Dust Echoes and M&Ms Chart

DUST ECHOES

This week we used Inspiration 8.0 to make a story board of an animation from the ABC 'Dust Echoes' series. This is a great way to get students thinking about different ways that they can explore stories, and present their ideas in a creative and interesting way. I feel that its also a great way to gently introduce thinking about other cultures, in particular, Aboriginal culture, and to discover what the students would like to explore in that topic. Using already created multimedia and presenting your own interpretation of that to a group of people is a great way to get ideas flowing and create interesting discussion.

Brolga is a story that explores what a 'dreaming-body' is, and why it is important to indigenous Australians, who believe that long ago, the earth was inhabited by supernatural beings, resembled by the native animals we see today. However, in those days, the animals were human-like, or were even huge people. These beings had their own songs, beliefs, laws, ceremonies, and stories. They roamed the earth until one day they became the native animals of Australia. This is the reason why indigenous Australians say the native animals are sacred. They consider these animals to be the communicators for our ancestors. According to indigenous Australians, everyone has a 'dreaming-body', or a being that lived thousands of years ago, and everyone has a knowledge of who their dreaming body is.

In this story, we follow Victor, a respected elder who goes on a journey to find his 'dreaming-body', singing the Brolga song along the way. He encounters many animals, a goanna, a barramundi, a kangaroo, and an emu. They feel sad for him because he never knew his father or grandfather. He feels that their is no hope and breaks down in tears, praying for the chance to speak to his fathers. Then he sees his father's and grandfather's image form in the clouds, then a flock of Brolga's come flying out from the clouds with a message from his fathers.  

Click on the link below to see the film for yourself:

Dust Echoes

M&Ms Pie Chart 

This week we also created a pie chart using Windows Excel. By creating this pie chart we saw how Maths and ICT can be integrated into one lesson (which is also fun for kids). It also gives students the opportunity to be creative in the design of their data representation, whether its a pie chart, bar graph, etc. Students will also be required to think about the best possible way to present the information they have gathered. A good way of doing this is by asking students to represent the same information in a graph, but they must come up with a chart/graph/etc that they think best fits that information. Then they can present their graphs in a powerpoint presentation and discuss why they feel theirs was the best representation.

Below is the pie chart that I created, however i feel that this is just a basic example.

Ziptales

ZIPTALES

If your school is fortunate enough to have enough financial resources to support this program in schools then I think it is definitely worthwhile! Unfortunately we did not get to explore much of this website because of permissions restrictions, but the content and ideas looked rich and interesting. With activities the explore stories, the alphabet, phonics and crafts, this website is probably more suited to the early years. The graphics are aesthetically stimulating and would make it an engaging and exciting introduction for students. It is also an Australian website. This means that the phonic and alphabet activities will be in the correct font, and will be spoken with Australian accents  so that children will not be confused (a common problem when using online resources for literacy activities). The most appealing feature of this website is that it is Australian. While on placement, I struggled to find online resources that explored phonics in an Australian (or even British!) accent. 

Older year levels may find the instructional writing activities helpful and interesting. Information on how to write essays, stories, reports, etc is a great resource for students starting out with these writing pieces, and it may be a good resource for students who feel more comfortable exploring these activities on their own.

 

Check out http://www.ziptales.com.au/

Dictation and Homonyms

Dictation and Homonyms

This activity really proved how simple an ICT activity can be, and how its a great way to explore the English language. This week we had to open a word document, turn off our screens, and type what was read out. Above is an image of what I typed, however, there is an alternative version that plays on homonyms (words that sound the same but have different meanings). 

It was really interesting to see how the English language can play tricks, and it shows us how deep and complex the language really is. Its a great way to open up discussions about how we can decipher which word a person is using when they are using a homonym in conversation, and it could lead to an activity that requires students to write their own poem using homonyms.

Click on the link to read the alternative 'Ode to a Spell Checker'

Build Your Wild Self

Build Your Wild Self

Above is the Frogafly I created using 'Build Your Wild Self'. This was a lot of fun and I think it could be used in so many ways. The first thing that comes to mind is using it when exploring animals/mythical creatures as part of a literacy/science integrated topic. It could also be used to create a character for a writing piece, or for a performing arts activity. Even as an introduction for a visual arts lesson where they have to create their own creature using various materials like paper mache, fabric, fine paper, feathers, etc.. I was inspired by what you could create with this website. It could also be used in a thinking activity by asking students to come up with a creature that can, for example,  live in the ocean, listen for predators that are far away, and live on bugs. Not only is it fun to create these creatures, its interesting to see what ideas kids come up with when they are exploring the different features available to them.

Visit the website at http://www.buildyourwildself.com/

Zimmer Twins

Zimmer Twins

This website was similar to 'Dvolver' as it allowed you to create your own animation. However, this website was more complex for the user, so it would probably suit the higher primary year levels. Zimmer Twins features many more variables for your animation, including changes in moods, actions, scenes, sounds, etc. It is more appropriate for an ICT lesson rather than a literacy lesson, as it is quite limited with the amount of text you can include in the animation. However, like Dvolver, it is useful as a planning tool for a short story, and could quite easily be added to a student blog to share with classmates and parents. It is a child-friendly website with no inappropriate characters or situations for those characters to be in. It has so many variables that if each student in a class were to create their own animation, no two would be the same. This allows for children to be creative and run wild with their imagination. 

Check out www.zimmertwins.com

 

Movie

DVOLVER

This week we created animations using Dvolver. This activity was a lot of fun, and it was a lot easier than I had expected. I think this resource can be used to explore literacy ideas such as short stories and plays. I can see myself using this in the classroom as part of an idea building activity. Students could use this website to create their own preview of a short story that they are going to right. I feel that this could help by setting the tone and creating the characters. By having a visual representation of what they are about to write about, it may help some students who are a bit slower to start. By allowing the user to create their own captions, set the scene, add music and background effects, and choose their characters, its a great planning tool also. Its a way of getting the students to think about what we need to plan when we right a short story, and where they want their story to go.

However, there was a draw back with this website. Some of the characters are inappropriate for school-age children to encounter, and these characters portray women in an inappropriate way. Perhaps a more child-friendly version is needed to use this program in schools.

Visit http://www.dfilm.com/

Jumping Frog and QUIA

Frog Jumping activity

This week we were given the task of trying to make a picture of a paper frog jump with a limited set of materials. We were given scissors, a piece of tape, glue, a small picture of a frog on paper, a small piece of cardboard, a rubber band, and 15 minutes to complete the task. Various groups came up with different ideas, some more impressive than others. I must admit that our groups idea was rather basic; it consisted of sticking the frog onto the cardboard, twisting the rubber band around the thumb and middle finger, and in a sling shot motion, hurling it through the air. While it still got the desired outcome, I was happy to see how almost every group came up with an original idea to make the frog move in an upward and downward motion. Some groups used folding techniques while others used the tape for reinforcement and the rubber band to create a spring effect. Overall, it was great to see how everyone came up with new ways to make the frog jump. It was a great demonstration of how this kind of activity can be applied in the classroom, and then the photos can be uploaded to a student blog so that some discussion can take place. I think it is a great way of recapping on what the students have learned during the week, and by posting their work in their blog, parents can also be involved. When parents ask "What did you learn at school today?", students no longer need to reply "Nothing", but can simply direct their parents to their blog. 

The materials used during the 'frog jumping' task

Activities made using Quia

We also signed up for a free 30-day trial of 'Quia', a website which allows you to create quizzes, activities, games, etc. for the classroom. See the activities I made below.

Quiz

Below is an image of the quiz I created using Quia, and a link so that you can try it yourself. It is a simple 5 question, multiple choice quiz on Australian film stars. I was happy to find that it was not only easy to create this quiz, but that it could be done in a matter of minutes. Other options such as weighting of points throughout the quiz and randomization of questions makes it a great tool for the classroom, and an interesting, educational application for the students. I can see this kind of activity working well during small group work in maths and literacy, and it could also be used as an extension activity for learners who need a bit more of a challenge.    

 

Quizzes are a great way of assessing student learning, and also a great way to accommodate students who are struggling/excelling.

To have a go click on the link below:

Australian Film Stars Quiz

Hangman Activity

Below is an image of the 'Hangman' game I created, and a link so that you can try it yourself. I chose to create a hangman game over the many other options (word finds, flashcards, rags to riches, etc) because I always enjoyed this game in school, and thought it would be interesting to see how it could be made using Quia. Like the quiz, it was quick and easy to create, meaning you could always have a few on standby for fill-in activities, or wet-day timetables. The various theme options were also endearing; rather than the standard 'hangman' drawing, you could select from other themes such as stars that go out when you get a letter wrong, or a teddy bear holding onto balloons that sinks with every wrong guess. The easy to use game could be an activity that students can have as a reward for good behaviour. Using this on the interactive white board is a great way for students to learn through games and review what they have learned during the week/term. Being able to create subject themes and add hints down the bottom means that the teacher can provoke thought and reflection. 

 

A great way to review the weeks work.

To play this Hangman game, click on the link below:

Fruit Themed Hangman

Microsoft Publisher - Travel Brochure

Microsoft Publisher Activity

This week, we created a travel brochure using Microsoft Publisher. The brochure that I created focused on a tropical getaway. I often overlook Publisher as a program that could be used in the classroom, most likely because I feel that it is a bit outdated and not as user-friendly as some of the newer programs going around. While it is a bit more complex to use, the quality of work that can come from designing a brochure, or creating posters, or even making cards, can be of a very high standard. While Publisher may not be a suitable program for the junior classes, I think that probably from about grade 4 upwards, students would enjoy creating their own documents. They could use Publisher to add interesting components to their class projects, or use it to make a book review brochure for literacy, or create a poster for maths or science. The ideas are endless. Being able to customize the overall look of the document is also a great way for students to individualize their work and make it something unique and attractive. It also builds on basic computer skills and allows for growth in their IT skills.  

Creating a travel brochure on where the students went during the holidays is a great 'welcome back' activity.

Inspiration 8.0

Inspiration 8.0 Activity

Supermarket Mind map

This week, i created a mind map, based on the supermarket.

Although this was a basic topic, I feel that its a good demonstration of the way that this can be used in the classroom, especially when brainstorming with the students. It would be great to use this program on the interactive whiteboard in the classroom when introducing a new topic or theme so that students can see clearly the different paths that their thoughts have taken, the different components involved in the topic, and which areas they know about or would like to explore.

Being able to add different streams of 'thought' makes it a great brainstorming tool and a great starting point for students beginning their assignments.

Zoo Animals Diagram

The below image is the diagram that I made using Inspiration. The central theme was 'Zoo Animals', with images of these animals surrounding the title. I found that this application was a great, easy way for students to make their own diagrams in the classroom. Considering I am not the most computer literate person I know, I was happy to find that this application can be learned by simply clicking and exploring, and that it was quite enjoyable looking at the different things you can do, such as making diagrams, adding captions, creating lines and links, etc.. I can see myself using this program in most subjects, not just for the standard maths and English lessons.

A great tool for reflecting on topics and exploring what we know, and what to know about certain topics.