Friday, March 14, 2014

Learning is Out of This World!

Space is such a fun topic to teach.  No matter what grade you teach or what standard you are covering, there is always a way to make this topic exciting and engaging.  Here are a few things I plan on teaching to cover the space standards this year.
1.    SolAR-System App:  This is an Augmented Reality app.  Print the Solar System Markers from the solAR-system website.  Focus on the marker and watch planets come alive. Travel in this wonderful 3D simulation of the solar system and fully interactive with the Augmented Reality technology. This app costs $0.99.

2.    Space and Writing:  This was one of my favorite activities last year. My students completed a writing activity entitled “Leaders are Out of this World.”  They wrote about qualities of a good leader.  After they completed their writing, they used the Photo Booth or Cam Wow app on the ipad.  They took a picture of themselves in a distorted, alien way.  They emailed me the pictures and I had them printed.  These pictures became the faces in an old-fashioned construction paper alien.  Second Graders make frightening aliens but they sure had a ball being out of this world!



3.    Space Place:  This website is operated by NASA.  It offers students the opportunity to play, do and, explore.  There are games and puzzles to play.  There are several PDF pages to print that give directions for hands on learning.  There are videos, pictures, and fun facts to learn as students explore. 

4.    Make a Scene-Outer Space:  I am a fan of other Make a Scene apps.  I love the creative freedom that these apps give students to just dream.  I’ve used the Make a Scene Farm many times to have students create a math problem.  They create their scene and import their picture into Screen Chomp or Educreations to mark up their picture and record them as they explain their thinking.  Outer Space costs $2.99.  If you want to try out this app idea, the Make a Scene Farm is free.

5.    Interactive Minds: Solar System- The perfect way for kids to experience the Solar System in a hands-on way! This interactive science book contains 58 pages and is filled with images, videos, and interactive simulations. This kid friendly apply lets you compare sizes of objects in the Solar System, see planetary revolutions, planetary rotations and tilt, see Solar System scale, and compare gravity on Earth with other objects.  The full version is $2.99 but a Lite version is available for free.

I’m sure you are as ready for Spring Break as I am.  I’ll return with the next Elementary Friday Five after Spring Break on April 4.  I hope you enjoy your break and return refreshed ready to go for the last few weeks of the school year.





Thursday, March 6, 2014

"Reading, Writing, 'Rithemtic..."

            This week I spent time searching for some fun apps for station time.  Here are a few of my favorites.
1.    Little Zebra Shopper:  This was a fun accidental find.  This is a virtual cash register.  You print free products from the website. Each product has a bar code on it.  Can the barcode and the app shows a cash register receipt.  Scan several products and it gives the total.  Put in the amount of cash paid and it shows the change.  I’ve had students playing with this app all week.  They hand the cashier an amount greater than the total and the cashier has to give back the correct change in play money.  It has been a very popular math center. 

2.    Front Row Adaptive Math: Differentiated Math, Common Core Aligned, designed by a teacher app. Students are given a placement test.  They will then complete activities based on their level.  Students work at their own pace. Advancement and remediation are given as needed. The more students practice the more coins they earn.  Students can then turn in coins for game time.  You can generate printables for extra practice for each standard.  It will suggest classmates to go to for help based on the performance of others.  All of the lessons and videos are common core based. Don’t be frightened by the high price.  I have five referrals to allow you to unlock all of the content for free.  Just download and register.  When you are asked for a referral, use my email: kbroadhead@att.net.

3.    Subtext:  This app is for collaborative reading.  It allows student to participate in close reading of online text.  It is also available as an Edmodo app.  How to use this app is best explained in article by Margo Tripsa in an article on her blog “Techie Teacher’s Tricks.”


4.    Edshelf:  This is not an app but it is a phenomenal list of apps and web tools.  Edshelf is a directory of websites, mobile apps, and desktop programs that are rated & reviewed by parents & educators, for parents & educators. They help you find the right educational tools for your specific needs. You can search the database by subject, category, platform, or age.


5.    Noteledge for Kids:  NoteLedge for Kids is a note-taking app dedicated for kids to showcase their creativity and record every inspiring moment, hands on. With the kid-friendly tools, a super cute interface, and sound effects, kids can draw, doodle, type, insert images, record audios and video clips, and share their masterpieces with friends and family. Just think about the idea of letting students come up with their own storybook and show how they see the world from their perspective. This app is available in the App Store for $2.99.



Have a great weekend!