4th&5th Grade Makers and 3rd Grade programmers!

3D Printing with 5th Graders:

This week students designed little ball&maze trinket toys.  They used SketchUp to design their maze.  We printed them on a MakerBot, cut up silver clasp Ball chains (which we measured with a pair of calipers to size the maze), and used transparencies for the cover.  Many of them worked perfectly.  Many wanted to improve upon their design.  Way to go little mini-makers!

Make your own X-Box controller with 4th Graders:

These guys learned how to build buttons on a piece of cardboard fashioned in the style of an X-Box controller.  Students used a Makey-Makey kit to connect it all together and Scratch for the programming.  They created a very simple 2-player Maze game to test their controller out on.  On the last day, they played head-to-head matches with each other.  One week was definitely not enough time.  Game on!

Mini Programmers with 3rd Grade:

Students learned how to program sensors using LegoWeDo.  By the end of the week, students were programming their own cars, catapults, and trap-doors.  Everything was documented in their GoogleDrive accounts.  We are developing programmers!

But first, let me take a Selfie...

The following is a quick run-down of a beginning-of-the-year activity with 3-5 graders, but scaffolded down for grades 1-2.








To begin the year in what was formerly known as the STEM Lab (renamed this year as the #GeekLab), students created a Selfie project using iPads.  The apps:
-Google Drive (free)
-any free painting app
-Sketchbook Express (free)
-WordFoto (paid app)

To keep the teacher from being the source of information, students (Grades 3-5) grabbed headphones and followed an instructional video on their own device: https://goo.gl/QueRuw
This video was created by the teacher (with a little help from the Chainsmokers)

They are encouraged to work in groups, a partner, or just by themselves.  Rule: the teacher is here only to help clear-up any misunderstandings from the video.  But no help would be offered unless 2 things occurred:

1. The student must risk making a mess of things by trying to use their smart brain and solve the issue on their own.
2. Talk to their peers at their table (9 times out of 10, kids figure it out with each other)

The message to kids is clear, and they hear it every day:

"I hope things don't go perfectly for you today.  That's boring.  The fun is when you have to figure things out!  And boy, doesn't it feel good when you are able to solve the problem?"   

As a result, the Kindies love to excitedly cheer and shout out, "Teacher, Teacher, look....I have a problem!!!!" They have no idea how to solve the tech issue, but are just happy to have a problem.  The point is to set a positive mindset.  Model that solving problems is fun, not frustrating.  

        

When completed, all the "Selfies are printed in color and hung up (see examples above).  However, it is made clear that any spelling mistakes will not be printed..."google the word, you'll figure it out," is a commonly used phrase.  The colorful work covers the walls of the GeekLab.  The kids love coming in to see all the "geeks".  

Students roll through the Lab for 1-week/month as part of a specials rotation.  This project does not take the 4th and 5th graders a week.  So as kids finish the project, they move on to the Creative Challenge.  They are asked to think about the apps they have used.  Can they figure out how to create an image of them walking on the moon?  Swimming with a Great White?  Climbing the Pyramids?  This lends itself to design elements such as lighting and shadowing.  It is amazing what kids create.  Many classrooms took these projects back into the classroom and used them for creative writing projects. 

At the end of the week, Several students move beyond the Creative Challenge where they get a taste of green-screen technology using the Doink Green Screen app (not free + $30 for green screen materials on Amazon).  

The students do not ever receive a unit on digital citizenship.  Instead they receive instruction on digital citizenship EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.  In this Selfie unit, students used an app where adds constantly pop up.  What a great opportunity to discuss the purpose of adds and how to handle them appropriately/responsibly as professional students.  They use images from the web: a perfect opportunity to learn about appropriate use and copyright.  GoogleDrive lends itself to a host of issues with the sharing of photos.  You could hear a pin-drop as shocking stories of past mistakes are told. Every unit has its own lessons on digital citizenship.  

From time-to-time a student will have an error in judgement.  THUS elementary school is the perfect environment to make those mistakes and learn about appropriate behavior so as to avoid dangerous decisions later in High School.

The Selfie project is a huge hit every year.  The students are always highly engaged.  The lab becomes a social place for students to design and create together.  Can't wait for next week!

K-5 STEM/Technology Activities for Jan-Feb 2014

Image: Emily Haddon

CHVE Technology

What STEM activities are students doing at CHVE?  Each month, come here to take a peek.  Visit our tools: CHVE Links.

TO DOWNLOAD THE BEST MATH FACT PRACTICE ON THE PLANET, CLICK HERE (free for CHVE students)!

PARENTS: Visit this fantastic site that reviews movies, games/apps, and promotes responsible use of technology at home.

Best free app: LightBot.  This was part of a constellation of experiences where 1st-5th interacted with the fundamentals of coding.



For the months of: Jan-Feb, 2014

Kindies - Through Education City, students were scored on the their ability to complete a variety of math concepts.  Education City: click here to gain access at home.

1st Grade

1st Grader, Marley, documented her Lego Contraptions

• Dance Mat Mondays!
• Education City: Students were asked to solve a variety of math problems. Click here to gain access at home.
• Using Lego's, students learned about Gears and Friction to create a wind-powered car.  The unit culminated in a car-race.  Things got loud...you may have heard us.  Students documented their work using Wixie. 

2nd Grade

• Dance Mat Mondays! 
• Through Code.org, 2nd graders interacted with the basic concepts of coding.
• Students created their own Comic Strips by using Presentation inside their GoogleDrive accounts.  Students learned some basics in graphic design and being responsible with public documents. 

3rd Grade

• Students begin class practicing typing at Dance Mat or TypingClub.  They must have their hands covered with a paper towel.  Our goal by the end of 5th Grade is to type 20 words per minute with 90% accuracy.
• Using Lego's (bottom, left clip in YouTube video), students learned about the effect of gears and pulley systems on their contraptions.
• Students created their own Comic Strip (See Ex) through the Presentation App inside their GoogleDrive accounts.  Students learned some basics in graphic design and being responsible with public documents. 

4th Grade 

• Students begin class practicing typing at Dance Mat or TypingClub.  They must have their hands covered with a paper towel.  The goal by the end of 5th Grade is to type 20 words per minute with 90% accuracy.
• Through Code.org, 4th graders interacted with the basic concepts of coding.
• Using Scratch, students started to build their own video games (student ex here).  Students learn how to create one of 4 types of games: Pong, Maze, Car Chase or Drawing.

5th Grade

• Typing at Dance Mat or TypingClub.  Hands are covered with a paper towel.  If they pass the test (type 20 words per minute with 90% accuracy), they are on the wall of fame.  Currently there are 20 Fifth Graders at this level.
• Through Code.org, 4th graders interacted with the basic concepts of coding.
• Lego Robotics!  Students created Lego structures (top and bottom left in clip above) which required simple programming to perform creative tasks from local software.
• Using Scratch, students started to build their own video games (student ex here). Students began learning how to create one of 4 types of games: Pong, Maze, Car Chase or Drawing.

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Technology for January

Image: Emily Haddon

CHVE Technology

What are students doing in technology?  Each month, come here to take a peek...The tools students use: CHVE Links.

Want to buy your child a computer and need a recommendation?

Read about experiences with 5th Graders using a Chat Room.

For the month of: January, 2012

Kindies - began looking at how Education City can be used to keep track of your scores.

1st Grade

• Dance Mat Mondays!  
• Education City: click here to gain access at home.
• Wixie: Finishing our book project with Tumblebooks ...stay tuned to see where you can view them! (Students looked at the section on Non-Fiction and Videos to investigate something they are curious about.  After taking notes, the students followed a template on how to build an online book in Wixie.  

2nd Grade

• Dance Mat Mondays! 
• Began 2 days with Math Lines
• Education City: click here to gain access at home.  Goal: self-monitor: Their job was to look at the assessment chart of their Education City activities and find a score they would like to improve.  Their work syncs with the scoreboard giving them immediate feedback on their performance.  If a parent or teacher ever wants access to the scoreboard, please let Mr. Krulish know and he will give you directions.
• Wixie: This week, most students finished working on their Non-Fiction books from the information they gathered researching a Tumblebooks topic.  We will link all "books" to a page where others can see what they have created.
• Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Addition/Subtraction, and Multiplication/Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.

3rd Grade

• Dance Mat Mondays! 
• We finished the book poster's created in ComicLife.  We do not have access to a color printer for all so we learned how to "hollow" out the color.  We printed our documents and colored them in.  Get ComicLife at home for $4.99 on your iPad!  Or click here to download it for $30 to your computer (30 day free trial).
• Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication and Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.

4th Grade - Mrs. Yoffe 

• Dance Mat Mondays! 
• Began a ComicLife project: Researched the history of Valentine's Day and added that information as part of a creation of Valentine's Day cards.  Goal: for students to learn how to think of their Google Drive account as a flash-drive so as to store non-web based projects.  This allows for greater mobility and security.  Get ComicLife at home for $4.99 on your iPad!  Or click here to download it for $30 to your computer (30 day free trial).
• Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication and Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week.

5th Grade - Mrs. Chavez - A GREAT WEEK...

• Dance Mat Mondays!
• Continued our VERY successful research project on colonies that involves the use of chat rooms.  Click here to read more about it!  Many students began recording on iPad's this week and used the iMovie app to edit ($4.99 at home, cost at school: $2.49).
• Spent one day using a new program: Timez Attack by BigBrainz.  This is available at home for no cost (regularly $40!).  Directions have been added to GoogleDrive via the Learning Links.  It is an AMAZING program to increase recall speed with Multiplication and Division.  Requirement: 3-4, 20min sessions/week. 

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Chat Rooms and 5th Graders

A chat room, a 5th Grade Classroom, and total silence...

Below is an expansion of my weekly posting covering Tech in an Elementary school (Technology is a Specials Rotation at Cherry Hills Village Elementary - students go to 5 specials).  The blog is an effort to be transparent to parents in our community about what kids are doing with Technology.  The 5th Grade chat room activity was so successful, I though I'd share it independently:

Big Picture: The overall project for 5th grade is to build a news-broadcast on the iPads covering the life and times of a Colonial.  First, using laptops and their GoogleDrive accounts, they needed to build a GooglePresentation.  Here is what we did:

 
First they answered 2 big-picture questions by creating their own thinking map in GoogleDrawing.  Here was the best part: Since everyone was connected to the same big-picture page, we opened up the chat box for all to access.  Scarry?  Sure, but not without a lesson on how chat boxes can be used as a RESOURCE.  If you walked into the room, kids were working on their diagrams.  If any of the 5th graders needed to know how to do something in GoogleDrawing (how to change the color of a box, etc.,) they posted their questions in the chat room.  So this means they had at least 2 windows going at the same time: The big-picture questions, and their own GoogleDrawing document.  They were directed to post questions in the chat room when they didn't know how to use the drawing tools (fyi - I had the students use Google Drawing at the beginning of the year...so this was not there first time creating a Google Drawing).  It was AMAZING how well they responded to that.  Kids are natural multitaskers.  

While they were working on their own diagram, they kept an eye on the chat room.  Whenever someone posted a question, several kids were right there to post answers.  The entire class was completely interdependent.  I, the teacher, was simply a facilitator.  I jumped in the chat room and clarified directions but did not respond to any "how do I" questions.  For 30 min. straight, you could hear a pin drop in the room.

THIS TOOK GROUNDWORK!  

In the beginning, we set some ground rules:
I told them they needed to monitor each other.  If someone posted something silly or goofy, a peer kindly was instructed to walk over to them and respectfully ask them to stop.  Initially, they couldn't see why they had to walk over to them..."can't I just post it in the chat room?"  We discussed how the chat box is reserved for positive posts only.  Telling someone not to do something is negative.  When kids start critiquing one another, the beginnings of cyber-bullying takes shape.  Anyway, If the silly/goofy comments persisted, even after peer-intervention, I took away their laptop for 2 min.  The time doubles for each additional infraction.  We discussed: 

Is there a time to be Goofy?  SURE!  But not in a place of learning.  Everyone has a right to learn without distraction.  If you are causing distraction by posting silly things, there are consequences for that.  If you want to be goofy, great!  Get with a buddy at home and knock yourselves out (this also led to a conversation on cyber-bullying and gossiping).  Not one kid lost their laptop for 2 min.  When they finished their responses (which they gathered from a BrainPop resource about Colonies), they "Shared" their diagram with me, I inserted Comments on their diagram letting them know if they received an A for their work, or guided them (through inserting comments) on their misperceptions.  When they finished, they moved onto the next task...
(view my tech-blog to learn about the rest of the project)

I shared the experience with the teacher in hopes that it might provide insight into a new way to instruct.  I also let the kids know they should encourage their teacher to use this tool in lessons where it might be appropriate.  It was a fantastic week and look forward to pursuing this with all 5 classes.

If you are interested in seeing what I've done with any or all grades, I post weekly here (I don't like the organization...but will live with it till I have time to attend to it)