How it works:

Go to THIS spreadsheet and enter your information under the ORANGE columns. If you find another teacher who doesn't have a partner, you can add your information under the PURPLE Columns.

1) Find a partner class to work with and then contact that teacher IMMEDIATELY and set up a time to chat with each other! Why? To ensure that you both AGREE on HOW you are going to run your Monster Meet because there are options, such as what are listed below AND options for how you will run the video conference (later in this document:

1. Option #1: Each class will collectively draw ONE monster. Your drawing can be digital (Google Drawings, Paint, etc.) or on large chart paper (markers/crayons, construction paper, shapes, yarn, etc.).
2. Option #2: Divide your students into small groups. Ensure BOTH classes have the SAME amount of groups. Each group draws their OWN monster to share when you have your Google Meet video conference. Keep in mind this takes longer.
3. Option #3: Do a combination of the above. Have ONE class monster that is shared during the video conference AND that is used in the closing activity(see further down), and also have groups share/compare their monster drawings without going through the closing activity.

2) WRITE: Each class or small group will then compose a DETAILED description of the monster they created (size, shape, color, texture, etc.). The goal is to make it detailed enough that the other class can create their own version of the monster based on your description as accurately as possible. Some classes use this opportunity to do procedural writing, others do descriptive writing, some even included specific shapes and measurements for the entire monster and its individual parts, which is a great way to integrate math concepts into your writing. Be creative!

3) EMAIL/SHARE: Email the description of your monster to your partner class (at least 7 school days prior to your scheduled Google Meet) to allow the other class enough time to re-create the monster you described. You should receive a description from the other class as well. If you are using small groups, you will have more descriptions, one per group.

4) RECREATE: Each class uses the description(s) they have been given to create a duplicate monster(s). Some classes opted to have each student create their own rendition as well as create a class monster, which is great. Just make sure they're LARGE ENOUGH to be viewed on screen during the Google Meet video conference and any coloring is well defined. It’s easier than having to hold the image really close to the camera. Bulletin board paper or a sheet or a ½ sheet of paper from one of those really large sticky note pads are ideal.

5) DRY RUN: Before your classes meet, conduct a test Google Meet Hangout using your given URL in this spreadsheet.

6) WHAT TO DO ON THE BIG DAY: On a scheduled date and time (on or around October 31), the two classes will join a Google Meet video conference to share their drawings and compare/contrast their monsters. This can also be structured in several ways, especially depending on the number of drawings created in your class. Please keep in mind that kids can get antsy if they’re sitting for a while :-)

Option #1 - Best for 1 Monster Per Class

- Class A reads the description sent to them by Class B

- Class A then shows their version of the created monster based on the description

- Class B shows their actual monster.

- EACH CLASS: Take a turn comparing similarities and differences between the original and the recreated monster.

- Class B Then reads the description sent to them

- Class B shows their version of the created monster based on the description from Class A.

- Class A will show their actual monster

- EACH CLASS: Take a turn comparing similarities and differences between the original and the recreated monster.

As a closing activity, each class could ask the other these types of comments & questions, but these work best if there is only ONE monster per class:

Glows

1. We really liked the words you used to describe X in your description.
2. We liked how you incorporated (shapes, colors, measurements) in your description.
3. What we liked best about your description was xxxx.

Grows (ask these questions of the other class about your own writing)

1. After seeing our monster, what details could we have added to our description to make it easier to recreate?
2. How could we improve our description if we wanted someone else to recreate our monster?
3. What was the most difficult part for you to draw or figure out based on the description?

Option #2 - Small Groups with monsters

Follow the same format above of sharing monsters, but omit the part about reading descriptions. Students can still point out similarities and differences between the original and the recreated monster.

7) Take GOOD quality pictures of BOTH monsters your class drew! Add your pictures to the Google Slides presentation so we have a presentation full of your monsters to see how each class / group interpreted the written descriptions. If you can get pictures of the monsters side-by-side during the video conference, that's great, too! You can see last year's presentation here.

#1 - Can I team up with someone in my own school for this project?

You can "co-teach" with someone in your own school, but your "partner classroom" MUST be from another school. If you "co-teach", you can BOTH earn the badge. Yes, you can partner with another co-taught class, which means all 4 of you can earn the badge.

#2 - Can I do a hangout with a partner classroom in my own school?

The purpose of the Hangout is to give you and your students the experience of working with another classroom NOT within their own building, so your partner class MUST be from another school.

#3 - Can I earn this badge multiple times if I'm doing this with more than one group of students?

You can only earn this badge once. Sorry!