Kids' Learning ... Projects we are working on in our classroom
Count with the Gingerbread Man.
QR CodesI created a QR code for the ABC center that links to the StoryBots ABC videos. Students will be able to scan with an iPad while at the ABC center or the iPad center.
I also created a QR code that links to our classroom blog and placed it outside the doorway of our room. I thought it would be a fun reminder to parents to check out our site, and maybe get other teachers interested in seeing what they can do with QR codes.
QR Code StoriesWe wrote stories, telling facts we have learned about hibernation and animals that hibernate. We then illustrated hibernation scenes using watercolors. Students recorded their stories using Audioboo and I made a QR code for each Audioboo recording. These codes will be attached to each student's illustration, and when scanned with an iPad, the kindergartners can hear each student read his or her own story. Cool! An example is below.
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At our first TILT meeting, we spent some time discussing and exploring Google drive and the tools available. Today, I decided to utilize the Google drive presentation tool to create a new sticker chart for one of my students. I found it to be really simple to create this document. I think my student is really going to love that she has a customized rewards chart!
QR Code Scavenger HuntI created this Write the Room QR Code Scavenger Hunt for Valentine's Day. It will be a fun way to introduce the Scan app to the students.
Real World Math VideosKids can view the video, then pause the video to solve it on whiteboards. As a follow up activity, students could write an equation to represent the problem. Will be fun to have students work in groups and make their own "real world" math videos.
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Class Dojo
I recently started using this online management tool in my classroom, and so far I love it and the kids love it. You can customize behaviors (positive and negative) for your classroom. Parents can also sign up for weekly behavior reports about their kiddos. So far I have been having them collect a certain # of points and then they get to pick a prize. We reset points every Friday. There is also an app that you can use on your iPad or iPhone. Very cool!
Animoto + Global Read Aloud
We are participating in the Global Read Aloud project, and reading Eric Carle books with our kindergarten partners in Henrico, Virginia. We created our own mixed up chameleons after reading The Mixed Up Chameleon, and created these Animoto videos to share with our friends.
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ThinglinkI created a Thinglink today for a favorite Halloween story, Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman. The Thinglink makes the image interactive, providing links to an audio recording of the story & other informative info.
Here is another Thinglink featuring Thanksgiving-related games, videos and songs.
The Gingerbread Man RetellWe used the StopMotion Studio app to retell the story of the Gingerbread Man. We had some difficulty getting the audio in (because the video goes so fast). But it turned out pretty good for our first try. :)
CloudartI used the Cloudart app on my iPad (99 cents) to make this image cloud of the names of the students in my class (they love seeing their names!) I am going to use this as an intro to engage them in the Cloudart tool. We will then use this tool to create a Lead 21 cloud for Unit 4 with vocabulary words and/or main idea and theme of this unit. UPDATE: Today we made a word cloud of animals that hibernate after reading the story "Time to Sleep" by Denise Fleming. The kids loved contributing to this.
KahootWe practiced using the site Kahoot! today. For our first time, it went really well. We practiced with a quiz I had made about Dr. Seuss books. The kids were able to easily find the Kahoot site from my Learning Tools Symbaloo, then enter the game pin and their names. There are lots of pre-made games you can search and use in your room. I will definitely be using this tool again! Fun and good, quick informative assessment tool.
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QR Code Pumpkin Life CycleWe used Audioboo to make short recordings of the kindergartners retelling the sequencing of the life cycle of a pumpkin. They also sequenced picture cards in order a sentence strip. I discovered a super cool thing on Audiboo: you can generate a QR code of a recording right from their site!
So I generated a QR code for each of their recordings, which will then be glued onto their sentence strip. This will be in a center, so kids can look at the pictures and then scan the QR code with an iPod or iPad to hear the student tell about the life cycle. This is also a CCSS (retelling/sequencing events) so I am using it as an assessment, as well.
Halloween Costumes Smilebox
Enjoy our version of "Who Will Carve the Turkey this Thanksgiving?" by Jerry Pallotta and David Biedrzycki
PoppletWe used the free Popplet app to make a popple of ways to make 5.
George Washington eBook using Book CreatorWe created an eBook of facts we learned about George Washington. To download the book, click this link from a device and select "open in iBooks".
Our Favorite Dr. Seuss BooksLead 21 & PoppletAfter reading "Living It Up", our Lead 21 Concepts book, we did a QR code activity to explore living vs. non-living things. Then, we created this Popplet categorizing things we learned about.
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Skype!
Using Skype in the classroom, we connected with the Night Zookeeper. He Skyped with our class and told us stories about the animals at the night zoo. This encouraged kids to imagine and create their own silly night zoo animals.
The students then used their website to create their own animals, or draw themselves as zookeepers. We uploaded to our Kidblog page, and students will write their own night zoo stories. We also Tweeted about our experience! WonderopolisWe used this awesome idea from Matt B Gomez to begin using Wonder Journals in our classroom. This has been awesome for developing a culture or curiosity, wonder & inquiry!
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Kidblog
The students' Kidblogs have become a digital portfolio this year (2014-15, my first full year of 1:1 iPads) and I am absolutely thrilled with how they are showcasing their learning. Not only do they write traditional posts, but they take screenshots or add photos from their camera roll to share their learning. It has been so exciting to see them grow throughout the year, and I love the independence they now have - when they have "free time", they choose to complete math equations or make pictures and stories and then post to their blogs!
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