In N2, we have been exploring the possibilities an overhead projector can offer. We began by using our bodies to play and understand how the device works. Later on, some students added objects from the classroom to the play, discovering that the shadows created differ according to the objects’ properties.
Some of the ideas that popped up were:
- The projector needs a light and a mirror to work.
- The light comes from the light bulb inside the box, and the mirror makes it go somewhere else.
- The projector is like a TV because images come out of it.
- When on the projector, solid objects make shadows and transparent ones make a color.
Another day, after playing with objects collected outdoors (rocks, shells, sticks, and leaves) a student said “these make shadows because they’re not transparent”. Noticing the connection he was making, we decided to put these objects together with the projector and explore.
While playing with them and seeing their shadows on the wall, students felt inspired and began creating a story using the shadows reflected as a background.
Finally, they used the projector and their drawings on these acetates to tell a story to their friends. The final product, was a beautiful story told by 3-year-old students interacting with technology.
Pre Kinder 5 students have been introduced to a listening center in the classroom. This provides the students with the opportunity to hear their favorite books by their favorite authors, read aloud again and again. We have set up 3 headsets next to the students’ computer so the children can enjoy listening with their friends.
We have seen their focus and concentration increase, because as of now, our listening center provides only audio. We have chosen not to use videos of books because we want the children to focus on the words, to improve their listening skills and build vocabulary.
Most of our books have interesting music, and sound effects, and the narrators use silly voices and dramatic ways in which to tell the stories. Our students have enjoyed taking turns at the listening center.
Children in K6 have being learning a song for parent’s day. While searching for the song in YouTube, they discovered a video where girls were dancing to the song. My students decided to copy some of the steps and invent some of their own moves. One student suggested we make a video to show these new dance steps to their classmates in order to help them learn the dance for our upcoming performance.
As classrooms have experienced erratic attendance due to the seasonal flu, PK-K 11 students are using technology to bridge distances to share important moments, such as one friend’s birthday celebration. Children learned how to count down from 3 to 0 before speaking. Each group of children picked the background they wanted to use and they figured out how to space themselves out so that the camera can capture all participants in the video. The only hurdle we have yet to overcome is how we can share birthday cake!