Connect Making to the Curriculum

Grade 1 students made connections with their writing and making.  What an excellent example of authentic integration!

QR Code Book Review Posters

Grade 1 students have been focusing on persuasive writing.  They explored writing book reviews as one way to convince readers of their opinion.  During a technology class, students made QR codes of their book reviews and then designed posters for sharing their reviews with a wider audience. Teachers will display the posters in the hallway and other G1 classes will make time to scan and listen to other students' reviews! 



QR Code Book Review Posters

Writing Small Moments Celebration Assembly

Mrs. Bourdon and I collaborated on a video with her class to show what they have learned in their Small Moment Narrative Writing unit.

Showcasing Nonfiction Learning

First graders are exploring different ways to showcase their nonfiction research.  They were given options of making a nonfiction book using the app Book Creator, designing a presentation in the app Haiku Deck, or producing an iMovie.  Here are a few samples below.

iMovie

Haiku Deck

Created with Haiku Deck, the free presentation app


Book Creator (open the link in iBooks on an ipad) 

Blogging for Fun!

Two students in Ms. Analu's class used their Fun Friday time to write a story on their blog.  Their perseverance to publish such a lengthy story on their ipad is commendable, and then, to top it off, they independently made the decision to post it on their student-run blog!   

Labelling Diagrams

Students in Mrs. Goldhammer's first grade class used their iPads to make labeled animal diagram today to go along with their animal research.  Students have been exploring non-fiction text features and how they help us read as well as learn from this genre.  First, students went to www.pebblego.com to find their animal's diagram.  Next, they took a screenshot.  Then, they labeled the diagram using Pic Collage. Lastly, they emailed their teacher!

Qr Codes in G1

Grade one students were really excited to see the fruits of their labor. The previous week students had worked diligently to record book reviews of their favorite book. After recording and taking a photo of either their book cover or themselves holding the book, students made a QR code of their video. Then, it was time for students to scan and watch each other's book reviews!  It was an excellent culminating apptivity for their writing unit on writing reviews.

QR Code Book Reviews

Last week, grade 1 students finished their Writer's Workshop Unit on Opinion Writing and recorded a video persuading readers to check out their favorite book.  Then, students created QR code posters for their book review video. A sample can be seen below. Ultimately, the QR codes of books that can be found in our PS library will be taped directly onto the library book.  This way, students can use iPads in the library to watch a review of the book to help them decide if they want to check it out to read or not. 

A New Take on an Old Idea

Plenty of teachers have either heard of or tried having a stuffed classroom pet that travels home with students and asking children to write about the animal's adventure away from school.  Some commonly used ideas that tie in with class read-alouds are: Flat Stanley, Tacky the Penguin, or The World According to Humphrey.  Mrs. Woody has put a 21st century spin on a journal going home with students and she is asking that kids blog about the animal's experience.  Her first grade students take a photo of themselves with the pet and then email the photo along with a message to the student-run blog.  What a fantastic way for students to see a real purpose for blogging!

QR Code Book Reviews

Students in first grade are going to make QR Code Book Review Posters!

Book Creator

Book Creator is our app of choice at the moment in first grade.  Students are learning how to 'write' a book using SIRI then emailing the book to each other so they can open it in iBooks and read what they have created!

Publishing Small Moments with Storyrobe

Ms. Analu's class used the app Storyrobe to publish their Small Moment writing pieces.  They were so proud of their hard work and the idea of being able to share their stories with family members and relatives.