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iboard: Deck Chairs

What it is: Deck Chairs is an interactive activity from iboard that allows students to explore pattern and symmetry.  Students can create patterns with three different colors.  Then, they can test out their pattern to find out if it is symmetrical. How to integrate iboard: Deck Chairs into the classroom: Deck Chairs is a simple interactive activity that lets students explore pattern and symmetry.  Deck Chairs was created for use with an interactive whiteboard but would be just as effective as a math center on classroom computers.  For use with an interactive whiteboard, create a pattern on half of the deck chair.  Invite students to the board to finish the pattern to make it symmetrical.  Test out the pattern to find out if it is symmetrical.  As a math center, send pairs of students to the classroom computers.  One student will create the initial pattern.  The second student will try to mirror the pattern to create a symmetrical design.  I like the way that this activity checks students progress and gives immediate feedback.  If the design is not symmetrical, the pair should try to solve the problem together. Tips: iboard has a variety of activities for the interactive whiteboard that can be purchased. Deck Chairs is one of their freebie samples. Leave a comment and share how you are using iboard: Deck Chairs in your classroom.

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The Tweet to Beat: Paying $3 per Twitter Follower

Posted by admin | Posted in Character Education, Fun & Games, inspiration, Math, Middle/High School, Primary Elementary, Secondary Elementary, Teacher Resources, Web2.0, Websites | Posted on 18-03-2009

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What it is: Twitter is an amazing networking tool.  If you aren’t currently using Twitter, today is the day my friend!  If you aren’t familiar with Twitter take a look at my prior posts here or watch the Common Craft video above.  The Tweet to Beat: Paying $3 per Twitter follower is an “ethical bribe” to get people to follow Tim Ferris on Twitter.  Here’s how it works: for every new Twitter follower Tim gets before March 23, 2009, he will donate $1 to Donorschoose.org.  An anonymous supporter will then donate $2 for every dollar that Tim donates.  This means that for every follower of Tim, $3 are donated.  What is the donation going toward?  US Public School classrooms!  The goal is to directly help 25,000 US public school students in low income and high need areas in two weeks time.  I LOVE this idea!  After seeing what is happening with our stimulus money (going to AIG for bonuses and cutting back on education), I think creative ideas like The Tweet to Beat are going to be the catalyst for change in this world!

How to integrate The Tweet to Beat: Paying $3 per Twitter Follower into the classroom: This is such a simple idea and yet the impact could be significant.  You can integrate Tweet to Beat into your classroom in a few ways.  First, if you are on Twitter, follow Tim today (go ahead you can do it right now, I’ll wait).  Second, if your students are on Twitter, encourage them to follow Tim.  Third, use Tweet to Beat as a real world math problem.  Ask questions such as how many followers does Tim need to raise $50,000?  $150,000.  Last, give older students (who have Facebook accounts) a homework assignment to post this story on their Facebook page to get others involved.  

 

Tips:  Twitter is a great way to communicate with families, build a personal learning network (PLN), communicate with other students around the world, and network.  You can follow me on Twitter by clicking here. 

 

Leave a comment and tell us how you are using The Tweet to Beat  in your classroom.

Comments (3)

The Tweet to Beat: Paying $3 per Twitter Follower said on 18-03-2009

[...] Original post by ilearn technology [...]
Susan Jones said on 19-03-2009

Very cool!!!!! What an amazing idea.
Tina said on 22-03-2009

Hi Kelly~

Since you are my hero :-) I am now on Twitter. I’ve been wanting to do this for awhile and your blog post was the motivation I needed. Anyone else you recommend I follow to get some good ideas for my Elementary Mac Lab?

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