Mystery Location Calls

via Skype & Google Hangout

Presented by Paula L. Naugle

October 12, 2013 #RSCON4 #ce13

Mystery Location Call

• What is a Mystery Skype/Google Hangout?o Two classes connect without knowing where each

other's class is geographically located. o Students do research about their own state and come

up with clues based on different topics.

• Versions of a Mystery Skype/Google Hangout Call:o Information about your stateo Yes & No Questions

Helpful Items for a Mystery Location

Call

• Clipboards• Maps of the US or World

o Time Zoneso Regions

• Pencils• Scrap Paper• Computers• Camera

o Videoo Photo

Sample Mystery Location Call

Questions

• Any oceans or bodies of water bordering your state?

• What are some fun vacation spots in your state?

• What are the major crops or industry in your state?

• What is one state that borders your state?

• What are some physical features of your state?

Sample Mystery Location Call

Questions

• What is the climate like? What is the weather like right now?

• What type of wild animals would you see in your state?

• What is your state capital?• What is a historical fact of your state?• Are there any famous people from your

state?

Mystery Location Call: Yes & No

• The Following Slides are Questions & Jobs for the Yes & No way of doing a Mystery Skype

Mystery Location Call: Yes & No

• Are you in the United States?

• Is your state in the __ region? (Can add Northeast,

Southeast, Southwest, Middle West, or West)

• Are you in the __ time zone? (Can add Eastern, Central,

Mountain, or Pacific)

• Are you East/West of the Mississippi River?

• Does your state border another country?

Mystery Location Call: Yes & No

• Does your state border more than ___ states?

• Does your state have a coastline?

• Does the ____ River flow through your state?

• Is the capital of your state ____ ?

• Are you near any major cities?

• Do you have sports team in your state?

Mystery Location Call: Jobs

• Greeters – say hello and tell something about us without giving away our location

• Inquirers – ask the questions of the other group

• Question Keepers – type questions and answers on computer

• Mappers – use atlas, Google maps etc. to zero in on the clues

Mystery Location Call: Jobs

• Logical Reasoners – eliminate states that do not match the clues

• Clue Keepers – collect relevant information from everyone

• Back Channelers – record what is happening during Skype call on Edmodo or Today’s Meet

Mystery Location Call: Jobs

• Runners – goes between other groups and help with research and getting questions to Inquirers

• Digital Photographers – captures the Skype call with a digital camera

• Videographer – uses a video camera to capture what is happening

Mystery Location Call: Jobs

• Live Bloggers – write blog post on classroom blog about the Skype. Remember to end with questions to get more comments.

• Closers – give more information about us and end the call.

Skype & Google Hangout

Etiquette

• Classes should take turns asking questions.

• Make sure you introduce yourself when starting.

• Each student should say his/her name before asking or answering a question.

How to find people for Mystery Location

Calls

• Tweet #mysteryskye or #mysterycall

• Skye in the Classroom

• Mystery State Skype Call Wiki Page

• Cybraryman’s Mystery Location Call Page

• 4thchat Mystery Skype SignUp

• Google: "Mystery State Call"

Assessment for Mystery Location

Call

• Skype Assessment

Linking to the Common Core

• Common Core

My Mystery Location Calls Site

Mystery Location Callshttps://sites.google.com/site/mysterylocat

ioncalls/

Lagniappe -

Other Ways to Use Skype and GHO

Once you’ve done some Mystery

Location calls, you and your students

will be hooked. What’s next?

Celebrity/Guest Speaker Calls

• Joey King (star of Disney’s Ramona and Beezus) http://bit.ly/Kkndlk

• James Adams, Constitution Day speaker (YouTube vid) http://bit.ly/JTpUxd

Author Skype/Google Hangout

• Author Skype Calls - Jerry Blumengarten, Jacqueline Davis, Richard Newsome, Bill Boyd, and Dianne de Las Casas

• Author Jacqueline Davis of the Lemonade War Series - getting information on character traits/development of characters in novel http://powell4thgrade.blogspot.com/2011/11/thank-you-jacqueline-davies.html

• WRAD (World Read Aloud Day) to Skype with Authors (Richard Newsome Australia/ Bill Boyd Scotland) http://powell4thgrade.blogspot.com/2011/03/thank-you-mr-richard-newsome.html

• http://powell4thgrade.blogspot.com/2011/03/world-read-aloud-day.html

Author Skype/Google Hangout

• Paula’s Skype call with Jerry YouTube video http://bit.ly/JTpDdI

• Paula’s Flickr set of author Dianne Skyping a class in Philly from my class http://bit.ly/JTsAec

• Jerry’s resource page http://www.cybraryman.com/authors.html

• Kim’s post on Skype call with Jerry http://bit.ly/IxWmbc

Impromptu Skype/GHO Calls

• Randomly call another class that you might have mystery skyped with to see what they are doing.

• Used during the end of the year as a way to keep students engaged and interested in learning.

Resources

• Blog Post GHO 10-3-12

• Mr. K's Corner

• Site for Printable Maps

• Skye in the Classroom

• Cybrary Man’s Mystery Location Call Pa

ge

Work Cited

● Cybrary Man’s Mystery Location Call Page

• Mystery Skype Call Questions Document

• Teacher Cast Podcast #58

• Paula Naugle’s Blog

• Lang Witches Blog

• Nancy Carroll Blog

• Kim Powell's Blog

• Mr. K’s Corner Blog

• Skype in the Clasroom

• A special thank you to William Krakower for letting me borrow his

slides and edit them for this presentation.

My Contact Info

● My about.me page http://about.me/plnaugle

● Email: plnaugle@gmail.com● Skype name: plnaugle● Google+: Paula Naugle● Twitter: @plnaugle● http://www.twitter.com/plnaugle