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iboard: How Far Away do You Live?

What it is: iboard’s How Far Away Do You Live? is an excellent interactive activity for the interactive whiteboard or for use with a projector.  Students create labels with their names and pin them on a graphic chart to depict how close they live to the school.  Students can also add places to the graphic such as restaurants and stores.  This is a great way to begin discussions about distance and introduce some new math language.  When students have finished placing themselves on the graphic, they can compare the results on a block graph. How to integrate iboard: How Far Away Do You Live? into the classroom: How Far Away Do You Live? is a neat interactive to teach students math language about distance, how to read a graph, and how to describe objects in relation to each other.  Begin by defining what it means to live close to the school.  What does it mean to be “very close” is that one block away, around the corner, less than a mile, a 5 minute walk, closer than the shop on the corner?  Define what each distance will mean on your chart.  Then, invite students to the board to add a sticky note where they think their house falls on the chart.  After everyone has been added to the chart ask questions such as: “Who lives closest to the school?” and “Who is the furthest away?”  Finish by looking at the block graph and discussing how many students fall into each category.  This is a great way to teach your students to create and read informational charts and graphs. Tips: iboard has a variety of activities for the interactive whiteboard that can be purchased. How Far Away Do You Live? is one of their freebie samples. Leave a comment and share how you are using iboard: How Far Away Do You Live? in your classroom.

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Simple Timer

Posted by admin | Posted in Character Education, Fun & Games, Interactive Whiteboard, Middle/High School, Primary Elementary, Secondary Elementary, Teacher Resources, Websites, inspiration, web tools | Posted on 02-11-2009

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What it is: Simple Timer is just what you would expect based on the name, a simple timer (imagine that).  The timer can be projected or used with an interactive whiteboard during classroom activities or work time.  There is a timer and a count down feature.  To time an even just click the ‘start’ button, you can pause and restart the timer at any time.  To set a countdown timer, just set the time you would like the timer to countdown from and click the start button.

How to integrate Simple Timer into the classroom: Simple Timer can be used in a variety of ways.  I like using timers with my students as a motivator.  For example, “Let’s see how quickly and quietly we can put everything away and line up.” Each time you line up you can try to beat the previous time.  I add 10 seconds if someone is talking.  This is also a great way to make tasks manageable for students who struggle with focus. If they can see a visual of how much time is left with one activity it is much easier for them to continue through to the next activity.

Tips: If you have a student who has trouble staying on task, put them next to a classroom computer with their own timer or countdown clock.  This way you can set it for shorter intervals for that student.  Each time they have made it to the count down they can stand up and stretch before beginning the next activity.

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using Simple Timer in your classroom.

Comments (1)

Jonathan Wylie said on 02-11-2009

Nice tool. I use online stopwatch. (http://www.online-stopwatch.com/) Similar tool if you need or want something else in this vein.

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