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!

Add This To Math List

I knew I forgot a resource last time! It was really bugging me, too! And there it was the whole time, sitting on a sticky note on my computer desktop! Saw it today when I was "cleaning up", which really means copying and pasting notes/ideas from all my sticky notes to a word doc I have called "Sticky Notes"! I probably need a better system...anyway, check out:

Primary Resources Number Board

This is an awesome way to visually demonstrate expanded notation. Click on/select parts of a big number to build it. This clearly shows kids how to say big numbers, such as 3,628: 3 thousand, 6 hundred, twenty, eight. It is easy to see what each digit represents. I wish you could type in number vs. clicking on it. I wish there was an audio component. Yet, I am still going to use this. It would be neat on an IWB, with the kids at their desks writing numbers on paper or small whiteboards! It does require Adobe ShockwaveFlash.

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!