Grade 3 Biography Jackdaws

Students in Mrs. Holt's third grade class have been studying biographies.  Each student chose a biographical book to read and then were challenged with creating a "Biography Jackdaw" using Google Slides. A jackdaw is a crow that picks up brightly colored objects and carries them off to its nest.  For a Google Slides biography jackdaw, students collected artifacts that represented information that was relative to the person they studied.  They used their biography books and the internet to collect their objects and information and place them in a Google Slide. Here are just a few "Biography Jackdaws"

Technology Essential Questions:

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework:

3-5.DTC.a.3, 3-5.DTC.b.1, 3-5.DTC.b.2, 3-5.DTC.c.1, 3-5.DTC.c.2

Grade 4 Virtual Guest Speaker

As a start to their science unit on forces that shape the Earth's surface, fourth grade students in Ms. Davis' class had the pleasure of listening to a live virtual guest speaker, Cynthia Gardner, Geologist from the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory at Mount St. Helens.
Ms. Gardner told the students what happened at the volcano in 1980 and what Mount St. Helens taught us about the way volcanoes behave.  Learning more about a volcano’s history and studying its past eruptions helps us to understand what a volcano is capable of and how to prepare for the next eruption.  There was even a live Q&A session at the end.
What a great experience!  Thank you Ms. Gardner!

Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework:

3-5.CAS.c.4, 3-5.CAS.c.5, 3-5.DTC.b.2

2016 Massachusetts Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Framework:

4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS2-2

Grade 5 Green Screen

Fifth grade students in Mrs. Medugno's and Mrs. Bouffard's social studies classes recently wrapped up their studies of Early Explorers.  As a culminating project, using Green Screen and iMovie, they created an episode of "Family Feud" starring explorers such as Francisco Coronado and Henry Hudson.  Students came up with the questions, modified a script, created props, acted and worked behind the scenes. Survey Says!  It was a blast!

Technology Essential Questions:

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

Grade 5 Social Studies Framework 5.3

2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework 3-5.CAS.b.1, 3-5.DTC.a.3, 3-5.DTC.b.1, 3-5.CS.a.1, 3-5.CA.a.2

Grade 3 "How To" Videos

Creating "How To" videos using Explain Everything, Drawing Pad and the Camera

Students in Mrs. Holt's grade three classroom recently used the iPad apps, Explain Everything and Drawing Pad, and the iPad camera to create "How To" videos.  Students chose a topic such as, "how to make a sandwich" or "how to play checkers" and then wrote a script of steps that could teach the skill to someone else.  They used Explain Everything, Drawing Pad and the camera to turn their scripts into videos.  Here are a few examples:
How to Paint a Rock Pet How to Paint Your Nails

Technology Essential Questions:

How does this digital tool help improve collaboration and/or communication?

How can technology be used to enhance a project and communicate knowledge?

How can we use this software to create original, innovative works and ideas?

Grade 3 Common Core Standards: W.3.2, W.3.3, W.3.5, W. 3.6, SL.3.4, SL.3.5, SL.3.6 2016 Massachusetts Digital Literacy and Computer Science (DLCS) Curriculum Framework 3-5.DTC.a.2; 3-5.DTC.a.3; 3-5.DTC.b.1

Read Across America

In celebration of Read Across America students at Spofford Pond School read to students at the Cole School.  Over the course of four days, two students read Dr. Seuss stories such as Green Eggs and Ham and The Sneetches to all students at the Cole School.  Spofford students practiced with Mrs. Morton in the DIY Den and then used Google Hangouts to connect with the Cole School.  They read their chosen book to a live audience via video feed.

Enjoy these few pictures that capture the moment!