Secondary Elementary – Page 24

Inside Story Flashcards: The world’s most interesting way to learn words

September 22, 2011Kelly Tenkely1 Comment5414 views

What it is: First of all, how about that for a tagline? “The world’s most interesting way to learn words” is a lofty goal for anyone to reach, but I must say, Inside Story Flashcards is doing a bang up job of it! What makes these vocabulary flashcards so great is the accompanying pictures. They are so appropriate for the words they are describing and offer a great visual to associate with the word. In addition to the well matched picture, students can click on a speaker icon for audio of the word. Students can choose to show or hide the definition. Students can choose words at four different levels: Basic (includes words like seven, comb, typewriter); Easy (includes words like attire, inclined, endorsement); Medium (includes words like prodigy, monochrome, dank) and Hard (includes words like crepuscular, bedizened, atavistic).

The online flashcards are fantastic but there are also free printable flashcards for offline use!

How to integrate Inside Story Flashcards into the classroom: Inside Story Flashcards are a superb addition to any classroom. They are just the ticket for visual learners…petrified will forever more be associated with the kitten picture above in my mind! These flashcards are a fun way to practice vocabulary and learn a new word.

Use the site with the whole class using a projector-connected computer or an interactive whiteboard. Split students into teams to see which team can come up with the most creative sentence using the new vocabulary word. The online flashcards also make a great creative writing prompt. Students can use the newly learned vocabulary in connection with the picture displayed.

Students can practice their vocabulary skills on classroom computers using the “hide definition” feature. Students can quiz themselves and then show the definition to find out if they are correct.

The print flashcards can be used in the low tech or no tech classroom. Print out flashcards to keep in a writing inspiration station. Students can use them to learn new vocabulary or to inspire writing.

Start your day with a new word. This can be the “word of the day”, challenge students to use the word of the day in conversation at some point during the day.

Do you have students who are gearing up for the SATs? Send this link home for some fun practice/learning time.

Tips: At Inside Story Flashcards, you can also purchase sets of flashcards with a theme. I’m liking the cat and dog flashcards. Can Haz vocabulary.

**For those who are wondering, I did write this post on my iPad. It was not wicked hard…just different.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Inside Story Flashcards in your classroom!

Writing Prompts Tumblr

September 21, 2011Kelly Tenkely2 Comments5321 views

What it is: Writing Prompts is a Tumblr blog I learned about from @johntspencer on Twitter this morning. It is a fabulous blog packed FULL of writing prompts to use in the classroom. There are currently 247 prompts on the site but new prompts are added regularly (so subscribe to this one!). The prompts are pictures coupled with a text prompt and are sure to get the creative writing juices of your students flowing.

How to integrate Writing Prompts into the classroom: These Writing Prompts are a fantastic way to get your students thinking outside of the box and interested in writing. Display prompts on an interactive whiteboard, projector connected computer, or at a writing center on classroom computers. Students can spend 15-20 minutes of uninterrupted time just writing their thoughts. Keep these in a journal so that they can go back through their writing and choose a 15 minute piece they would like to expand on.

A blog is the ideal platform for writing of this kind because students can re-blog the prompt along with their written piece. Students can get feedback from teachers and peers in the form of comments on the blog.

The Writing Prompt Tumblr blog is the perfect addition to a classroom or student RSS reader. New posts will be delivered as they are posted so your students will always have a fresh supply of writing inspiration. I use Google Reader when I am at a computer, Reeder or Flipboard on the iPad.

Tips: These prompts are best for secondary elementary, middle and high school students. If you teach younger students, consider creating a writing prompt Tumblr of your own. They are easy to get started with!

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Writing Prompts in your classroom!

Thinking Blocks: Model math word problems with virtual mantipulatives

September 19, 2011Kelly TenkelyLeave a Comment3328 views

What it is: Thinking Blocks is a great find by @matthewquigley who was nice enough to share his find and let me take the credit (I may have made up that last part…). Thinking Blocks lets students model and solve math word problems by using online virtual blocks to visualize the problems in new ways. Thinking Blocks includes blocks to model addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, and ratios. On the Modeling Tools tab, students will find modeling tool videos on addition and subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, ratios, decimals and percents, and algebra. These thinking blocks were developed by Colleen King as she worked to help her students in their Singapore Math program. While the concept of modeling word problems with the blocks is most closely associated with Singapore Math curriculum, it can be used to support any math program and is especially helpful to use with visual learners. Students can use virtual blocks to model known and unknown quantities. By modeling in this way, students are better prepared for moving from arithmetic to algebraic thinking because they learn how to break complex problems into their simplest form. The activities on the Thinking Block website includes guided and independent practice opportunities. The tutorials can be used for guided instruction. Videos show worked examples from each section (addition, multiplication, division, fractions and ratios. Progress tracking is built-in (currently this is only per session but the site notes that sometime in September this should be included for multiple sessions). The Modeling Tool lends itself to independent practice. Students can choose from hundreds of built-in word problems or enter their own. Dynamically generated models let students check their own work. A full screen option is included for use on interactive whiteboards.

How to integrate Thinking Blocks into the classroom: Thinking Blocks is a wonderful website for exploring and demonstrating understanding of word problems. Visual students will be keen on the ability to visualize math in this way, using the virtual blocks to represent word problems. Because Thinking Blocks addresses so many different math disciplines, it is a great way to differentiate instruction for students at a variety of levels.

Thinking Blocks can be used with the whole class using an interactive whiteboard or projector-connected computer. Students can take turns working out word problems on the whiteboard while students at their seats work to arrive at a common solution. Students at the board can “phone a friend” if they need a little extra help or guidance.

Thinking Blocks would make a fantastic center activity on classroom computers. Students could visit the center to practice some word problems and record a reflection about how the blocks enabled them to visualize the problem differently.

Be sure to bookmark Thinking Blocks on school computers and let parents know to bookmark the site at home. I suspect this site could be a life saver for MANY students (I would have been one of them!)

Tips: You can adjust the difficulty of each model by adjusting the numbers addressed before students begin an activity.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Thinking Blocks in your classroom!

Presenting Learning with Stop Motion Animation

September 14, 2011Kelly Tenkely16 Comments7175 views

What it is: At Anastasis Academy, we have some Stop Motion Animation PROS in the form of an eight year and ten-year old boy. These brothers taught themselves how to use stop motion animation, proceeded to create several learning videos (without assistance from a teacher) and, if that wasn’t enough, went on to teach the rest of our students how to do it! Incredible. Nothing like starting the day with a little viral learning! Today these two young boys stood before our junior high students (twelve to fourteen year olds) and taught them how to make a stop motion animation video. The young boys are SO proud of their accomplishment and were incredibly articulate as they taught the older kids about stop motion, the programs that can be used for stop motion and talked about technique. The older students followed along as the boys led them step-by-step through creating their own short stop motion video with a pencil or shoe. The ten-year old then issued the jr. high a challenge: Create a stop motion video before the end of the school day to show me, I’ll give you tips on what you can improve on. Above is one of the jr. high created videos that was presented. It was incredible to stand back and watch kids teaching and leading kids this way. The age difference was no barrier today!

Today, our students used the iMotion HD app on the iPad to create their stop motion animations. This FREE app is powerful in the hands of creative kids! The brothers have been using stop motion regularly to reflect on, or display learning.

The older of the two brother’s started learning stop motion using SMA (Stop Motion Animator) this is a free program that works using a PC, webcam and a whole-lotta (technical term) imagination.

For the Linux crowd, there is the free Stop Motion.

For the Mac crowd (cheers), there is the free Jelly Cam.

How to integrate Stop Motion into the classroom: Stop Motion is a great way for students to create their own animated videos. Students can use stop motion to display learning, as a way to reflect on learning, to tell a story, to demonstrate a time-lapse of a scientific process or just as a creative outlet. Stop motion requires students to do some pre-planning. First students have to decide what story they are trying to tell, next they have to decide how they are going to demonstrate that story visually, finally they need to move an “actor” frame by frame through the scene. The results are pretty incredible (as you can see above).

Tips:Some tips from our Stop Motion PROS: Make sure not to move your actor too far each time or the end result will be choppy, make sure to move your hand out of the shot before snapping the picture, plan through your story BEFORE you start.

Check out our YouTube channel for more stop motion animation from our students. The Bones, Gnome.Eaten.By.Jaws, and Anastasis Academy videos were all created by the 8-year-old! (P.S. The kids LOVE comments on their videos!)

This, my friends, is what happens when you give kids room to learn! Onward.

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Stop Motion Animation in your classroom!

Paper Toys: Architecture to print and build

September 12, 2011September 12, 2011Kelly Tenkely3 Comments3854 views

What it is: At Anastasis Academy we have several kids who are absolutely crazy for architecture. Not only can they emphatically tell you that they want to be an architect when they grow up, they collect architecture Lego models, will tell you how they wish they could go back in history to meet Frank Lloyd Wright and will build and draw models any chance they get. These are elementary students! Today when I came across these Paper Toy models of famous architecture, I knew I would have to share with our students and, while I was at it, would share with all of you who may have your own budding architects!

On Paper Toys you can find and print paper models for:

How to integrate Paper Toys Architecture Models into the classroom: In addition to instantly reaching hero status among your architecture crowd, the Paper Toys Architecture Models is a great addition to the math, history and art classroom. Students can put the models together digging into the different architecture styles, mathematical models represented by the architecture, and the history of the architecture. Students can print and build the models (a great exercise in patience, perseverance and attention to detail). Next students can attach their finished model to a base where they can surround it with math, art or history details they learned about the building to the base. If they really want to get creative, they can twirl and swirl the words around using different color markers to create an informative landscape.

Students can dig in further and map the various models on a Google map. If several students are creating models, they can compare and contrast architecture from different time periods, different geographic regions and identify the origins of the type of architecture.

Tips: Be sure to check out the other Paper Toy models. Your students can build cars, monuments and much more. New models are added every month!

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Paper Toy Models in your classroom!

Flake Pad: Create geometric, symmetrical shapes

September 12, 2011Kelly Tenkely1 Comment17408 views

What it is: Flake Pad is a very simple little website that lets students create geometric snowflakes using basic shapes and a grid. To make their flake, students choose a shape and click a spot on the grid. Students can add as many or as few shapes as they would like to their flake. When they are done the flake can be viewed off of the grid for a screen shot that can be included in other projects or it can be printed off. I like Flake Pad because it gives students space to be creative and can be used to teach and practice symmetry.

How to integrate Flake Pad into the classroom: Flake Pad is a great little site to help students understand symmetry. Any time students click a space on the grid, the shape is added to multiple points on the grid. Use Flake Pad on an interactive whiteboard or projector-connected computer where students can identify lines of symmetry on the flake that the whole class can see. With the pointer tool on Flake Pad, students can drag the shapes they have created to different points. Have students in the audience describe what happens to the flake as the shapes are moved. Do the lines of symmetry change?

Flake Pad can be used on classroom computers as a center activity. Students can create their own flake, print the flake out and draw the various lines of symmetry with a ruler.

Use Flake Pad during a unit on weather. Students can experiment with creating their own snow flake, print the flake out and use the print out to list characteristics of snow, or snow related vocabulary along any straight lines on their flake.

Tips: Flake Pad works from the Safari browser on an iPad….mostly. The line shape doesn’t work. Students could still create their own flakes, print and add lines with a pencil…further practicing their understanding of symmetry!

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Flake Pad in your classroom!

Learning Box Base 10 Blocks: Virtual math manipulative

September 7, 2011Kelly Tenkely8 Comments8888 views

What it is: Today while I was doing a quick Google search for a place I could buy a set of base 10 blocks, I came across this AWESOME digital version by accident. What a happy accident! Learning Box has a virtual version of base 10 blocks that builds in a fun practice game. Students are given a target number and drag base 10 blocks onto the paper to represent that number. As students add blocks, a counter at the bottom of the page shows how many blocks are currently on the paper. This is a great way for students to digitally practice place value, counting by hundreds, tens and ones.

The outcome of my shopping trip for base 10 blocks: the digital version is MUCH cheaper (read:free) than the physical version (not free). While I understand the value of the physical blocks, the digital version is a fantastic alternative for classrooms without the budget for each student to have a set or for students to continue practice at home.

How to integrate Learning Box Base 10 into the classroom: The Learning Box Base 10 blocks are a great example of a virtual manipulative. They help students visually represent numbers and place value. I like the way the slider and cups on the bottom of the page help track student progress as they drag blocks to the paper. When students get the target number, they don’t start with a blank slate, instead a new target number is given and students have to figure out which blocks to add or subtract. You can adjust the level of difficulty and place values practiced by clicking on the 1, 10, and 100 circle to the left of the paper.

Learning Box Base 10 would make a great center activity in the one or two computer classroom. Students can use the digital manipulatives with the built in game or to help them represent real-world problems.

Start a whole-class game with the Learning Box Base 10 blocks using a projector-connected computer or interactive whiteboard. Students can take turns at the board solving the problem and “phone a friend” if they need some additional support.

Tips: This Learning Box activity is flash based…I’m hoping that someone comes out with an app of manipulatives for the iPad (hint, hint).

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Learning Box Base 10 Blocks in your classroom!

Class Connect

September 1, 2011Kelly Tenkely6 Comments3281 views

What it is: Class Connect offers teachers a students everything they need to work in one place. Class Connect brings social networking to the classroom, it can do everything from giving you a place to manage your files in the cloud to building a full online learning community. Files can be easily shared with a drag/drop interface. All of your files can be shared with multiple classes without having to reload them. Teachers can create and deliver interactive lectures, starting from scratch or importing existing PowerPoint files. All content can be dragged and dropped. Mini quizzes can be added for presentations that require something of students. Class Connect also enables you to build up community within your classroom by posting messages for the class, receiving student feedback and encouraging student-to-student collaboration securely. The interface for Class Connect is intuitive and easy to master with built-in video tutorials that guide you through. The learning curve here is small!

How to integrate Class Connect into the classroom: Class Connect gives your students a virtual environment for sharing and collaborating. Extend the walls of your classroom by making documents readily and easily available to students. Post assignments, reminders, “wonders” (statements/questions to make your students wonder) and class announcements. Allow your students to work together and collaborate on projects in a secure environment where they can safely learn to use and manage their online communication. Create “live lectures” where your students can continue their learning, or catch up on learning. This is great for kids who have missed days-or months- due to illness or travel.

Older students will appreciate the calendar that allows them to set up reminders as texts to their mobile phone.

Tips: Those of you who use Google Docs at school will love this feature: full integration of Google Docs! Woo hoo! Attendance and gradebook integration are on the way…stay tuned!

Please leave a comment and share how you are using Class Connect in your classroom!

Make your own iPad Stylus for less than 10 cents!

August 30, 2011August 30, 2011Kelly Tenkely24 Comments18123 views

We had an incredible first week at Anastasis Academy. It was amazing to see all of our hard work come together in the form of a student body. Walking through the classrooms this week it was obvious: this is a place of learning.

One of our first-week of school activities was creating our own iPad stylus. Since we are a one-to-one iPad environment, this seemed like a good beginning for everyone.

We learned that to make a stylus, we first had to find some soft, conductive material. A Google search informed us that we could use conductive foam (the kind that is used to pack electronics), conductive thread, conductive yarn (we thought this would be PERFECT for our pens but couldn’t get any delivered fast enough), or a Scotch Brite sponge. I was a little skeptical of the Scotch Brite (it just seemed TOO easy) but it worked like a champ!

The kids had fun exploring how the yellow, soft part of the sponge would draw on the iPad when they held it in their hands. Some of the kiddos were a little baffled when they put the sponge into the plastic pen body and they found out that it no longer worked. Students added a little wire and soon the pens were working again! It was a great way for all of the kids to experiment with conductors and insulators.

Below are the steps for making your very own $0.10 or less iPad stylus.

*I bought a pack of Scotch Brite sponges, cheap, penny pens from a local office store, and a small roll of craft wire. We made about 50 pens for $6.00!

1. Separate the Scotch Brite sponge from the abrasive green backing. Cut the yellow sponge remaining into small wedges.

2. Take the ink out of some cheap plastic pen casing. Drill a hole near the head of the pen with a small drill bit.

3. Cut 6 inches of wire.

4. Tightly wrap the wire around the small end of the sponge wedge.

5. Thread the sponge through the head of the pen (our pen head separated from the pen body).

6. Bend the end of the wire farthest from the sponge into a 90* angle. Thread this into the pen body and through the pre-drilled hole.

7. Pull the wire through the drilled hole and wrap it several times around the pen body.

8. Cut the exposed end of the sponge into desired pen-nub shape.

9. To use the pen, make sure that your hand is touching the wire at some point. Draw or write with your stylus!

The kids loved making their own stylus. There was a lot of talk about perseverance (when we tried to thread the wire through the small drilled hole), conductivity and exclamations of “I did it!”.

It was a wonderful exercise in frustration and success. Every student was proud of their finished product that actually worked! Students learned about conductivity, perseverance, insulation, and building with every-day materials.

One of our students, Benton, made a short stop motion animation with his pen…you can see it below:

Now for our next trick- working with @ianchia to figure out how we can construct conductive manipulatives that work with the iPad. Should be fun!

Make your own QR Code Scavenger Hunt!

August 22, 2011Kelly Tenkely35 Comments37866 views

Today was the first day of school. Ever. It was pretty epic. Since the students didn’t know where things were located in the building yet, I thought we would have some fun locating them with a QR code scavenger hunt. It was SO easy to do, I thought I would share the process here.

1. First I made a new website where each page of the website contained a clue. I made my site with Weebly.com because it is SO easy to use. I made the entire site in under 10 minutes.

2. Next I used goo.gl URL shortener to shorten the URL of each webpage and generate a QR code. Just copy and paste the long Weebly URL into the goo.gl shortener and voila. A short Googlefied (that is a technical term) URL. Click on “Details” next to the shortened URL to view your QR code. I just dragged and dropped these QR codes into a Pages document so that they were all in one place for easy printing/copying.

3. Print out QR code sheet and make enough copies for each classroom. Because we have a 10-1 student-teacher ratio, I made up 10 clues to find. Each student was in charge of one clue. I cut up the QR code sheet so that each student had a little QR code clue card.

4. Set students out on their mission. Each student takes a turn using the Scan app to uncover the clue. They read the clue out loud to their group and brainstorm what the answer could be. When they thought they had the answer, they went to that place and took a picture of it using the camera app. For example, one of our clues was: “The Grub Hub”, students went down to the kitchen and took a picture.

5. When all pictures have been collected, students gather and add up the points they won.

*Below is my example of the QR code and website they were connected to.

This was a really easy activity to prepare for from a teacher perspective. The impact was huge with the students. They had a great time with this!

We used this hunt as a way for students to familiarize themselves with the layout of the new school but it would also be a great activity for a math scavenger hunt “Find an item that represents three times four”, or colors in art “This is the color you get when you mix yellow and blue”, or literature “find an object that represents this character in our novel”. The list could go on and on if you use your imagination! The QR codes are so easy to generate, students could use these for almost anything!