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PROJECTS 2013-2014

Screencasting in First Grade

 Mr. Turchiano's students learned many new skills with this project.  Students selected an animal and completed research on the Internet.  Not bad for first graders, right?  Well, the fun didn't stop there.  Students learned how to download and save audio and picture files from the Internet to the school server.  I know some adults who still haven't mastered those skills.  Once their files were saved, the kids were tasked with creating a screencast using the iPad app Explain Everything.  The first graders typed text, added multimedia files and recorded themselves.  The finished files were compiled in iMovie.  Click on the picture to the left and take a look.

Standards Addressed

Science:

1.1 Record observations and explanations using pictures, words, and numbers.

L.2.B Students understand that living things have identifiable characteristics.

L.2.C Students understand that living things live in different places.

ELA:

RI.1.10 With prompting and support, read informational texts appropriately complex for grade 1.

W.1.2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they name a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.

W.1.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers

Learning About Counties in Nevada

The students in Ms. Chavez’s 4th grade class have been studying Nevada. As part of their studies, students researched a county in Nevada. Ms. Chavez decided to incorporate screencasting as a final project for the research. Students were tasked with creating a video that would help others learn about the different counties in Nevada.  

Standards Assessed:

W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

W.4.6: With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.

W.4.7: Conduct short research projects that build knowledge through investigation of different aspects of a topic.

Geography 6.0 - Places & Regions - Students understand the physical and human features of places and use this information to define and study regions and their patterns of change.

 

**Click the picture to the right to view the video.

Documenting Science in 5th Grade

Students in Mr. Jameson's class at Fay Herron Elementary School are using iPads and Edmodo to document an experiment with crystals.  The students in years past would draw a picture of their findings and include text to support and describe it.  In this example of Augmentation of the SAMR model, the iPads are actiing as a tool replacement with a little more bang for the buck.  Instead of crudely drawn pictures of the crystals, students are able to take pictures depicting the reality of the crystals.  By using Edmodo as a digital notebook, students trade in their pencils for a keyboard.  However, by using Edmodo, students are not only able to share findings, they are  able to communicate with classmates regarding each others findings as well.  

 

Standards Addressed

Science

(5)1.1 Use evidence recorded in a science notebook to develop descriptions, models, explanations, and predictions.

(5)2.2 Classify materials by their observable, physical, and chemical properties.

(5)2.3 Investigate and describe that by combining two or more materials, the properties of the resulting material can be different from the original materials (vinegar and baking soda, drink mix, salt and water).

 

Kindergartners Participating in An Hour of Code

Students at Tartan ES  participated in the Hour of Code event.  Kindergarteners had to use code to move Angry Birds to capture pigs.  The kindergartners were extremely engaged and helpful to one another. Students were excited even when they were struggling with what to do next.

Standards Addressed

SL.K.1: Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about kindergarten topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.1.C.2.1: Use digital models and simulations with teacher assistance.

2.D.2.1: Work in a team to solve problems using digital tools.

4.A.2.1: Investigate an authentic problem using digital resources.

4.C.2.1: Use data to answer an authentic problem using digital tools.

5.B: Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity.

Tools Usedhttp://code.org/Computers, video tutorials (http://csedweek.org/learnhttp://www.youtube.com/codeorg )

CommentsThe kindergartners were extremely engaged and helpful to one another.  Students were excited even when they were struggling with what to do next.

Digital Journaling
An after school enrichment program was put in place from November through December 2013.  4th Grade students were invited to join the program.  The goal of the after school session was to enhance the writing already occurring in 4th grade at Scott ES.   In class, students created journals detailing the travel westward to reach Nevada.  Participants used their handwritten journals to create a digital product complete with text, pictures and audio.  Using Explain Everything, the students turned their paper and pencil journals into a movie

Standards Addressed

H2.4.2 Describe the experiences of pioneers moving west.
W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.4.6: With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.
L.4.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.4.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
L.4.3: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.

1st Graders Create an ePub

Ms. Seward's 1st Grade students created the ePub using Book Creator on the iPad.  The students took the pictures, types the text (including changing the font), drew pics and recorded themselves.  Their two-page spread will be featured in The Global Book Series: Schools Around the World.

 

Standards Addressed:

W.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed.

W.1.6 With guidance and support from adults, use a variety of digital tools to produce and publish writing, including in collaboration with peers.

SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about grade 1 topics and texts with peers and adults in small and larger groups.

SL.1.5 Add drawings or other visual displays to descriptions when appropriate to clarify ideas, thoughts, and feelings.

 

*Please note, the ePub can be accessed via Dropbox.  The linked picture takes you to the file which can be downloaded and played in iBooks

 

Here is a link to the completed Global iBook ePub.

 

Reading Fluency Practice on the iPad

The 3rd grade student is seen initially working with the content. At the end of the session, she is shown to be reading 65 words per minute (wpm). While not at goal yet, she consistently worked on the text to get her WPM up to 90 in subsequent readings. The app used is the lite or free version of K12 Timed Reading. Elements of comprehension practice are also rolled into the app. While wonderful for self-practice, students are unable to record themselves to truly hear whether they are becoming fluent. Now that the students are familiar with the limited amount of texts in the free app, we will be looking to expand the fluency practice to incorporate screencasting apps.

 

Standards Addressed

RF.3.4 Read with sufficient accuracy and fluency to support comprehension.

RF.3.3 Know and apply grade-level phonics and word analysis skills in decoding words.

Monster Exchange

Students in Ms. Monroe’s 4th grade class embarked on a digital publishing/communication activity.  Students created a monster, which they then had to describe in detail.  The drawings and descriptions were uploaded to monsterexchange.org.  The teacher was matched with a class in Denmark.  The descriptions were  swapped between the two classes and the students had to redraw the monsters based on the descriptions.  The opportunity existed via email for the classes to communicate with one another about the project and share information about their respective countries. 

W.4.2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development and organization are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
W.4.6: With some guidance and support from adults, use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing as well as to interact and collaborate with others; demonstrate sufficient command of keyboarding skills to type a minimum of one page in a single sitting.
L.4.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
L.4.2: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
L.4.3: Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
L.4.4: Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.

 
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