Mimio

Currently using a mimio?  There are TONS of mimio files on the access server-don't forget to look there!  Thanks Colleen for putting your ideas on there, too!

Using Photo Booth for Daily Child Reported News on Website

Every day a child is noted as the Student Reporter.  They take one fun fact that they have learned daily.  We have a "Recording Studio" set up at a computer station in our room.  Daily a student "reports" on something they learned to later be posted to our classroom website.  In the Newsletter section of my newsletter I note who the student reporters for the week are so that their parents are sure to check it out.

Wallwisher - Students post investigative questions

Goal: Students will be able to post their investigative questions for the Science Companion Light Unit as well as post responses and answers. (both to their own posts and to others' posts)



Outcome: Wallwisher has great potential for classroom use but also has some limitations. I set up five computers in the classroom so that multiple students could post questions at the same time, but later discovered that only one computer can be logged onto the website at a time and all the posts were deleted even though they appeared to be working. Another problem was that the students could only edit their own posts, which meant that they were unable to answer other students' questions.

Due to these frustrations, the students became less excited about the website and the number of posts dwindled. I'm still searching for an alternative web tool.

http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/MrsCrandall

Storyrobe Summaries (iPod Touches)

Students will create summaries using the app Storyrobe on either iPod Touches or iPads. This will engage students and create a purpose for reading. It will promote cooperation among partners and allow students to create digital media.



- The students will read a book by Helen Lester.
- While reading, the students will determine the key elements of the story and identify the illustrations that will be used in the project.
- The students will write a script that corresponds to the key elements/illustrations that were chosen.
- The students will use Storyrobe to record their summaries and upload their photos.
- The class will view the videos.

Green screen videos let students report "on location"

Students will choose either a tourist attraction or other interesting topic that relates to the Midwest state they have been researching. They will film themselves talking in front of a green screen. This movie, along with an image from the internet will be uploaded into iMovie.

Each of the destinations for the tour will be "placemarked" and the students' videos will be linked in the tour.

We will watch the videos as we take our tour through the Midwest.




- The student will be able to write a script for their short film, listing key ideas and facts about their Midwest state's topic.
- The student will record themselves reading their script in front of a green screen.
- The student will select an image from the internet to represent their topic.
- The student (or teacher?) will edit the film in iMovie.
- The student will add a placemark for their tourist attraction in Google Earth.
- The student (or teacher) will link their movie to Google Earth.



Resources:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzZD4jHSlAw


Outcome: The students completed the first three steps listed above. Due to time constraints and technical issues with iMovie, I completed the movie editing step. There were also issues with uploading video to Google Earth, so that part was not completed.

Click here to view the movie created by my class.

Students use QR codes to share learning

To make the prairie hallway display more interactive, the students will add QR codes to accompany their prairie plant or animal. The code will link to an online photograph of the animal and text containing interesting facts about the plants or animals.



- The student will create a QR code that links to text that contains facts about the plant or animal.
- The student will create a QR code that links to an online photograph of the plant or animal.
- The student will print out the codes and tape them near their plants or animals.
- The student will use an iPad or iPod Touch to explore the other prairie plants and animals.

QR Code Generator: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/

This was an extremely motivating and engaging activity. I will definitely do this activity again in the future!

Welcome!

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