Basic Coding Apps to Get Started

Grade 1 students participated in the Hour of Code this week, testing out three different apps that are a good introduction to the basics of computer programming (coding).

By far, the students' favorite coding app has been Kodable.  It is free in the US and Singapore itunes stores.

Their 2nd favorite has been Scratch Jr, also free in the US and Singapore itunes stores.

Then, their 3rd favorite was Daisy the Dinosaur.  Again, free in the US and Singapore itunes stores.

Here are some photos of Grade 1 students during the Hour of Code lesson.

Hour of Code in Grade 1

Grade 1 students were absolutely thrilled to participate in the Hour of Code today.  What is the hour of Code?  The Hour of Code is a way to get people, anyone and everyone, excited about the computer sciences and learn the basics to getting started with the language of computers.  In first grade,  students used the apps Kodable and Daisy the Dinosaur to explore the world of computer programming.  By commanding a fuzzball, in Kodable, with arrows to tell it which direction to go or a dinosaur, in Daisy the Dinosaur, with actions to tell her what to do, students entered the world of computer programming with smiles, shouts of joy, and celebratory high-fives when their object successfully completed their commands.

Showing Respect Online - Digital Citizenship Lesson #2

First graders were involved in another foundational Digital Citizenship lesson pertaining to ‘Showing Respect Online’ with me, the first grade tech coach, and Mrs. Cuthbert, the first grade librarian.  Since all of our first grade classes are running student-run blogs, we were able to relate this skill, Showing Respect Online, to commenting on each other’s blog posts.  Students learned that they should ask themselves 3 questions before they make a comment on a peer’s blog post.  

Think Before You Comment

Would I say this in person?

Did I only use first names?

Is my comment positive?

Here is an informative and engaging video that we (G1 tech coach, G1 librarian, and G1 counselor) made for the students.

Blogging in Grade 1

Students in Grade 1 are becoming pretty capable bloggers!  The app of choice to use is Easy Blogger which makes blogging so easy for some of our youngest students.  Students are expected to include some form of media (photo, video, or both) and an explanation or description of their learning.  In the posts pictured below, students blogged about their 'Neighborhood Walk' which is part of the G1 Social Studies unit called, Our Community.

Book Creator

Book Creator is definitely not a new app in town, but an app that we have revisited as a school.  Originally, Book Creator gathered a lot of steam with our teachers due to the media-rich books that students could make about their learning.  It was only when it came time to sharing this lovely books that posed a problem.  Books over 25MB cannot be emailed, and furthermore, if books could be emailed we encountered the issue of some families not having a device with iBooks in order to view the book.

There are a few work arounds teachers have tried with a little more success.  For starters, schools now have unlimited storage space in Drive, so books can be uploaded to Drive and links shared with home.  Devices with iBooks are more prevalent with families so that helps too.  Lastly, Book Creator has provided an 'export as video' option.  Although the deign of a 'book' and flipping of pages is lost, this option does provide a quick and easy way for students to share books without losing any audio.  Books can saved directly to the camera roll and then uploaded to their blogs through the Easy Blogger app.

Below is a quick slideshow on how to make a Book Creator and options for sharing it.

Sharing Tech Integration Ideas

15 KG-2 teachers delivered 5 minute Learning Bytes on an app and how they have integrated it into the curriculum.  The presenters then rotated around six times sharing their expertise with six different small groups of teachers.  It was wonderful to see the authentic ways teachers in the Lower Elementary are using iPads with their students.  It was a Monday afternoon faculty meeting well-spent! 

Front Row for Math Practice

Grade 1 classes are trying out the app Front Row for Common Core Aligned Math Practice on the ipad.  Check out this short video of a screencast from when a student was using Front Row.