As youngsters continue to learn new technologies, they are integrating these methods into assignments that used to require just a pencil — or pen or crayon — and paper.

Third-grade students at K.I. Sawyer Elementary School, taught by Linda Wagner and Corrina Sullivan, recently collaborated with Northern Michigan University students in a special project that allowed them to correspond with each other in a creative way.

Wagner said in an email that NMU students sent the first letters, telling each of their pals what their favorite animal is, and then she and Sullivan taught their students how to use Google Drawings.

“When our students responded, they drew a picture of their pen pal’s favorite animal — a choice of freehand or using Google Drawings — in addition to writing a return letter,” Wagner said. “It was a great experience and they did well with them.”

This is the Google Drawings picture of a cheetah created by K.I. Sawyer third-grade student Laila Belmore. Sawyer youngsters recently took part in a pen pal project with Northern Michigan University students in which they used Google Drawings. (Photo courtesy of Linda Wagner)

Wagner passed on a few students’ responses about the project.

“The NMU students are really nice,” Isabella Miller said. “One of them said they want to be a third-grade teacher and that is what I want to be.”

Lucy Davis said, “I learned new stuff about them like their favorite animals and what they want to teach. My favorite part was making new friends.”

Both students are from Sullivan’s class.

One of Wagner’s students, Isaiah Crowe, came away with a practical outlook.

This picture of an elephant was created by K.I. Sawyer third-grade student Owen Green. (Photo courtesy of Linda Wagner)

“I found out that you get a lot of homework in college,” he said.

Another of Wagner’s students, Owen Green, said, “Making animals in Google Drawings is kind of hard because you have to use shapes, but the more I worked at it, the easier it was.”

The pen pal project went off a little differently this year.

“NMU typically comes to meet our students face to face and we go to NMU campus, too, but due to COVID safety precautions, we didn’t do any direct contact this semester,” Wagner said.

Sharon L. Bohjanen, Ph.D., a professor in the NMU School of Education, Leadership, and Public Service, said in an email that her teacher candidates entered into a pen pal partnership with the third-grade students to share letters and drawings.

This drawing of a monkey was created by K.I. Sawyer third-grade student Eli Leath. (Photo courtesy of Linda Wagner)

The students who connected with the Sawyer students were taking the Introduction to Education and Dimensions in Education courses, she said.

Bohjanen said that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, students were not getting field placement for their studies and were looking to connect with students.

“This opportunity was particularly valuable to our new teacher candidates during the pandemic to have contact with younger students in a personal way without needing to put anyone at risk,” Bohjanen said. “In the past we would visit K.I. and share learning experiences in person.

“This collaboration has been an important part of teacher preparation at NMU through the generous willingness of the third-grade teachers and their students.”

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net.