Kindergarten STEM Experience using Dash and Dot

 Kindergarten STEM Experience using Dash and Dot

Here is the write up I submitted to Superintendent Mary Gormley's Milton Public School March 3rd E-Blast.  This is a very exciting opportunity to share the integration of STEM and Technology in the elementary Kindergarten classroom. http://blog.miltonps.org/?p=2515

Twitter @WonderWorkshop

Kindergarten STEM Experience using Dash and Dot

Written By: Sara Doherty, Elementary Instructional Technology Specialist

This year the Kindergarten classes at all four elementary schools are using Dash and Dot robots!  Dash and Dot provide a fun and interactive way for students to learn about coding and robotics.  

Dash and Dot are an innovative learning tool that incorporates Science and STEM, as well as other subjects.  Elementary Science Coordinator, Bernadette Butler, decided to purchase the robots for the Kindergarten classes when awarded the funds from the 2015 MFE Celebration Full STEAM Ahead.  

Last year, Maureen McClain, Kindergarten teacher at Cunningham, piloted the Dash and Dot robot experience with her students.  Maureen’s insight and ideas have been invaluable in helping to launch the use of Dash and Dot in the Kindergarten classes this year.

So far, students have explored robotics using the Go App.  To use the Dash and Dot robots students connect the robot to an iPad, where they control the robot’s movement similar to using a remote control car.  Using the Go app, students first explored the different robot features of Dash and Dot.  They learned how to turn the lights on and off, change the color of the lights, play sounds, and record their own sounds using their voice.  

Next, students learned how to move Dash!  Kindergarten students have learned how to code using Dash.  I created coding cards for students to place on the floor as a path for Dash to follow. The giggles and excitement were contagious when students first started to drive Dash around the floor!

By using Dash and Dot, students are learning problem solving skills and working collaboratively to complete a task. All while having a fun and hands-on experience incorporating STEM in the classroom.

Next up in our Dash and Dot adventures will be using the Path app, where students can measure their route or path while incorporating Math skills. We also have the Xylophone accessories and I am looking forward to integrating the Xylo app into the curriculum as well.  Dash can play his own xylophone!

To learn more about Dash and Dot visit the following website https://www.makewonder.com/ and you can also follow Dash and Dot on Twitter @WonderWorkshop.

For more information on Elementary Technology in the Milton Public Schools, visit my website at https://sites.google.com/site/mrssaradoherty/home.  You can also see technology project ideas on my blog http://elementarytech411.blogspot.com/. I am also on Twitter @saradoherty411, where I tweet about the latest ideas for technology in education.

Here are pictures of Kindergarten students using Dash to learn robotics and coding.

K students at Cunningham learn how to turn Dash's lights on and off.

K students at Collicot record their voice using the Go app.

K students at Glover drive Dash along a path using coding cards.

K students at Glover drive Dash using the Go app on the iPad.

K students at Tucker explore how to change the color of Dash's lights.

 
 

Spotlight On: 2nd Grade English Math Number Stories using the My Story App

Spotlight On: 2nd Grade English Math Number Stories using the My Story App

This year I worked with all of the second grade English students and teachers to create addition math number stories using the app My Story.  My Story allows students to create projects and explain their thinking while integrating iPads and technology into the classroom.   

Twitter @MyStoryApp

Twitter @Seesaw

In the fall, second grade students practice solving one step word problems, as well as fluently adding within the number 20.  The Common Core Standards are here Grade 2 Operations and Algebraic Thinking

This is a fun and exciting project that allows students to create and explain their thinking while using the iPads.  By learning how to use the My Story App for addition math number stories, students will become more independent while using the iPads in Math centers.  As the year continues, second graders can practice creating subtraction stories and two step number stories with addition or subtraction.

Here are the steps to the My Story project: 


1) First, I shared a sample My Story App math project on the SMARTBoard.  

2) Next, using the SMARTBoard, the classroom teacher and I modeled how the students would fill out their own "project prep sheet".

 3) The math unit options were then shared with students, based on the available stickers in the My Story App.

4) Students then worked with their partner to fill out their own project prep sheet.  

Here is an example of a completed project prep sheet.

Here is a link to the 2nd Grade English Prep Sheet

 5) Once students were finished with their project prep sheet, I then mirrored the iPad onto the SMARTBoard. While working in the My Story app, I modeled how to create each page by adding text, stickers, drawings, and adding background colors.

One way to mirror an iPad onto a SMARTBoard is by connecting it via VGA adapter. Here is a link to Apple VGA Adapters

6) Students were then ready to begin creating their project with their partner! Using one iPad, students took turns creating each page.

Students created their My Story project and referred to their project prep sheet as they worked.

7) When each group finished their story, they were then ready to record their voices reading the text.  The classroom teachers and I helped the students to record their math number stories.

8) When the projects were finished, I created free Seesaw accounts for each of the 2nd grade teachers, where I added the student projects.  This allowed the teachers to share the student projects on the classroom SMARTBoard, as well as share the projects with parents at home. Here is the Seesaw website http://web.seesaw.me/

Below are two examples of  2nd Grade English projects.
(One thing that is omitted from these videos... the actual cover page is a picture of the student partners who created the project.  The students were all very proud of their hard work and the cover picture was a fun add-on to share who created the project.)

Spotlight On: 1st Grade English Math Number Stories using the My Story App

Spotlight On: 1st Grade English Math Number Stories using the My Story App

This year I worked with all of the first grade English students and teachers to create addition math number stories using the app My Story.  My Story allows students to create projects and explain their thinking while integrating iPads and technology into the classroom.   

Twitter @MyStoryApp

Twitter @Seesaw

In the fall, first grade students learn how to solve math number story problems using addition and subtraction.  The Common Core Standards are here Grade 1 Operations and Algebraic Thinking

This is a fun and exciting project that allows students to create and explain their thinking while using the iPads.  By learning how to use the My Story App for addition math number stories, students will become more independent while using the iPads in Math centers.  As the year continues, they could practice creating their own stories by adding three whole numbers or creating subtraction number stories.

Here are the steps to the My Story project: 


1) First, I shared a sample My Story App math project on the SMARTBoard.  This is my second year working with the first grade English teachers on this project, therefore we had a student sample from the previous year.

2) Next, using the SMARTBoard, the classroom teacher and I modeled how the students would fill out their own "project prep sheet".

The classroom teacher and I modeled for students how to fill out the project prep sheet.

 3) The math unit options were then shared with students, based on the available stickers in the My Story App.

4) Students then worked with their partner to fill out their own project prep sheet.  

Here is an example of a completed project prep sheet.

 Here is a link to the 1st Grade English Prep Sheet

 5) Once students were finished with their project prep sheet, I then mirrored the iPad onto the SMARTBoard. While working in the My Story app, I modeled how to create each page by adding text, stickers, drawings, and adding background colors.

One way to mirror an iPad onto a SMARTBoard is by connecting it via VGA adapter. Here is a link to Apple VGA Adapters

6) Students were then ready to begin creating their project with their partner! Using one iPad, students took turns creating each page.

Students created their My Story project and referred to their project prep sheet.

7) When each group finished their story, they were then ready to record their voices reading the text.  The classroom teachers and I helped the students to record their math number stories.

8) When the projects were finished, I created free Seesaw accounts for each of the 1st grade teachers, where I added the student projects.  This allowed the teachers to share the student projects on the classroom SMARTBoard, as well as share the projects with parents at home. Here is the Seesaw website http://web.seesaw.me/

Below are two examples 1st Grade English projects.
(One thing that is omitted from these videos... the actual cover page is a picture of the student partners who created the project.  The students were all very proud of their hard work and the cover picture was a fun add-on to share who created the project.)

 

 

Spotlight On: 1st Grade French Math Number Stories using the My Story App

Spotlight On: 1st Grade French Math Number Stories using the My Story App

This year I worked with all of the first grade French students and teachers to create math number stories using the app My Story.  The My Story App allows students to write and record their voice in French!  French Immersion classrooms can use My Story to create fun and exciting projects while integrating iPads and technology into the French curriculum.

Twitter @MyStoryApp

Twitter @Seesaw

In the fall, first grade students learn how to solve math number story problems using addition and subtraction.  The Common Core Standards are here Grade 1 Operations and Algebraic Thinking

This is an exciting project that allows students to create and explain their thinking using the iPads.  By learning how to use the My Story App for addition math number stories, students will become more independent while using the iPads in Math centers.  As the year continues, they could practice creating their own stories by adding three whole numbers or creating subtraction number stories.

Here are the steps to the My Story project: 

1) First, I shared a sample My Story App math project on the SMARTBoard.  This is my second year working with the first grade French teachers on this project, therefore we had a student sample from the previous year.

2) Next, using the SMARTBoard, the classroom teacher and I modeled how the students would fill out their own "project prep sheet". 

The classroom teacher and I modeled for students how to fill out the project prep sheet.

 3) The classroom teacher shared the math unit options on the class white board, based on the available stickers in the My Story App and the French vocabulary already known to the first grade students.

Math unit choices for students.

4) Students then worked with their partner to fill out their own project prep sheet. 

Here is an example of a completed project prep sheet in French.

 Here is a link to the 1st Grade French Prep Sheet

 5) Once students were finished with their project prep sheet, I then mirrored the iPad onto the SMARTBoard. While working in the My Story app, I modeled how to create each page by adding text, stickers, drawings, and adding background colors.

One way to mirror an iPad onto a SMARTBoard is by connecting it via VGA adapter. Here is a link to Apple VGA Adapters

6) Students were then ready to begin creating their project with their partner! Using one iPad students took turns creating each page.

Students created their My Story project and referred to their project prep sheet.

7) When each group finished their story, they were then ready to record their voices reading the text.  The French classroom teachers helped the students to record their math number stories!  These teachers were quick studies in learning how to record because I do not speak French! Thanks for all of your hard work!

Mme. Bourass recorded with her students in French.

8) When the projects were finished, I created free Seesaw accounts for each of the 1st grade teachers, where I added the student projects.  This allowed the teachers to share the student projects on the classroom SMARTBoard, as well as share the projects with parents at home. Here is the Seesaw website http://web.seesaw.me/

Below are two examples of  1st Grade French projects.
(One thing that is omitted from these videos... the actual cover page is a picture of the student partners who created the project.  The students were all very proud of their hard work and the cover picture was a fun add-on to share who created the project.)

Google How To: How to add a Language Accent to a Google Doc

How to add a Language Accent to a Google Doc

I created the following video to show teachers and students how to add language accents to a Google Doc.  When using a Chromebook, Alt codes do not work to create accents.  Follow the steps in the video to add accents in a Google Doc when using a Chromebook, as well as on a desktop or laptop.

2016-2017 School Year

Happy New Year! In the Milton elementary schools, we have had a busy 2016-2017 school year integrating technology in the classroom! I am excited to share lessons and activities where technology integration and the classroom curriculum are intertwined everyday.

Here are a few topics coming soon...

• Kindergarten STEM time with Dash and Dot robots

• Grade 1 & 2 Math Number Stories, in English and French, using the app My Story and sharing it on Seesaw

• Grade 3 Math projects where students create and describe polygons using the Chatterpix Kids app and sharing it on Seesaw

• Grade 3 non-fiction research projects and Google Slide project examples

• Grade 4 & 5 non-fiction research projects, how to take digital notes and online research skills

• Digital Citizenship lessons teaching students about their Digital Footprint and Internet Safety using the Common Sense Media resources

• How to add French and Spanish accents using Google Docs and Chromebooks

Spotlight On: ChatterPix Kids & Seesaw in 4th Grade Social Studies

Spotlight On: ChatterPix Kids & Seesaw in 4th Grade Social Studies

Susan Howard and Laura Corbett, 4th Grade teachers at the Glover School, have started to integrate iPads into their classroom curriculum with exciting results!

Their lucky 4th graders incorporated reading, Social Studies, art, and technology into one project using the following apps:

Twitter @Seesaw 

Twitter @ChatterPixIt

Here is a description of the project, posted outside of the classroom after projects were completed:

"After reading a self-selected biography and recording notes and thoughts as to why the person is worthy of having a biography, students shared their thoughts and findings.  Not only did they write who was important in the person's life, but also noted struggles the person might have encountered.

Students then utilized Chatterpix to record their voices, and uploaded to Seesaw, an online portfolio for sharing with parents."

Here is an example of a finished student project.

Once the projects were finished Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Corbett shared the student work by posting it outside their classroom. Below is a picture of the bulletin board with project directions, the state standards, the QR Code handout, as well as the student posters.

In order to share the ChatterPix Kids videos, students uploaded their work to the class Seesaw account.  When using Seesaw, students upload projects into their own personal folder.  The projects can then be accessed by the iPad app or from the Seesaw website.  This allows teachers to display student projects on the SMARTBoard.  

Digital projects can then be shared with parents too.  Parents can access their child's account by receiving a QR Code handout.  Once the Seesaw app is added to a Smart Phone or Tablet, the QR Code can be scanned and then parents have access to their child's folder.

Mrs. Howard and Mrs. Corbett came up with a creative way to share the projects with students and teachers at the Glover School.  All of the projects were placed in one folder in the class Seesaw account.  A QR Code handout was then posted outside the classroom for students and teachers to scan and view the projects!  These 4th grade students were able to share what they learned and teach others about a historical figure!