Recently the third graders worked on a collaborative project about the different regions in California, as part of their study of geography. The class was divided into four groups, one for each region, and they read articles about their regions, working at the same time on finding major themes and supporting details in each paragraph, and on generating questions for future research.

These questions formed the basis of the next step, in which they learned to do web-based research and to take notes on notecards. Returning to their groups, they shared the information they had gathered, and categorized their notes. After checking back with their websites to make sure they had extracted all the information they could, they began writing paragraphs from their notes. In addition to these collaborative reports, they also worked together on poems for each region.

One thing that was exciting and different this year was that, once the students had written their individual paragraphs for their group's article, they posted them on Google Docs so that everyone could work off of the same document simultaneously and make changes and collaborate.

This work continued at home, and then the groups gathered again to share their work, order their paragraphs, add transitions, write a conclusion for their joing article, and do peer revision. They also began planning their Big Map, brainstorming techniques and materials needed to build a 3-D topographical region map of California. They did some rapid prototyping for their regions, then shared their plans and ideas with the group. Finally they began working on the real map.

The reports and poems are in the tabs below. Just click on a tab to see the report and poem for that region.

Scorching dusty sand with sparse vegetation
Slithering lizards scurrying by
The plants flowering scent.
The sizzling dry wind,
The boiling blistering air winds me

Though in the day living things are so sparse,
At night you'll find everything under the stars.
From lizards that, in the day, hide under rocks,
To bobcats that hunt for their prey like fast crocs,
Woodpeckers pecking their holes in cacti,
And the cacti are growing right into the sky!

Sweet, lonely, quiet, calm, peace, wonder,
Hot sand storms, windy peace, hot, hot!
Cold nights, starry sky; silent!
Hot or warm eggs frying!

Hot, dramatic, mystical, and grand,
The desert forms an ancient land.
The desert animals burrow under
The sizzling blistering golden sand,
To protect from the searing land.
There are sounds of peace
Under the moon,
But the heat will rise
With the sun
Too soon.

California has 25,000 square miles of desert beauty and danger. Deserts cover about a fifth of the earth's surface. The Mojave and the Colorado are two of them out of all the others. There are seven different types of desert: hot, dry, cold, low, high, coastal, and semi-arid deserts. There are four main deserts in North America: The Mojave, Chihuahuan, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts. The Fort Mojave Indians have managed to live in the desert for thousands of years, and it isn't that easy to live in the desert: you have to be well prepared. You never know what will pop out at you in the desert.

The Colorado Desert is a low desert, which is a desert that is below sea level. The Mojave Desert is a high desert, which is a desert that is more than 5,000 feet above sea level. In the Mojave Desert, there are sand dunes that reach 600 feet high! The Mojave Desert itself has elevations that reaches 3,000-6,000 feet high!

The desert, even when it is hot, has many animals. These include the kangaroo rat, the armadillo lizard, the bobcat, and the banded Gila monster, one of the most poisonous lizards in the world. But the only way they can live is by burrowing underground to keep cold (or if they are in cold deserts to keep warm), and then they come out at night. In hot deserts other animals keep moisture in their thick skins. Some way or another they survive with their adaptations. But animals aren't the only things that adapt -- plants adapt too!

When you think about deserts you probably think cacti. But there are more than just cacti for desert plants, much more. We'll start with the Saguaro cactus. The Saguaro cactus has big two-inch spines and lives for two hundred years. It has ribs, and repairs tissue damage done by woodpeckers -- if it doesn't, it will lose all the water in the tissue. It has two-root systems, which suck up twice as much water. The barrel cactus is man-sized, and has three to four inch spines. The pulp has water in it that you can drink and you can boil the cactus meat for eating. The pulp also makes "cactus candy." Now you know what to eat if you're stranded in the desert. You get water, food, and candy!

The Joshua tree is usually thirty feet tall, but the larger ones can be fifty feet tall. They are usually thirty feet wide. There is one near Lancaster, California, which is eighty feet tall. The Joshua tree is also known as the indicator tree because it can grow at elevations of 2,000 to 6,000 feet in California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona. They sometimes grow in odd twists and shapes. A forest of Joshua Trees is a very special sight. Joshua Trees like sunny spots with quick-drying soil. Wild flowers light up in the spring and give off a wonderful smell, but the flowers would never grow without the special climate.

The desert climate is hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Temperatures in the summer range from the mid 50˚s, to 119˚F. In the winter there is a lot of snow. The Mojave Desert is known as the high desert because its altitude reaches 3,000 to 6,000 feet, but there are cold deserts, hot deserts, and more. You may ask, "Where are all the deserts in California?"

The Mojave Desert is in the southeast region of California, and it is near the Sierra Nevada range. The Colorado Desert runs through the east of the Mojave Desert. The Sonoran Desert is in the southwest part of California and runs into the Mexican states of Baja California and Sonora. Hot and dry deserts, like the Mojave Desert, tend to be near the Tropic of Capricorn. The cold deserts are nearer to the Arctic and Antarctic poles.

The California deserts are, all-in-all, beautiful places, and we are lucky to have them. They have plants, animals, and lots of beautiful sights. In spite of popular beliefs, deserts are actually amazing places!

{tab=Coast}

The northern coast
Turns from foggy
To sunny
To a beautiful sunset in the sky.

The wind flies across the coast, making the small plants quiver all the way down to the roots.
The emerald colored trees have nettles
So they can't glide away like a feather riding on wind.
Beaches of the California coast is where the wind flies faster than the birds in the sky.

Come have some fun
In the sun.
Come see the life,
The fish and shrimp,
The coral reef too.
In the sun
They come to you!
Wave by wave
We go along
Happy as can be.

The coast has many rocky and sandy beaches.
Come and enjoy my vast reaches,
Colorful, wonderful, and beautiful.
The coast is very special.

Rivers, waterfalls, and snow-fed streams
Make me no less than a dream.
Exotic plants and living creatures
Make me have many features.

The coast is a piece of paradise,
The coast is a big chunk of natural beauty.
I feel the spirit brush through my hair of the breezy coast air,
The beautiful sunset soothes my eyes,
I hear the sea gulls squawk and cry,
I dig my toes into moist crumbly sand,
I love this place where the sea meets the land.

I live in the coast.
Wave by wave crashes into the natural wonder,
A gust blows against the face of the earth
Running across the glamorous waters,
Trying and trying to break the power of the coast.
Never works.
The dramatic sights of the amazing sunsets,
It's almost like you could hear the animals
Trying to see the coast but all you could get is the amazing sights.
I live in the coast --
Do you?

What is a coast? A coast is a section of the sea, which is next to land. Sometimes the water in the coast is still and quiet. The areas that hold the water, that go into rivers, leading to the coast are called WATERSHEDS. Many rivers flow into the coast. The coast connects to the ocean. Saltwater and freshwater meet at the coast. The resulting mix of the two is called brackish water. All tides, like the ocean tides, are controlled by the gravity of the moon.

More than half of California's people live near the coast. The length of the California's coast is 840 miles long. There are lots of animals, plants, and, of course, water at the coast. There is a lot of stuff at the coast, such as sea fan and starry flounder, killer whale, dolphins, and lots more. Most people enjoy the coast because there is a lot of warm water there -- sometimes. The only coast in California is on the west side.

There are a lot of different types of weather and climates in the northern and southern coast. Usually in the morning ocean mists cover the northern coast. Later in the day the fog burns off by the heat of the sun. In the southern coast rainfall is very low. The maximum temperature in the Bay Area during July averages 64˚F. The Los Angeles area enjoys a normal July maximum average of 75˚F.

Lots of animals live on the California coast, and we're going to tell you about them. Standing coast water gives animals a chance to grow up, because the water is not that rough. When fish are small, they can hide in brackish waters. Different animals have many different sounds.

Now we will tell you about all the different and amazing animals in the California coast. The California state fish is the golden trout. The golden trout has bean called "the fish from heaven" for a very, very long time. An osprey is a type for bird, and it's about 21 to 24 inches long. There are lots of seagulls in the coast. How do you tell male gulls from females? There's really no easy way. They both share similar colors. The only real difference is females are usually smaller than the males. Can seagulls drink salt water? Yes, seagulls can drink both fresh and salt water. What is the average lifetime of a gull? Seagulls live between 5 to 15 years. The average is probably closer to 7 to 10 years old.

The great blue heron has a wingspan of 7 feet. The white type of great blue heron is the great white heron. The great blue heron eats mostly fish. Humpback whales make a big sound. Sometimes whales get washed up on the beach. The humpback whale varies from 49 feet to 54 feet long. The summer flounder eats fish and shrimp. In standing fresh water you will find big fish. The loggerhead turtle visits Delaware Bay in the summer and fall. Sea fans are sometimes light purple and sometimes pink. Sea fans are easy to recognize because of their fanny shape.

The sand tiger shark grows up to 10 feet long. The sand tiger shark swims with its mouth open to get its prey. Mummichogs are a brownish-green color. Moon jellyfish are like floating mushrooms. A moon jellyfish looks like it melts away on the beach. Smooth cord grass is green and about 1 to 7 feet long. Tube worms look like giant lipsticks under the ocean. A tube worm is related to the Canalipalpata family and the Phoronida family. Tube worms are also called "bright red worms." But animals are not the only things living in the California's coastal waters.

The plants in the coast are important to animals, because they provide hiding for fish to lay their eggs. A lot of grass and weeds surround the coast. Trees grow on the beaches of the coast and under water. There are many different colors of coral in the coast. A lot of seaweed washes up on the beaches of the coast. Kelp is a type of seaweed and it is sometimes a hundred feet tall.

Many people recommend the coast, because of its natural beauty.

{tab=Mountains}

I am the mountains,
Cracks of gold and silver running through me like one might have blood.
I stand erect through winter snow and springtime flood.

I am the mountains.
The mountains,
They are a chain of ancient land.
The majestic, mystical Structures of Nature.
Songs of Peace and Crystal-Clear Lakes
Make this awe-inspiring beauty
Live.

All of these fulfill
The Heart of a Mountain.
The glorious chain of mountains that run along the edge of Yosemite
Formed by glaciers and earthquakes.

Altitude rises as the giant snow-capped mountains get higher and higher.
Dangerous, rugged pathway through the Sierra Nevada seem like they never end.

Majestic Yosemite.
Natural wonder.
Beautiful uneven land,
Home of the Sierra Nevada.
Not a sound,
No, not here,
Slight shill,
Not much.
Lonely,
Stonely.

Lovely sight.

Mountains are tall, elegant structures of nature. Mount Whitney, which is located in Southeastern California, is more than 14,000 feet tall! (That's as tall as 14 one hundred-story buildings!) It is one of America's largest mountains outside of Alaska.

Ever heard of a mountain range? A mountain range is a long range of mountains. I bet you want to see a mountain range, right? Check out Yosemite, the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada is one of the most popular mountain ranges in California. Visitors are amazed by this sight! Visitors aren't the only ones who like the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada was also the favorite spot of John Muir, an outdoor ranger who loved the Sierra Nevada. John Muir called the Sierra Nevada his "range of light!" He liked to hike up the mountains. In the Sierra Nevada there are lots of cross-country skiers. I'd recommend going there!

Not every mountain is shaped in the same way. While many mountains are 6,000 to 8,000 feet tall, the Sierra Nevada range in California is 400 miles long, and 14,495 feet at its highest peak. The unique shape of the Sierra range is crooked. Other mountains, however, are relatively flat, but some mountains (like the Sierra) get bigger over time. This adds another layer of complexity, but still, the Sierra is always big! You would not want to fall off! Cliffs influence the shape of the mountains. Cliffs are steep rock faces.

There is a stream, there is a waterfall, there is Yosemite! Yosemite has more waterfalls than any other place in the world. The waterfalls are not so big in the summer. Waterfalls are made from rain. When it rains, it hits the ground and makes a small stream. Then the stream connects to another one and then they make a waterfall. The Sierra Nevada has bigger waterfalls in winter because the snow melts and makes more water to flow down the waterfalls. In the summer when it doesn't rain, it's really hot.

Heavy winter preparation is important to the areas surrounding the hills bordering California.
Mountains give lots of resources. The Sierra Nevada slopes have lots of trees, which provide firewood and building material. Snow-fed streams give resources like hydroelectric power and irrigation to west Nevada. The Sierra Nevada also has many minerals like granite, quartz, gold, mica, and many others.

There are lots of mountain passes in California. Passes are roads that help you get across the mountains. Beckwourth Pass is the lowest mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is located at the eastern edge of the Sierra Valley near the small town of Chilkoot Vinton, in Plumas County, California (elev. 5,221 ft./1,591 m). Deadman Summit (elev. 8,041 ft./2,451 m) connects the northern end of Owen's River watershed with Mono Lake, by US Highway 395. The pass and the nearby creek with the same name were named for the body of a murder victim found in the vicinity around 1868.

Donner Pass (elev. 7,085 ft./2,160 m) is a high mountain pass in northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about 1 mi. west of Truckee, California. Donner Pass is the principle pass across the mountains. Glen Pass is a mountain pass in the Sierra Nevada mountains, located at King's Canyon National Park. This pass on the John Muir Trail is 3,214 meters (10,801 ft.). It is located in eastern Fresno County, California.

Newhall pass is a pass in Los Angeles County, California. Historically called San Fernando pass and Fremont Pass, it separates the Santa Susana Mountains from the San Gabriel Mountains. Although the pass was originally discovered in August, 1769 by Spanish explorer, Gasper de Portola, it eventually was named for a business man whose business expanded in the area during the 19th century. Many people, from travelers to truck drivers, rely on these useful roads.

The mountains are a great thing to study. They are also great for hiking and climbing. Hope you enjoy the mountains!

{tab=Central Valley}

I start at the mountains,
Flow in rivers
Giving water to the Central Valley.
My small drops mix with power
To make the central valley.

I'm emerald, I'm green, I'm the garden of the world.
I plow and raise all types of breeds.

The sun shining
To stay,
To play with the
Bright, red, round, crunchy
Crops.

Fresh and tasty -- I lick my fingers,
The juice from the pear I just ate from the Central Valley,
The region with the most crops.
I visited Central Valley, the fields of gold and
Emerald crops, they glitter in the summer sun.
They go for four hundred miles.
Looking at a map I see that it is as big as Tennessee and Virginia,
Not put together.
I can smell about 42,000 square miles of crops.
Yum!

Lush and green, red and blue,
Yellow sun,
Every morning,
Central Valley.

What is a valley? It is two hills that make land look like a pit. Sometimes it has a river running through it and is very lush and green. One of the most famous valleys is Central Valley, which is one of California's many landmarks. The population of farmers is very high. The crops are so good that someone would pay to have them shipped all the way to China. They must taste delicious. You do not even have to look to know what is growing there, you can just smell it. Farming is very productive. It is damp in winter, so it grows crops really well. The farms are very long. What could you do there? Well, you could work on growing crops. The summer is very hot, so they need to take care of the plants by watering.

The Central Valley has a very important resource: water. Melted snow from mountains makes the water for the Central Valley. The San Joaquin River, the Colorado River, and the Sacramento River also give water to the Central Valley, which was once a lake from all the melted snow. It is between the coastal mountains and the Sierra Nevada range. Some people think there will be a water shortage in 2009, which will make the food grow less because the food will not have as much water to make it grow.   

The Central Valley stretches 400 miles from top to bottom, and is about 42,000 square miles. It has a large population because many farmers live there to grow their crops, some big and some small. Growing flowers, fruits, vegetables, and grains, the Central Valley is like a gigantic garden, with a quarter of its food sent around the United States. They also raise cows, chickens, and goats for meat. The Central Valley is like a gigantic dent in the earth, and is thought to have come from below sea level. If you were to fly over it in an airplane, it would look like a patchwork quilt.

A lot of the food for around the world comes from the Central Valley. It grows a little bit of everything. In the summer it grows nuts, flowers, fruits, meat, and vegetables. One quarter of the food that is in California comes from Central Valley. Some people pay to have food shipped to China. Central Valley provides a quarter of the food in the U.S.A. Tropical crops are not grown in Central Valley because the climate is not hot enough.

Seasons change the weather in Central Valley. It got to be 115˚F during the hottest time in Central Valley. It is cold in winter and fall; in January the hottest time will be 54˚F and the lowest will be 38˚F. In December the hottest  time will be 53˚F and the coldest will be 37˚F. It is hot in summer and spring. In June the hottest time will be 91˚F and the lowest will be 61˚F, in July the hottest will be 97˚F and the lowest will be 66˚F. The hottest and the coldest is July and December this year. The Central Valley is very beautiful in the summer, because it is very hot, and lots of food comes from Central Valley, which gives good crops in the summer. Most of the food is harvested in the summer.

Remember, it's the most productive in growing crops in the California. The Central Valley is the region with the most crops!

{/tabs}