students think the podcast is funny and learning and loving it!

Love to hear your feedback so please leave me a quick note in email about how it is going for you! whatsthetruthgeorge@live.com

Dynamic Native American Duo: Samoset and Squanto

New Native American podcast based on Samoset and Squanto set to release this Sunday! Keep an eye out for it!

Happy Birthday Constitution!

Celebrate this Constitution Day on September 17th with What's the Truth! Happy Birthday Constitution was released this Sunday. Check it out!!

http://www.whatsthetruthgeorge.edublogs.org

A Contest to Inspire Your Students

The first Truth Me contest is now underway. The deadline to submit your topics is December 1, 2010 so there is lots of time even for those schools who haven't started yet!

Your mission as a class is to come up with a research topic that would lead the students on a road of discovery. A topic that would help them discover instead of just writing down what someone else has already discovered. Often, students will just pick a topic and then write down facts from the first few google links they can find. The goal of this contest is to get the kids thinking outside of what has already been proven or discovered. Could be related to science, social studies, math or anything else academic.

A submission must contain the following:
Teacher name, city, state, class topic, and why the class feels this topic would lead them down a road to discovery.

The winning class will receive:
* What's the Truth George bookmarks for the class
* $25 gift card for the teacher to buy books for the class library!

Winner will be announced: December 6, 2010

Send submissions to: whatsthetruthgeorge@live.com

Good luck and happy history hunting!

Project Podcast to be Released On Sunday!

A project podcast is a "special mission" for the students to create something based on information they have learned from previous podcasts and/or research. This upcoming project podcast is about the children of the Mayflower. I hope you enjoy!

Coming Wednesday!
First ever Truth me Contest!
Check in on the wednesday podcast for more information!

Subscribe now and never miss any of the fun!

Subscribe at the website!.

Updated the homepage

Sorry if you tried to get on the site and it was temporarily down. I was uploading the new homepage! Still learning Iweb but loving it more and more! Hope you enjoy the new setup!

Four episodes for your enjoyment!

There are now four episodes ready for you to use in the classroom!

Just a reminder...
* Transcripts can be found at
http://www.whatsthetruthgeorge.com/Podcast_Transcripts_and_Answers.html
* Sign up for the mailing list for access to answer sheets
* Transcripts and answer sheets are preliminary documents and are free during field testing

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Pilgrim's Plight to Air Sunday!

The newest episode of What's the Truth, George? is set to air this Sunday!

Pilgrim's Plight and companion answer video will be available!

Visit the website for transcripts and more!

Don't forget to sign up for the newsletter for answer documents and updates!

It has begun!

Episode One "Mayflower Mayhem" aired today! There are two actual podcasts for your enjoyment today. You will hear the actual story podcast and then there is a companion podcast giving the answers PLUS a bonus history quickie research lesson on how to search on google.

Hope you enjoy!
http://www.whatsthetruthgeorge.com

A great group!

Field testing is ready to begin! I now have a great group of teachers volunteering to put the program to the test in their classroom this year! They will be helping me test drive the program so I can work out the kinks and great a polished beneficial program for your classroom!

Answer sheets and transcripts are preliminary documents and will remain free until the final product is released!

Don't forget to sign up for the answer sheet mailing list so that you will have the answers to help guide your students on their What's the Truth journey!

Sign up for podcast episode updates and access to answer sheets!

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Woah doggie.... slow it down!

Okay, so I was speaking with a mentor of mine and I have plans for What's the Truth, George that are much bigger than when I started out. So, I'm slowing things down a bit so that I can create a quality product that will be a true benefit in the classroom. The podcast will not be released every week due to field testing. During field testing, preliminary transcripts and answer sheets will be provided free. Answer sheets will be provided through the mailing list, so sign up today! Once field testing is complete, these materials will be provided for a small fee. We are heading toward a polished and beneficial product for you!

I hope you don't abandon the project... we are here to stay and will be growing and getting stronger continuously. (I promise I won't forget the little ppl down the road hehe) ;) Stay with us, sign up for the mailing list so that you can be a part of the updates and growth as our website produces wings and takes flight.

Patience is a virtue and as someone very clever once said to me "even a great idea takes time to develop properly." I believe that What's the Truth, George? has mass potential in becoming an excellent history supplement in the classroom and I want to give it the chance it needs to mature to that point.

So, I guess what I am saying is.... hang in there with me? Stay excited? Let me know your suggestions, concerns, problems, successes so that I can better the program for you? Become a part of something amazing :)

oh, and thanks for being there for the ride :)

Now on ITUNES!

Yay! What's the Truth, George? is now on ITunes. Subscribe today and never miss an episode!

Just search for Whatsthetruthgeorge under podcasts. It is listed under Kids and Family!

Meet you there!

What is a Podcast, Anyway???

I was speaking with a colleague today about whatsthetruthgeorge.com and she asked me, "What is a podcast anyway??" Well... as in the classroom, if one has the question I'm sure another does. So let me explain in layman terms (since that is the only way I understand it and couldn't explain it otherwise) :)

A podcast is just an mp3 that you can listen to. The person running a podcast will usually do episodes of information. You "subscribe" to their podcast using a RSS feed. This is just a way to track when the podcast owner updates the podcast so you can get the update. Don't worry about actually knowing what an RSS feed is, just click the words "Subscribe Now" and open it in your ITunes and enjoy!

An easy way to subscribe is through ITunes. On the left bar of your ITunes you will see the words "podcasts". When you click on this you will see all the podcasts that you are subscribed to. On the bottom right you will see "podcast directory." This is where you can find a variety (and plethera) of topics in video and audio podcasts.

So just find a podcast you are interested in (such as whatsthetruthgeorge...found at http://www.whatsthetruthgeorge.com *shameless plug I know*) and subscribe and start enjoying. At this time, podcasts are totally free and easy to access! But don't forget to tip your waiter (or in this case your podcast master ;)) Podcasts take a lot of time, energy and love to create.... donations are accepted and greatly appreciated. It just shows you care ;)

Subscribe through ITunes to receive the newest episodes of What's the Truth, George?
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcast?id=382828971

Not long now!

Only 12 days until the airing of What's the Truth, George?? I can't wait! I'm very excited about how it is turning out and I hope once you get to start enjoying the podcast... you will too!

Don't forget to let your teacher friends know about the podcast! It is coming out BEFORE school starts so you have some time to plan how to incorporate it into your teaching. The series will start out with the voyage of the Mayflower.

There will also be Project Podcast episodes that get students working on a hands on project based on previous podcasts!

I can't wait for you check it out!

http://www.whatsthetruthgeorge.com

Coming August 1st!

What's the Truth George??

Short history lessons for students to enjoy! Filled with sound effects and errors? Uh oh... I thought George said he "couldn't tell a lie?" Every Monday your students will hear a new history lesson and must discern which facts are false using whatever materials they have at their disposal. They could use internet research, biographies, textbooks, whatever! Build a mini-lesson around it and have some fun!

You can also visit http://www.whatsthetruthgeorge.com for transcripts of the podcasts and more!