Integrated Learning: Pop Up Books

Today I showed by students a new programme using pop ups to create books.  They are excited about the programme at zooburst.com.  I am using it for my students to recreate Maori myths as part of our Hook activities for our Inquiry unit.  They are also learning the skill of drawing a character or part of the setting in paint and saving it as a jpg to use in the programme.  I only taught myself the rudimentary skills of the programme and demonstrated that with the data projector.  The kids will sort the programme quicker than I.  I did notice after their help with goanimate, that there are similarities between the programs.  This is good for my confidence.  Zooburt comes with embed codes so we will be able to embed on the class blog. Watch this space!!!!

What grabs children can surprise

I used a model of a character description and then drew the character and talked about painting a picture in the mind.  Instead of getting my reluctant writers to draw their character first, I said that we would share our writing aloud and draw each other's pictures.  It was amazing.  Everyone wanted to share, and as we often drew what they did not expect, so it gave them excellent information for their editing.  This worked as an activity for the whole class in inspiring them, but maybe not so much with action research.  Still my reluctant writers were keen to write so everyone could draw their character. Sometimes, I get surprised at what inspires children.  I put the timer on to get my kids to write quickly.

Writing

I scanned in some introductions from a couple of books as examples of narrative beginnings.  We looked at them as a class, and then I sent 2 of the targeted students to write their example on the computer.  I had done this the previous day as well, but interestingly enough it worked better the second day, as these 2 students were keen to be on the computer.  They did not write much but they were much more enthusiastic. I live in hope.

Go Animate

At times with new programs I can be somewhat baffled and then run out of patience. I had thought when trying to integrate ICT I would get one of my reading groups to retell a story in the program.  Anyway, I gave getting the program to work as a challenge to my students.  They have succeed and are enjoying the program.  I now need to get them to make a set of instructions.

GoAnimate.com: little red riding hood by room21bds


Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!


GoAnimate.com: The Big Adventure NOT by room21bds


Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

I found that being saying they had to create a story they did better work.  We did spend a couple of weeks just playing first.

Using Wallwisher

I used Wallwisher to get my students' questions for inquiry.  They enjoy using different laptops around the room rather than me standing infront writing on the whiteboard.

Getting the students to teach me

On Tuesdays I lose about half my class to choir practise so I have decided to have fun with ICT with the rest of the class.  Today I had booked our pod of 8 laptops so that I could get them to work out the Goanimate.com program from the Cool Tools for Schools website.  I don't know whether it is our server blocking but only the class work station would work the program properly.  I had had a go on Sunday an struggled to make the program work so I had the bright idea of putting the students on and they could then teach me.  They were definately enthusiastic but trying compatability views helped to some extent but I also don't know whether using the same login for all computers was stopping us too.  I think we were all frustrated.  I then tried some of the other website but had trouble loggin into them as well. Talk about best laid plans.

Mathletics and finding facts

We began a trial of Mathletics for homework this week for a fortnight.  I have been letting the kids get on at every opportunity.  They come in in the mornings at the moment and share what credits they have learnt with each other, or tell me they are on the Wall of Fame.  It is great to see them so enthusiastic.

My students have been taking turns or in groups to find facts to begin report writing dueing writing time.