The focus this month will turn to 1st and 4th graders. Both grade levels have been hard at work creating, exploring, and learning in new ways using their iPads. At the beginning of the year the focus was much more on learning new apps/processes, but by this point students have started to make the transition from mastering apps to mastering deeper thinking that can then be showcased through those apps.

Please don't be afraid to click the links and images when prompted, doing so will allow you to experience all of the features that app/project has to offer!

At the end of each day students have 5-10 minutes to work on a project of their choice. This project should be something that they are wondering about. First the students need to complete an idea sheet. Once they have a plan, they need to start their research. Many times we find our answers in a book from the media center, other times I guide kids using an internet search and together we bookmark an age appropriate website (creating a button on their home screen). Once students become an expert on their "wonder" they create a project on their iPad. Project formats include Pic Collage, Wixie, Popplet, Educreations, and Explain Everything. Most students choose Pic Collage as they can easily search the web for pictures through the app.

The first graders learned about the State of Minnesota. They used facts about our state as an introduction to informative writing. Students then extended their learning using Wixie, an online educational software program that allows kids to combine authoring skills with painting tools to create a multimedia project. Students have also been using Wixie to create their animal research projects in Media.

CLICK BELOW TO VIEW STUDENT PROJECTS!

Haiku Deck is a great app that allows students show their knowledge in the format of a slideshow. The example project below was created to show mastery of fact vs. opinion (you can see we are still working on the correct use of their/there/they're) :) The images Haiku Deck provides are stunning, and are a great visual addition to the student's work.

Click the link below to view all slides

You will see popplet across grade levels, and for good reason. This apps not only lets you add text and photos, move them around, and create visual brainstorming, but it lets your creativity shine through as you choose the best way to visually represent what you want to say.

Enjoy 3 very different ways to use popplet shown below.

Students in 4th grade have been studying the water cycle as part of their Science curriculum. After learning about all of the parts of the water cycle they created a paper/pencil visual representation. They then photographed this image and used it as a base for their non-fiction writing about this topic. Students were also able to pull in other photographs and videos they had taken during their studies. All of the pieces were linked together using a thing link.

CLICK the LINK, then click on the "targets" to see all of their writing and media!