Using technology to access previous knowledge
In N2 we are starting a project on planets based on observations of students’ play and their recurring interest. To begin the project, we used the class camera to take videos and photos of student’s experiences when they expressed their interest in planets. Then we watched these videos as a group to arouse the whole group’s curiosity and excitement with the project.
By referring to previous experiences, we were also able to identify and assess students’ knowledge of the topic. This documentation served as a conversation starter to discuss students’ ideas and comments about what they already know and what they want to know regarding the topic, which we recorded with the students in a mind map on the board.
By referring to previous experiences, we were also able to identify and assess students’ knowledge of the topic. This documentation served as a conversation starter to discuss students’ ideas and comments about what they already know and what they want to know regarding the topic, which we recorded with the students in a mind map on the board.
Listening Center in N4
We really enjoy to listening to stories at our listening center! N4 students can access different stories using the QR codes. Students have also been assessing themselves by watching different videos of their participation at music class, in order to improve their attitude and attention.
Online Calendar
Children in PK5 are learning a lot from a calendar game they found on the web. They are able to practice counting the days until a special date, order the days of the week, and learn about holidays in March.
Coding Lessons
Taking Pictures
As an activity developed for a classroom’s project based on ants, PK7 students went around the campus looking for ants. They took the classroom’s camera to take pictures of the ants. They practiced and learned skills such as holding the camera correctly, focusing the object to be captured, using the zoom function in the camera and clicking the appropriate button to take a picture.
Charlotte’s Birthday
One of our students, Charlotte, moved back to Italy last October. Since Charlotte was such a dear friend to many in the classroom, the children made drawings for her. These drawings were photographed and sent to Charlotte's mother using "Whatsapp". The children also recorded voice messages wishing her a happy birthday and letting her know how much she was missed. We got together to sing her the "Happy Birthday" song. We were thrilled when we got a video from Charlotte letting us know she was thankful for our messages and inviting us to visit her.
Harold And The Purple Crayon
To inspire students to create stories using their imagination the teacher read the book "Harold And The Purple Crayon". Students said they would love to have a crayon like Harold’s to create stories like he did. The teacher suggested that the new Smart Board could be used to create “magic” crayon stories. Students visited the multimedia room in small groups and got a turn to draw a picture and make a story with it. The stories were recorded and then played on the classroom’s screen to share with the rest of the class.
Kinder students in Spanish class are:
- Recording songs and poems using the iPads to share with students in other classrooms.
- Using the iPads and the computer to reinforce the concept of syllables. practicing dividing words into syllables with the application “Jugamos todos” and the computer software “Pipoclub”.
- Watching a series of videos on YouTube named “El mono sílabo”. These videos teach our students to write and read words and sentences by dividing the words into syllables.