First Graders Play Copycat with Kidspiration

First graders become very well-versed using the tool Kidspiration. In addition to making webs of their spelling words each week, student use the various reading, math and social studies/science templates included in the program to compliment their weekly stories, practice math skills, and organization information about topics such as the weather, their bodies, and the solar system. This week, students used virtual pattern blocks within Math View to create pictures.

Each student was given a bag of random pattern blocks to create a picture. The children were asked to use all their blocks in the picture and were only allowed to trade blocks with a neighbor who was also willing to trade. After designing their picture on the computer table, students had to recreate their picture using virtual blocks on the computer. This activity fosters spatial awareness, an important skill for developing readers as well as beginning geometry skills. Students used rotation tools to help flip blocks and the color palette to match colors between the real blocks and virtual blocks. Once their picture was copied, students were asked to write at least one sentence about their design, remembering that a sentence always starts with a capital letter and ends with punctuation.

Mid-October Lab Update

Kindergarten
The kindergarten students have been busy learning how to use Early Learning Toolkit. They have now been introduced to all the drawing tools: pencil, line, rectangle, circle, paint bucket, and spray can. They are navigating the tool bar to print independently as well as change program templates. They will continue using the program during center time in their classrooms. Next week, they will begin learning how to use visual mapping program Kidspiration.




First Graders
Any one walking into the lab on Monday would find first graders full of giggles as they used Scholastic's Story Starters to write silly songs, poems, letters, and stories.


Second Graders
With their North American continent study coming to an end, second graders created fact webs in Kidspiration to share interesting facts they have learned the last few weeks.

Third Graders
During their first rotation through the computer lab, third graders used the multimedia authoring tool, MediaBlender, to create slideshows on the scientific method. On day 1, students reviewed the drawing tools they have used in previous years. Next, they learned how to create and edit textboxes to add content. On days 2 and 3, they made slides for each step of the process and learned how to make buttons to connect their slides together. Some students even learned how to add sounds to their slideshows.

Fourth Graders
Fourth graders will begin their second lab rotation on Wednesday. While the first rotation focused on basic skills, their next project will be much more exciting. Students will learn how to create stopmotion animations about current evens using a new program called Frames.