DST Lesson Plan

I really fell in love with the app Toontastic, so when we were assigned to come up with a lesson plan for Digital Storytelling I knew I wanted to do something with Toontastic.  I decided to have kids come up with a story using Toontastic for them to complete during centers.  It really worked out wonderfully!  I gave them what I wanted to do within their group and a very quick overview on how to use the app.  I was amazed (guess I really shouldn't have been:)) with how fast the kids learned the program.  They had no trouble in learning how to use the program without much help from me.  It was great and the kids did wonderful!  I was really happy with the outcome.

Final Product

Lesson Plan

20% Project

When this project was assigned in the beginning of the semester, I really thought I would have no trouble with it. Picking anything I wanted to spend 20% of my class time on.  How hard could it be?  Boy was I wrong.  So many possibilities and no guidelines I realized I couldn't do.  I need a set vision to stick too, to help me along the way.  I finally decided on writing a grant.  I hoped by doing this I would be able to possibly receive money for my school to purchase ipads/ipod touches.  When I began, I started to realize I bit off too much.  As my sister said, "don't they pay someone to write the grants for schools".  I was getting more and more stressed with the process, until I was talking to another teacher about the project.  I mentioned what I was doing and how much harder it was then I thought it was going to be, and that's when she mentioned donors choose.  Donors choose is a program where public school teachers can post projects for their classroom and then people can choose to give donations to different projects.  I began to look into this and knew immediately this is what I would do my 20% project on.  The whole process of beginning the project was very easy.  Donors choose gives very clear directions and explains clearly what the teacher must do.  I was able to set it up in a couple days asking for 3 ipod touches, 3 chargers, and 3 covers.  After they reviewed everything I got an email letting me know everything was ready to go and I could start letting people know as ell as it would be posted on their website.  I'm very excited to hopefully receive enough donations in the 5 month limit they have to receive the ipod touches to use in my class.
Below is the link to check my information out.
http://www.donorschoose.org/we-teach/1167305.2096174462

Green Screen Demo

In class tonight we did a demo on the green screen.  It was a lot of fun and real easy!  If I was able to do this with my class I could only imagine the finished products I would get.  I know my kids would have a wonderful time with this and get real creative.  Below is my green screen project I did in class.  Enjoy!

Green Screen Demo

The end of the Ipad:(

The semester is coming to an end and I'm getting pretty depressed thinking that I'll be returning the Ipad soon.  I didn't really expect to get "addicted" to the Ipad, but alas I have.  I never thought the Ipad could be used as an educational tool, but this class has really shown me such great things I can do with the Ipad educationally.  Knowing that my kids as well as myself benefit from the device is awesome.  Over Thanksgiving, my sister came home and started using my Ipad and all the apps I had downloaded.  She is a teacher as well, and was amazed at everything students could do.  Added to her Christmas list an Ipad:)  I really wish we could be keeping the Ipad because there is still so much I want to do with it.  At this point I'll have to begin saving and maybe one day soon be able to purchase my own Ipad:)