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Lesson Title: Great Speeches in American History VoiceThread

Subject: Social Studies/Language Arts

Grade: 6-8

Objective: After listening to a podcast that includes a reading of President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, students will analyze the words of the speech and post their comments on a VoiceThread.

Materials: Computers with Internet access

Lesson Steps:
 * Students will download and listen to the "Gettysburg Address" from the [|Great Speeches Podcast] on their iPods or directly from the website or iTunes.
 * After listening to the speech, students will complete the questions that are outlined in the [|Speech Analysis Worksheet]
 * Using their completed worksheet, students will log into the VoiceThread and visit our Gettysburg Address VoiceThread where they will listen to the instructors' comments and questions. Students will post their responses to the questions using any of the comment methods provided by VoiceThread, using either audio, video or text.
 * Students will be encouraged to respond to their fellow classmates' posts.


 * = media type="custom" key="9919351" width="134" height="133" align="left" ||

Assessment: Rubric for participation in VoiceThread activity
 * [[file:ABVOICETHREADRUBRIC.pdf]]

= = Extending the Lesson: = =
 * On Grade Level**:
 * Students create their own digital photo story of the Gettysburg Address to practice their speaking/oratory skills.
 * The finished product should include the student's recording of the Gettysburg Address, along with pictures and music from the Civil War
 * See the example below:
 * media type="youtube" key="V4bM9geY0do" height="279" width="339"


 * Advanced level:**
 * Students extend comprehension of the Gettysburg Address by analyzing primary source newspaper editorials published immediately after Lincoln's address.


 * Basic level:**
 * Students will view the YouTube digital story example of the reading of the Gettysburg Address set to pictures and music. After viewing, students should write a one-paragraph summary that answers the following questions: 1) How are the two recreations of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address different? 2) Do the pictures and music help your understanding of the speech or does it distract you from it message? Explain why. 3) If you were to create your own picture story, what images and music would you include?

Resources: VoiceThread, iTunes, Learn Out Loud, Great Speeches in History Podcasts