Haiku Deck

Last week, we introduced an iPad presentation App titled "Haiku Deck" to our 8th graders - and half of the 7th grade.

As one of my favorite bloggers, Richard Byne, says on his Free Techology for Teachers blog:

"If you're not familiar with it or haven't tried Haiku Deck, here's what you need to know. It's a free iPad app for creating slideshow presentations. There are two features of Haiku Deck that stand out. First, Haiku Deck intentionally limits how much text that you can put on each of your slides. Second, Haiku Deck helps you find Creative Commons licensed images for your presentations. When you type a word or words on your slides you can have Haiku Deck search for images for you. The images that Haiku Deck serves up are large enough to completely fill your slide. You can also upload your own images from your iPad or import images from Instagram and Facebook."

We let our 7th and 8th graders create a quick Haiku deck using whatever theme they liked... following are a couple of examples:


Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad


Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app for iPad


Ali used Haiku deck with her 6th graders last week as well... I think this App could be used across all grade levels - especially for Social Studies and Science projects.

Following is a link to a Pinterest page with 76 ideas for using Pinterest in the Classroom:

http://pinterest.com/haikudeck/education-case-studies/

E is for Explore!

I discovered this amazing blog this morning from the iLearn Technology Blog.  What a find!!  Blogger Erin Bittman is a graphic designer who has taught Pre-K and graphic design to kids.  The design of the blog is beautiful, and the hundreds of ideas are brilliant.  I think you will find ideas for every subject and grade level with this blog to help perk up lessons during those long January days.  Topics include discovery/exploration, science/engineering, mathematics, art, literacy, social studies and seasons/holidays. 

To quote: E for EXPLORE is a one-stop resource for teachers and parents.  We develop unique learning activities, and search the internet and compile additional great ideas from other sources.  Our index helps you find what you need quickly and easily.  Where we have posted ideas from other sources we provide easy links to those websites.  Please visit those as well to see what else they have to offer.  All E for Explore activities conform to state common core curriculum standards.

Following are a handful of activities I discovered this morning... but please, explore yourself:

http://eisforexplore.blogspot.com/

I Have a Dream...

Candy Heart Math

Lego Fractions

Snowman Construction

Popped vs. Unpopped

iPad ideas for Math and Science in the Upper School

As we are getting ready to implement sets of 10 iPads in some of our US Math and Science classes over the next few weeks, I thought it would be interesting to share a few resources.  A few 6th graders caught me shopping for Apps in the Media Center this morning, which reinforces their belief (and mine) that I have the best job in the school :)

First, I found a presentation titled "Introduction to iPads in Middle School" by a teacher named Gary Toews. I think it helps frame how to think about best using this mobile technology in your classrooms.

Not everything in the presentation lines up with how we will run things at HTS.  Gary is a big fan of Dropbox for sharing documents. I think Google Drive will make more sense for our students because they already have Google accounts set up (one less password to remember).

We'll also need to think about how best to print documents in the Upper School - more on this will follow...
 

Introduction to iPads in Middle School from Gary Toews

Next, I would like to share an article titled "5 Critical Mistakes Schools Make with iPads (and how to correct them)" from the edudemic website.  I would love to be able to have an entire meeting devoted to addressing the concerns raised in this article, but as time is always a bit short, if you have a chance to read it, I'd love to discuss it at any time.

And now for my App shopping project.  If the math and science nerds in the crowd would like to peruse the following sites and suggest any Apps that you'd like us to purchase to compliment current topics, please let me know:

First, I found a resource for free Secondary School Math Apps: http://www.symbaloo.com/mix/secondarymathematics

And some great ideas for Middle School Science Apps can be found on iear.org:
http://www.iear.org/iear/2010/7/26/ipads-in-science-by-al-gonzalez.html

This list of "100 Apps Perfect for Middle School" deserves a look as well:
http://www.fluency21.com/blogpost.cfm?blogID=2402

Cool Videos to Liven Up Your Classes - including Bill Nye and Schoolhouse Rock

As I am a visual learner, and have a relatively short attention span, I have always loved educational videos.  Schoolhouse Rock and I are old friends... and you all know how I love BrainPop.

This week, I discovered some neat new sources of educational videos on YouTube - to include Bill Nye the Science Guy and Schoolhouse Rock.  Enjoy:

Crash Course History
This is a series of 37 fast-paced ten to twelve minute overviews of major concepts and themes in World History. These might be a fun way to kick-off or reinforce a unit in the Upper School.

 

Crash Course Biology
Like the Crash course in history, this is a series of  fast-paced ten to twelve minute overviews of major concepts and themes in Biology.

Disney Educational Channel offers a number of videos on YouTube as well.  On the website, they say: Disney Educational Productions is committed to providing the tools teachers need to engage, inform, and inspire many different learners. Packed with educator-designed teachers guides and activities, our ultimate collection of award-winning DVDs will make it easier for you to reach - and teach - your students through immersive multimedia experiences.

Some favorites inlude:

Schoolhouse Rock:

Bill Nye the Science Guy:

and...


Very fun engaging videos on the Presidents:

Field Trips!

Last week, new parent Diane Bastin came to visit our Lower School staff meeting.  Her daughters attended a Montessori school where the students went on dozens of field trips every year before joining the 5th grade at HTS this year.  She is an amazing resource, and generously offered to share her list of favorites.

She also includes some online programs her school participated in, such as the St. Jude's Math-a-Thon, and a Finance Course for kids... and provides some free programs for teachers at local museums.

Thanks Diane!

Free Programs:

Kids Euro Festival (reserve in August/September): http://www.kidseurofestival.org

DAR museum tours: http://www.dar.org/museum/edprogrms.cfm

Air Force Band Holiday Matinee (reserve in September): http://www.usafband.af.mil/holidaykids/index.asp

Corcoran Gallery of Art—tour + craft: http://www.corcoran.org/educators-students/school-tours-and-workshops

American History Museum—Greensboro lunch counter sit-ins presentation: http://americanhistory.si.edu/events/index.cfm - /?i=2

Capitol tours: regular school tours http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/education/planning_a_field_trip_to_the_capitol/

White House tours: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours-and-events/, including Kitchen Garden tours: http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/tours_and_events/garden

National Museum of the American Indian: http://nmai.si.edu/visit/washington/group/

National Geographic: http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/article/group-sales/

National Gallery of Art: http://www.nga.gov/education/school.shtm - kthru3

Rock Creek Park planetarium, puppet Show, Peirce mill: (202) 895-6070 -- http://www.nps.gov/rocr/forteachers/rangerguided.htm

Nature/Science:

Arcadia Farm: http://arcadiafood.org/arcadia-farm-field-trips

Huntley Meadows: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/huntley-meadows-park/

Pumpkin Playground in Burke: http://pumpkinplayground.com

DC Farm to School LEAF program: http://commongoodcityfarm.org/programs/LEAF

Monarch Butterflies: http://www.eirc.org/website/programs-services/global-connection/monarch-teacher-network/

History:

Dumbarton House: http://dumbartonhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/School-Programs.pdf

Mount Vernon—mansion and distillery: http://www.mountvernon.org/educational-resources/teachers-students/field-trips

Gunston Hall: http://www.gunstonhall.org/education/outreach.html

Lincoln’s Cottage: http://lincolncottage.org/visit/education/

Claude Moore Colonial Farm: http://1771.org

On-site learning opportunities:

Free - Online:

St. Jude’s Math-a-Thon: http://www.mathathon.org

Kids Euro Festival performance—begin planning in late August

Finance course for kids: http://www.handsonbanking.org/en/instructional-resources.html

National Geographic Geography Awareness Week: http://education.nationalgeographic.com/education/collections/geographyawarenessweek/?ar_a=1

Nominal Fee: 

Adopt-a-whale: http://www.whalecenter.org/adoption/features.html

Gunston Hall—Meet George Mason, grades 4 to 6.

Free programs for teachers:

National Gallery of Art occasionally offers teacher preview events

Smithsonian Teacher’s Night in September: http://www.smithsonianeducation.org/educators/professional_development/teachers_night.html

National Geographic Teacher Preview night on November 7th: Birds of Paradise http://events.nationalgeographic.com/events/exhibits/2012/11/01/birds-paradise/

Newseum Teacher Open House: http://www.newseum.org/education/teacher-resources/upcoming-workshops/teacher-open-house/index.html

Ascanius Latin Program: http://www.ascaniusyci.org

Feel free to contact Diane with questions:

Diane Bastin

xanthippe@mindspring.com

(202) 422-1181