Hello Everyone,
We've had a busy month of April wrapping up units in the various grade levels. Despite the week off for spring break, a lot was accomplished!
Kindergartners wrapped up the robotic unit by taking their knowledge of programming with the physical robots to the virtual robots on the computer screen. They loved seeing their beebots online. Their challenge was to virtually move their robots all over the screen but it must end at its' original spot with at least 10 programming steps. They thought it was easy but once I placed these conditions, the challenge was very evident. In the end, they all accomplished it! Way to go Kindergartners. This is just the beginning of your programming years.
First Grade wrapped up their mapping/geography unit with the Neighborhood Map Machine program. After creating their own bird's eye view of their neighborhood, they took the challenge of solving the programs' mystery section. Here the program had several treasures that needed to be located and the students were able to use their knowledge of the compass to find the exact location. They loved it!
Second Graders are wrapping up their character web using Inspiration. They uploaded their picture and created bubbles and pictures around it to show who they were. By looking at one's web, you can get a good idea of who they are and what they love. They had much practice opening files through various folders and practice saving in the correct folders! We had no missing files this month!
Third Graders wrapped up their folk tale stories using Story Creator 2. They learned to edit and record voice to add that special effect. Several students even changed their voices depending on the character in their story. They did a fabulous job. Their next unit is a simulation on an African Safari. Stay tuned!
Fourth Graders wrapped up their unit of web designing. They learned how to link pages together and import images from the Internet using safe sites of course! They have a good idea of what a web designer's job is and seeing some of these final results, we certainly have some future web designers in the making! They are ready to begin an programming unit involving a turtle....stay tuned for that!
Fifth Graders completed a second voice thread involving a Spanish assignment given by Mrs. Brodahl. Students recorded information about a chosen Spanish speaking country and recorded the group comments on a single voicethread. Please make sure to ask your child about this as you can view the voicethreads at home with their unique login. They then got an introduction to Logo programming. Logo uses their creativity to input code which in turn created beautiful geometric designs. They delved deeper into programming by setting variables and creating procedures. Ask them about their designs.
Please contact me if you have any questions. Take care.
Rasha Sachdeva
Monday, May 2, 2011
Friday, April 1, 2011
Update from the Mouse Pad!
Hello,
As usual we are keeping busy in the Mouse Pad. Here's an update:
Kindergartners are really enjoying our robotics unit with the beebots. These are tiny physical robots that look like a bee and have control buttons so that students can program their movements. We've learned about the 90 degree turns and all the bells and whistles that go with each beebot. Students programmed several commands such as forward, back, left and right, pause and clear and watched their beebot in action. Students then took this concept and used the Logo program software to program their beebots using the computer. We've got some great beginning programmers in Kindergarten!
First Graders are getting more familiar with our web based typing program that runs throughout all grade levels. If you have not downloaded this program at home, please do so as your child will be able to practice outside of the classroom. If you need instructions, please contact me. Students have also been introduced to Neighborhood Map Machine software where they have taken a birds eye view of the school and mapped out it's entirety including all the construction going on! They've plotted locations using the coordinates and added intricate graphics to it.
Second Graders got introduced to the Inspiration software where they are creating character webs about themselves. They uploaded their digital photo into the program and are creating bubbles that explains everything about them. They are getting familiar with all the tools such as links, library, create buttons and rapid fire.
Third Graders are continuing to place their folk tale stories written in homeroom classes into Story Creator 2. Here they are making their stories come alive with movable graphics and their own narration using our logitech recording headsets. They love listening to their stories play back. Once completed, I will view the stories and then publish them on a myths and legends website. Please note that no student names will be associated with the stories.
Fourth Graders are continuing with their web page designing unit. They are using their created blue prints by Inspiration and developing a web page about their chosen topic. The software we are using teaches them about the process of web designing starting with the home page and creating hyperlinks to other pages. Students are using the various tools such as global settings, text, images, linking and importing backgrounds. Please note for security purposes, these web pages will not go live on the Internet.
Fifth Graders wrapped up their Photo Stories by presented their finished products to the class. We had some very creative ones! I was so impressed with how comfortable my students were in handling the cameras and uploading and downloading their images into their stories. We then got introduced to our programming unit with Logo software. Students began with simple commands to create fabulous geometric shapes. Stay tuned for more on Logo programming.
Have a great spring break!
Rasha Sachdeva
As usual we are keeping busy in the Mouse Pad. Here's an update:
Kindergartners are really enjoying our robotics unit with the beebots. These are tiny physical robots that look like a bee and have control buttons so that students can program their movements. We've learned about the 90 degree turns and all the bells and whistles that go with each beebot. Students programmed several commands such as forward, back, left and right, pause and clear and watched their beebot in action. Students then took this concept and used the Logo program software to program their beebots using the computer. We've got some great beginning programmers in Kindergarten!
First Graders are getting more familiar with our web based typing program that runs throughout all grade levels. If you have not downloaded this program at home, please do so as your child will be able to practice outside of the classroom. If you need instructions, please contact me. Students have also been introduced to Neighborhood Map Machine software where they have taken a birds eye view of the school and mapped out it's entirety including all the construction going on! They've plotted locations using the coordinates and added intricate graphics to it.
Second Graders got introduced to the Inspiration software where they are creating character webs about themselves. They uploaded their digital photo into the program and are creating bubbles that explains everything about them. They are getting familiar with all the tools such as links, library, create buttons and rapid fire.
Third Graders are continuing to place their folk tale stories written in homeroom classes into Story Creator 2. Here they are making their stories come alive with movable graphics and their own narration using our logitech recording headsets. They love listening to their stories play back. Once completed, I will view the stories and then publish them on a myths and legends website. Please note that no student names will be associated with the stories.
Fourth Graders are continuing with their web page designing unit. They are using their created blue prints by Inspiration and developing a web page about their chosen topic. The software we are using teaches them about the process of web designing starting with the home page and creating hyperlinks to other pages. Students are using the various tools such as global settings, text, images, linking and importing backgrounds. Please note for security purposes, these web pages will not go live on the Internet.
Fifth Graders wrapped up their Photo Stories by presented their finished products to the class. We had some very creative ones! I was so impressed with how comfortable my students were in handling the cameras and uploading and downloading their images into their stories. We then got introduced to our programming unit with Logo software. Students began with simple commands to create fabulous geometric shapes. Stay tuned for more on Logo programming.
Have a great spring break!
Rasha Sachdeva
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Mouse Pad Update!
Hello Parents/Guardians,
This message is for 2nd - 5th Grade only. The Technology Council has put together an Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement that we would like each 2nd - 5th Grade student to understand and sign along with their parent/guardian. This agreement will be posted on your child's teacher's website under document section and a hard copy will be given to you at your conference time, March 16th or 17th. Please take it home and discuss this with your child and return it back signed to your child's homeroom teacher. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Due to the increased usage of technology and the awareness that students have at an early age, we are hoping to avoid inappropriate technology usage on school campus.
Thanks so much,
Rasha
This message is for 2nd - 5th Grade only. The Technology Council has put together an Acceptable Use of Technology Agreement that we would like each 2nd - 5th Grade student to understand and sign along with their parent/guardian. This agreement will be posted on your child's teacher's website under document section and a hard copy will be given to you at your conference time, March 16th or 17th. Please take it home and discuss this with your child and return it back signed to your child's homeroom teacher. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me.
Due to the increased usage of technology and the awareness that students have at an early age, we are hoping to avoid inappropriate technology usage on school campus.
Thanks so much,
Rasha
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