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This site will be moving soon. Please change the link to us and bookmark our new address. It is http://k5techtalk.com
Thanks. Hope to see and hear from you soon!
Bridge Building Fraction Game
In the lab this week, the students and I explored fractions and how many you had to put together to make one whole. Click the picture to go to the Bridge Building Fraction Game we began in class.
TweenTribune
TweenTribune is a new site that encourages kids to read current events news articles and provide comments sharing their opinions. This site tries to connect reading, writing, and technology. It is 100% safe and will not ask for or publish children’s names and/or any personal information. All comments are reviewed by the teacher before they are posted. We will be logging into the site during computer class this week and next. Be sure to check it out at http://tweentribune.com! Hopefully this site will motivate the kids to increase their reading and writing skills.
ANIMOTO Videos
Have you taken a lot of pictures lately and you’re not sure what to do with them? Well, if you have parental permission and an email address, you can learn ANIMOTO!
Animoto is a web based application where you can upload all of your photos to make a cool slideshow with music and transitions. The transitions are connected to the beat of the music YOU choose! The music is provided or you can upload tracks from your favorite CDs.
You will need a special promotion code to obtain the education upgrade. Copy and paste this code into the promotion code section: a4emcdo7a8839. It’ll only work for the first 50 students/teachers who sign up. Click here to sign up today!
Can YOU Beat the Assembler?
Can you beat the Assembler?
The Assembler is one of the problem solving activities on the Billerica Academic Activity Page. It is located in the BROWN Problem Solving section of the page.
The Assembler has many levels to work through and each level is quite challenging. Give it a try this summer!
First Graders Draw in 3D!
The first graders at the Dutile this week are using their creativity to draw in 3D using the program Google SketchUp. Usually I introduce this program to grades two through five but I thought I’d give the first graders a try. They are blowing my mind with their creativity and attention to detail. Please check out the models below…
3D Mania!
The students are so excited about their 3D models that they wanted to share. All models were drawn using Google SketchUp.
Want Google SketchUp?
After learning that their houses were flat in Google Earth, students asked how they could practice drawing in 3D. So if you want Google SketchUp…
Go online to http://www.google.com/sketchup/download/ and download the free copy of the program. Be sure to choose the correct operating system.
The students also used Augmented Reality (AR) to view their models up close. If you have a webcam and are tech saavy go online to http://www.inglobetechnologies.com/en/new_products/arplugin_su/info.php to download the plugin.
Keep me posted and share your creations anytime!
My House is FLAT!
This week the students explored 3D buildings in Billerica Center on Google Earth. They learned that Beryl Reid, a retired computer teacher from Billerica, drew these buildings using a program called Google SketchUp. They also learned that their own houses were not in 3D and were indeed flat. Google Earth displays buildings and houses as if looking straight down from an airplane window unless a 3D model has been created.
After seeing the Billerica Center’s 3D models the students were inspired to learn Google SketchUp. They practiced using the shape tools, the orbit tool, and the push pull tool. Hopefully one day they will draw their own houses in 3D. In addition to learning SketchUp, the students viewed their models in the palm of their hand using Augmented Reality (AR). Below are some of their creations…
READING with Starfall
Kindergarten students have been busy reading on Starfall.com. They have been busy mastering letter sounds and word families. To reinforce these skills, the students have been going on Starfall.com to read books and improve their reading skills. To access the “Learn to Read” word family menu, click on the picture below. To further develop reading skills, navigate back to the main menu and choose the “It’s Fun to Read” and “I’m Reading” links.
