A Google Slide Deck introduction to the MITECS competency Knowledge Constructor - Students critically curate a variety of resources using digital tools to construct knowledge, produce creative artifacts and make meaningful learning experiences for themselves and others.

Example: Fifth grade classes sought to find a cure for cancer. They learned about healthy cells, and researched the difference with cancerous cells. The studied and collected information about the social and economic impact of cancer on families and communities with the help of local doctors and nurses who worked in a children’s cancer ward in a local hospital. Because of the health professionals’ schedules, this collaboration was done through video conference and shared documents. The students compiled their findings after much fact-checking, and reported to the community through a free evening dinner at the school. A donation box was present in case anyone wanted to make a donation, with the proceeds going to the American Cancer Society in the name of the hospital children’s cancer ward. That night the students raised over $1000.

Questions for Reflection:
- How do the MITECS complement core content?
- How might you and your colleagues develop cross-curricular experiences to support the MITECS?
- Which of the competencies are you most familiar with?
- Which competency is an area of growth for you, as an educator?

Classroom environments can have diversity culturally and socially. Within the environment each student has a unique family and family history. Students will investigate, learn, and share information about their own families and heritages including family traditions, cultural traditions, languages, and generational family history (past two generations).

After this unit, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate chronological thinking by distinguishing among past, present, and future using family or school events.
- Investigate a family history for at least two generations, identifying various members and their connections in order to tell a narrative about family life.

The teacher will engage in a read-aloud with the picture book "Me and My Family Tree" by Joan Sweeney or a similar text. As the teacher reads through the story, they will share information about their own family and allow students to share short stories about their families. This project will be done in the Fall while the students are just starting to get to know each other.

Students will interview their families to complete a family questionnaire, a family tree template, and an interactive family timeline. The final product will be a family tree digital book.

The tools that could be used are Google Slides, Padlet, Book Creator, or a Google Docs page with the student work imported. They can also use Powtoons or Adobe Spark to include sound with storytelling.

Use Epic to guide students to learn what a biography is, and have them find information about a specific person.