Student Created RSA Animate Videos

I love those moments where you get inspired by some pretty amazing teachers...AND get this...Those teachers are middle and high school teachers. In the past years, I never had the opportunity to collaborate with the upper grade teachers. Elementary teachers stuck to collaborating with each other.  Plus, the idea of collaborating with the upper grades boggled my mind. I mean, what on earth can I offer a high school teacher? First grade and high school English just seem to be on two completely different planets. BUT...AGAIN! These incredibly innovative and daring teachers taught me something new...And I am experimenting with a new idea with my kids as a result. 

What is this new idea? Well, have you watched any RSA Animate videos? If not, watch the video below. The first video was created by a professional where the idea of RSA animates were started. The second video was created by a middle school student.

Was not that video created by the middle school student impressive?! It is so exciting to see what our digital-minded students are capable of creating. They are so creative and full of ideas.

With a general idea of how our PFAA teachers did this assignment in the classroom, and a blog post by  Blogush, I attempted this new project with my first graders. We have been working on our plant and animal unit for the past few weeks. My original plan was for my kids to create a habitat and write up an informational report on an animal that lives in that habitat. Well, let us just nix that idea. Why not take things a step further and incorporate technology into this project? I vision it working perfectly with our current Science units. 

So, our first task...I shared the brillant idea I had with my kids. The initial reaction were gasps. "Miss Choi, middle and high school students are doing this?!" Yes, they are, BUT I know you guys can do this too. Let's show everyone how great you guys are. At this age, it is so easy to get the kids onboard with my crazy ideas. Haha! 

Our class RSA video was going to be on the plant life cycle. It is a simple topic for the class and something we have learned about before. The kids knew it like the back of their hand. After we discussed the stages in the cycle, we wrote out a "script." This script is more like a mini informational piece on the plant life cycle. So, we did incorporate writing into this project. Sounds great, right?! Next, we mapped out our illustrations for each part. Our project had 8 steps. Each step required an illustration that would go along with the written portion. After we sketched out the illustrations, we did a practice run. I broke the class up into their table groups. Each group had a part of the script to read aloud. Now, we are working on reading and fluency! Heehee! 

As the kids are reading, I drew the sketches onto the whiteboard. This took some practice because we discovered that in some places we need more details added to the illustrations. Now, after some practice, I chose two students to videotape as we attempted to do the next couple parts to this project. I chose two students because I wanted to be able to pick one or the other video. Even though we had discussed how the example videos showed a zoomed in view of the artwork, the kids had a hard time with this. The whiteboard is such a large space, and I am much taller than my firsties, so it is a little hard for the kids to zoom in. After watching the 2 videos, I decided we needed to make some changes. I would videotape and I would have one kid illustrate while the whole class narrates. 

This switcharoo worked out so much better. Everyone had an opportunity to create their own illustration of the plant life cycle, but I chose one student who was able to draw without stopping from start to finish. During the afternoon recess, I recorded the student drawing the illustration. After recess, we imported the video into iMovie. From there, the video speed was increased to make the flow of the illustrations faster.

On day 2, we gathered on the rug and watched the voiceless version of the video. The kids practiced reading the script as the video was playing. It took some time for the kids to understand where they needed to speed up or slow down their reading. Instead of having the kids read the different parts as small groups, we decided to read the entire script as a whole class. This helped greatly with the voiceover portion. I sped up the video to 200% which was the perfect speed for having the whole class read chorally. I think any faster would have created an "echo" reading effect. After LOTS of redos, we were finally able to get a great voiceover recording that matched up. Here is the final product:

As a reflection piece to our project, I interviewed the class and asked them what their favorite and not so fun parts of the whole process was. Here are their responses:

• Favorite...
• reading the script out loud.
• leading the class in the voiceover.
• watching the video speed up from normal to fast.
• practicing reading the script because practice makes perfect.
• when we finally read the script together with the video.

• Not So Fun...
• when we had to read the 1st paragraph on the script, we had to read really fast.
• when we had to redo the voiceover part over and over again.
• reading the entire script together was not easy because we were not reading at the same speed.
• changing speeds when we were reading and recording to make sure the script matches the video was hard.

This whole process was quite an exciting one! Lots of work, but the kids loved it. Now, we will attempt to create these videos for our animal habitats in small groups. Fingerscrossed that it works! 

Star Academy's 2nd Graders Rock!

Next week, our 2nd grade friends will be taking the CST exams. To encourage and support our 2nd graders, some of our Star Academy friends and staff participated in a video. This video will be presented to the 2nd graders on Tuesday morning as a kick-off to the CST. We believe in you, 2nd graders!!! You guys rock!

Donors Choose - We Heart iPads!

My mind is always thinking of how and what I can do to improve what I am doing in the classroom. As we focus more on the Common Core Standards, there will be a big shift over to more technology integration into the curriculum. By 3rd grade, students are expected to type up at least a full page by themselves! So, the goal is we HAVE to start early. 

Since Star Academy is a new program, we are always in need of donations and assistance to help our program expand and grow into the fabulous program it can be. I have posted a project on Donors Choose.org in hopes of getting generous people to help us raise enough funds to purchase 4 mini iPads for my classroom. It will help us start and hopefully, as my students and I show people out there how valuable and effective the technology can be in the learning process, it will help generate more support. 

Here is my project proposal on Donors Choose: We Heart iPads!

Please note...For the next week, any donation you make to my project will be doubled! If you know anyone who is passionate about education, please pass this post along to them. Your donation will brighten my students' school year, and you will get photos and thank yous from our class.

To have your donation matched dollar for dollar, enter the match code INSPIRE on the payment screen. This awesome match offer lasts through May 6, 2013. 

Magical Celery and Plant Life Cycle

Welcome to the Plant and Animal Unit! For the next few weeks, we will be exploring the world of plants and animals. Some of the essential questions we will be discussing are:

• What do plants and animals need to survive?
• What are the different parts of a plant?
• What characteristics do plants and animals have that allow them to live in various habitats?
• How do we show respect for living plants and take good care of them?
• Why are life cycles of plants and animals important for life on Earth to continue?
• How are humans and other animals dependent upon one another?

This past week, we planted seeds. Hopefully, the seeds germinate and grow. Unfortunately, this teacher doesn't have a green thumb. So, I am keeping my fingers crossed that this experiment works.

We discussed the life cycle of plants and the different parts of a plant. Once we planted our seeds, we wrote a "How-To" on planting seeds. For the next several weeks, we'll be monitoring our seeds.

First graders are expected to understand the roles or jobs of each major part of the plant. Throughout the week, we discussed the different parts and how each part works together to make a plant grow. To witness how the stem works, we conducted the Magical Celery experiment. Below are videos of the students conducting their experiments in their groups. Once they conducted their experiment, they wrote down their prediction of what they think would happen to the celery and the experiment process.

Here's the freebie worksheets that we used to supplement the units!

iPods Can Help Us Write???

YES, they can! I was going to use this for my Area 3 Writing Project demonstration, but I am too excited about it to keep it to myself. It is still a work in progress, but I love how it is turning out so far!

My students can write. They can write a topic sentence followed by 3 detail sentences and 3 supporting detail sentences...and last but not least, the conclusion sentence. BUT...details. Those minute details that can make such a difference when a person reads the paper. It is not unusual for the primary students to forget those details. I use to teach a direct lesson on just writing a detailed sentence - stressing the importance of how details can make a difference. I then followed it up with a modelled writing where I would write with lots of detail on a topic. Still, it just was not sinking in for my firsties. THEN...I was sitting in a ELA Cadre meeting. The Cadre meeting consists of teachers from elementary to high school. A fabulous English teacher named Kirsten Spall was talking about how she was wanting to incorporate technology to help her high school students with the editing process. Ding! Ding! That is when the lightbulb went off, and I knew Kirsten had given me a great idea. So much of the ideas and inspiration I get come from other teachers. So, using the inspiration Kirsten gave me, I thought about how I could incorporate the use of the iPod Touch and writing with my firsties. Here it goes...

For the past month or so, we have been conducting quite a few science experiments. Typically, I would break the kids up into small groups (between 4-5 students per group). Each group would have one iPod Touch to share. They assign a videographer and the other group members are in charge of explaining and conducting the experiment. Using the video app on the iPod, the group records their experiment. I have posted some of their experiments in previous posts. 

After recording their videos, the groups sit on the rug and replay their video. Then, each student goes back to his/her desk and starts to write down the "How-To" or explanation of the experiment. They always have a chart with the key words to refer to for spelling. Once they have written out their explanation, this is where it typically stops. They usually did not "see" the areas where their writing needed more explanation or detail. BUT NOT anymore!!! Now, I have the students go back and view the video again. The second viewing of the video has done so much to help them realize how important details are. YAHOO!!! Without any prompting from me, the students are able to revise their work. Writing with detail has improved. I am a happy happy teacher!!!

Now, I want to see how I can transfer this to writing in the other content areas. From their own "Ah-ha!" moments during science, some of my students are able to see the connection of the importance of details. My next mission is to find a way to carry it out into math...probably with their written explanation for math problems. With the shift to the Common Core Standards and the push for our kids to write and explain their thinking, I believe the iPod can help us make that transition a little smoother, more engaging, and definitely more fun!

Fraction Action!

For the past couple weeks, we have been working on fractions. Some of the vocabulary words we went over were:

• equal
• unequal
• fraction
• whole
• halves
• thirds
• fourths
• ordinal numbers
• numerator
• denominator

To practice making fractions more fun and hands-on, we used shaving cream on our desks! Even though the cream had a very strong scent, we had a lot of fun making a mess and having fun learning. Plus, we got to clean our desk with it afterwards.

Today, we started making our Fraction Action book. Thanks to Matthew for thinking of the great title for our books! It's a simple foldable book with flip-up "doors." On each door, we wrote one of our vocabulary words and underneath each door, we wrote and illustrated the definition. We will finish them up next week.

Last but not least, I love incorporating fun songs and videos into our lessons. So, here is one of the videos we used in class.

We also stumbled across a website that has some awesome interactive resources for extra practice. This video will show you where to look for the resources.

Coat of Arms Project

We are currently working on our "All About Me" unit where we share and discover more about each other and ourselves. What makes each of us unique and celebrate each other's special qualities. 

The 2nd unit project is to create a Coat of Arms. Students are expected to create a Coat of Arms that contains symbols which represent them. Paint, markers, magazine cut-outs, clipart, and other materials may be used to create the shield. 

For the instruction sheet and blank template of the shield, click on the picture above. 

ImaginOn has an online activity where students can create their own Coat of Arms. Check the website out by clicking on the picture below.

FREEBIES...For Classroom Management

Here are some freebies of things I have made and use with my class. An explanation of how each item is provided.

The Lunch Procedure Hand Signals are used during lunch time. The signs were printed and then posted in the cafeteria for the students to refer to. It really helps things run more smoothly in the cafeteria when it is full of hungry students who seem to all need different things...utensils, napkins, the restroom, etc. Having the silent hand signals help make it easy for the adults to know exactly what it is the child needs. Once the students are done eating, there are signals for lunch dismissal. One finger for standing up and stacking up their trash. Two fingers for checking under their tables and picking up any other trash. Three fingers for throwing away the trash and lining up.

Lunch Procedure Hand Signals

For behavior management, this chart has helped some of my more squirrely students self-monitor their behavior. The only section I fill in is the time and any special notes on the student's behavior. After each time slot, the student and I have a quick talk about his/her behavior. The student is responsible for monitoring his/her behavior and tracking it on the chart. To help enforce the positive behavior, parents are encouraged to follow through with appropriate actions at home - rewards or taking privileges away. Consistency is the key to making this work. After the student has an better understanding of what is positive behavior/actions, you can slowly ween the student off the chart.

Smiley Face Behavior Chart

The Red Note Home goes along with my behavior clip chart. The final stage is red and this note is sent home with the child notifying the parents why the child was on red.

Red Note Home

Teaching Blog Addict Celebration!

The Teaching Blog Addict is turning 2 years old on April 5th! They will be hosting the ULTIMATE FREEBIE collection filled with freebies from all different grade levels. Some of my freebies will be included on this ultimate freebie celebration. I LOVE FREEBIES!

Make sure to check back on April 5th. 

Here's the direct link to the site...

Self Portrait Project

During Spring Break, students have a project to create a self portait that is surrounded by adjectives that describe themselves. This project will be used to introduce our new unit "All About Me" where we will be celebrating our unique selves and what makes us the way we are. This project will tie in beautifully with our study on character traits. One of my favorite children's book is Mo Willem's Pigeon book series. They always get the kids laughing hysterically. The Pigeon will be the perfect character for us to focus on character traits and will help us focus on our own character traits.

Here is a sample picture of what the project can look like:

Students are welcome to cut out words from magazines, use markers, glitter, etc. to make their poster unique and their own. Our self portraits will be shared in class and displayed in the hallway when we return from Spring Break.

In preparation for our character trait study, I have created an anchor chart which we will finish filling in as we read about the Pigeon.

New Blogger Featured On Fun In 1st Grade!

YAY!!! THANK YOU MUCHO, Dana for featuring me on your blog for New Teacher Blog Tuesday! I am honored and so thrilled! Each Tuesday, she features a new teacher blog. Dana's blog is one of my go-to blogs for fabulous first grade ideas and inspiration. Go check out her blog for my responses to her questionare and a freebie!

Math And Nonfiction Craftivity Fun!

In the spirit of our science unit, we incorporated some math and reading skills we have been working on as well.

During the Winter, we created a penguin craftivity for math word story problems. For Spring, we created a rain cloud craftivity for a new set of student created math word story problems. Students were tasked to show their work in a minimum of 3 ways (raindrops).

 

We also created an umbrella craftivity for nonfiction text. Students were paired up to read a nonfiction text on weather. Once they read the book, they had to come up with 3 interesting facts and 2 questions they still have about the topic.

Click on the picture below for a copy of the rain cloud and umbrella craftivity! Enjoy!