I Love These Interactive Drawing Activities!

Draw A Stickman Episode One and Episode Two have been around awhile, but I have to post about them, in case you didn't know about them. I love love love these websites, and think this kind of technology is the wave of the future. If you are not familiar with them, you are prompted to draw something as part of a story. Your drawing "comes alive", moves, and is part of the story. You have to try them now!

I would use these websites/activities in my second grade classroom first as a whole group demonstration, preferably with an interactive whiteboard or a computer projected for all to see. If you have a tablet, such as a Mimio Pad, that would make it easier to draw. Then, I would let students have at it during a center. Even though the story repeats each time, I still think kids would find this fun, and it allows them to be creative. When you are done with the episode, you have the option to share your story via Facebook, Twitter or email.

There are also iPad apps that match these episodes. Find out more about the original Draw A Stickman app or the newer, second episode in the iTunes Store (both free).

I found a few other iPad apps that are similar in nature. Pirate Scribblebeard's Treasure ($2.99) prompts you to draw something, such as "..two burly pirates for my crew." These creations move around a bit, too, when you are done, and they are saved within the app. Another app, Magic Doodles HD Lite (free) asks you "What is shooting out of the cannon?" or asks you to "Draw a rocket for the astronaut". The fact that there is not one right answer/design will make all students feel successful. No saving here in this app, perhaps in the paid one?

I am wondering how else I can incorporate these into my classroom? Part of cooperative learning, classroom community building? Stimulate writing? Prompt discussions? If anyone has additional ideas, or similar interactive drawing resources, please share!

A Few Math Resources for Primary Grades

Oh dear...it has been too long since I updated my blog. I do apologize if you have been waiting or wondering...anyway, today I wanted to share a few math resources I came across recently. I think they would be perfect in a primary classroom!

Give The Dog A Bone

This website activity asks students to find 10 hidden dog bones on a 100 chart in one minute. The trick is the chart is blank! A number is presented, such as 62. Students have to use their knowledge of the 100 chart, such as each row is worth 10, to hop around and pinpoint the number. This game would work well on an IWB or on a computer as a math center.

Place the Penguins Game

Another great website, this time from the UK. This activity is perfect for developing understanding of big numbers and place value. You are given a choice if you want to play with 10's and 1's, called "units" or 100's, 10's and 1's. This is a great visual tool! Again, this would be wonderful on an IWB or an individual computer station.

Sums Stacker
This website game, from Carstens Studio, needs Adobe Shockwave to play. I love this game, which is excellent for students who need a bit of a challenge with addition facts. Sums can be represented with dice, coins, or digits. Students click and drag values from three stacks, moving them around until they make the target sum at the bottom of the stack. There is a matching iPad/iPod/iPhone app available for $0.99, which has a few more options, including fingers and Spanish number words.

Hope you find one of these useful in your teaching!

Penguins! Penguins!

I am obsessed with my newest app. It's like reality TV with animals! Pocket Penguins is a FREE iPhone app, but works just fine on my iPad as well.  The California Academy of Sciences streams the Africa penguin exhibit in real time, and the user has the ability to switch between 3 live webcams. These penguins immediately captivated my son and me! We had fun predicting which penguin would jump in the water next or wondering why two penguins started fighting.

The iTunes description mentioned live feedings at 10:30 am and 3:00 pm, California time. Sure enough, just a minute or two after 5:00 pm in the Midwest, live sound came on and two employees started talking to the crowd and answering questions. We could see one biologist get in the water and hand feed the penguins. This Q & A show lasted about 15 minutes and the penguins were very active at this time! We checked in the next day at the earlier time, saw and heard different trainers and learned even more facts about penguins. I am not sure this is a 24/7 app, though. The underwater camera seems to be dark later at night. I assume the lights are off in the exhibit then.

I started investigating, trying to find other apps like this.

I took a chance and downloaded the Pocket Zoo HD app for $1.99 I was excited because it has 17 animals webcams from around the world. It seems some are just still shots, though. Due to time zone differences, all 17 webcams are not all on at once. The meerkats were fun to watch, though, running around, quite active. The camera quality was not the best on some these web cams. But since Japan is pretty far away, I will cut them some slack! I was a little disappointed, especially since it was a PAID app, but my son was not. We are definitely going to give it another try at a different time tomorrow!

I found the San Diego Zoo app, and downloaded it because it was FREE. In the Media section, there are 3 webcams to choose from: Panda, Ape (which is an orangutan) & Polar Bear.  The camera quality was pretty good.  I haven't spent too much time with this app yet (cute penguins taking all my time!), but I'll let you know how it compares.

This reminded me of a super duper Livebinder I saw once over at this awesome blog:  http://kbkonnected.tumblr.com/. Check out all these resources for webcams in the classroom!

Now, here comes the fun part - integrating these apps of webcams in your classroom! Where are they a natural fit? Science, and the study of animals, is an obvious answer. Can we be creative and bring them in other ways as well? One idea I am toying with comes from the Visible Thinking website mentioned on the Tech Transformation blog . I am new to these strategies, but I think I could incorporate it in this open-ended way: After watching the animal(s), students would discuss/write/draw:

   • What do you see?
   • What do you think about that?
   • What does it make you wonder?

Any ideas out there for other webcam uses? Any other resources, websites or apps you would recommend?

Kindergarten iPad Apps

I have been neglecting my poor blog! Instead, I have been passing on ideas to teachers through Google Docs and Twitter. I will try to remember to post them here as well.

A kindergarten teacher I know just got an iPad for her class. She asked for some recommendations for literacy apps. Here is a short list of apps I suggested she download to get started. I will add more, as well as blog soon about apps for older students as well.  ***Disclaimer: prices may have changed since posting

1. ABC Alphanbet Phonics - Preschool Kids Games Free Lite (free)
This app is by Grasshopper Apps.com. It is great visually, very clear! Students listen to a prompt an select a letter by tapping on the screen. This company makes a lot of nice apps!
2. Letter of Day Interactive Activities (free)
This app is by Lakeshore Learning Materials. Includes a chant/poem for every letter, a "find the picture beginning with _" part, and a letter tracing activity.
3. Beginning Sounds Interactive Games (free)
This is another app by Lakeshore Learning Materials. It's a very neat activity, sort of like pulling a slot machine and then matching pictures to the letter of the beginning sound.
4. Dolch Primer and Pre-Primer Sight Words: Learn to Read (free and paid versions)
This app is by Steep Turn Software LLC. This is an iPhone app, but works on the iPad. The paid version gives you access to all the word lists pre-primer through 3rd grade.
5. I Like Books (free)
Another fabulous app by Grasshopper Apps.com! It contains 37 books in a nice, simple format. It has colorful photos, options for Read to Me, Read to Myself, or Autoplay. I like that the spoken word is highlighted as its read aloud.
6. Alphabet Tracing (free)
This app is by Oncilla Technologies. Students trace letters with their fingers, following a moving train, truck or worm to learn the correct formation.
7. Phonics Awareness, 1st Grade (free)
This app is by Bugbrained.com. I like the Segment section, using a bug's segments as a visual to break apart a word.
8. Sight Word List - Lear to Read Flash Cards & Games (free)
This app is by Alligator Apps.com. It is a simple flashcard app for sight words. It has many options for customizing lists and can be used preschool-3rd grade.

I hope you find something in this list that you can use!